The Education and Training 2010 work programme aims for each European citizen tomaster at least 2 foreign languages. Several European countries have adopted this aimas a national priority. Lots of language teachers still use the traditional grammaticalapproach rather than chunk learning (formulaic language) because of the security andcontrollability it provides, because of lack of authentic materials targeted to younglearners and because of their own insufficient command of the target language.By means of a holistic approach to language learning HOLA! aims at offering languageteachers strategies adapted to young learners (max.12 y) taking into account languageacquisition principles, supplemented with exemplary materials for French and English aswell as a few examples for Dutch, Danish, Greek, Spanish, Italian and Turkish to giveevidence for the potential of transfer. As it is targeted to young learners living in a ratherclosed environment, language and culture will be combined: as a matter of fact,language and expression of thoughts refer to the cultural reality they denote.The work strategy includes bottom-up and top-down strategies at the same time: frompractice to theory and the other way around.The four major outcomes resulting from this project will be a publication describing aholistic approach to language learning as well as some exemplary materials targeted tolanguage teachers of primary education; materials and guidelines for adapting materialsto the target audience; strategies for classroom management; a Comeniusdissemination course for language teachers including the above as well as languageimprovement. The outcomes will be piloted and evaluated through local disseminationactivities and will be made available from a website.To meet these aims a complementary work group will be formed: schools, pre- and inservicetraining and institutions as well as advisory bodies join efforts and competences.The desired outcomes are happy, empathic and motivated children learning foreignlanguages and starting their language portfolio at a stage where windows of opportunityare still open. The early approach will contribute to anchoring language competence andpositive attitudes towards people who share a different language and culture.