Il ruolo del docente nello spazio (glotto)didattico: un punto di vista evolutivo

2010 is a significant date for language teacher education. In this year the Italian translation of the European profile is published (Diadori 2010) – which is an essential document for those who work in the field of teacher training and language education. Moreover, and most importantly, the regulations that control requirements and procedures for the initial training of teachers (of all specializations, from preschool to senior high school) is finally passed. The regulations state that, after two years of legislative suspension, a masters degree is expected. In addition, 2010 is the 340th anniversary of Comenius' death, great “forerunner” of language teaching methodology, precursor of modernity in language didactics and teacher training, as Bona Cambiaghi has always stated. To her, this paper is dedicated. These are the reasons that led us to reflect, from an evolutionary point of view, on the role of the teacher within the language teaching space, examining the tasks and functions that language teaching methodology has assigned, in various moments, to the teacher, an essential component of the didactic-educational relation.