This study attempts to make a broad appraisal of the needs experienced by students of foreign languages in the schools. The object of the study is to draw up a methodology and offer a set of didactic tools which will help to progress toward the overall educational objectives of the Modern Languages Project of the Council of Europe. The starting point of this study is the practical conditions in which languages are taught in schools today. The section dealing with the methodological context treats factors common to all learners and as well as factors that distinguish school children from other learners. Following this, some already existing research is applied specifically to language needs in the school. The third part treats what is needed in the way of methodological tools related to a list of needs. Specifically addressed is the question of designing teaching methods suitable to the school children concerned, and practical tools which could be produced from these questions. As for measures to be taken, the procedure followed is one of questioning regarding the needs and motives of learners as well as institutional and didactic concerns. The final section discusses a specific methodological case, that of migrant children. (AMH)