Moodle is still very much an active project, despite my lack of recent updates. I'm just busy at the moment analysing a recent course that was run using the current version of Moodle. This analysis will eventually emerge as a paper, along with some new code in the new year.
Yes, multiple languages is a definite goal. For the moment it's easier for me to develop in one language until the wording settles down. When I do add the multiple language framework I'm probably going to use STPhp. http://stphp.sourceforge.net/
As for a beta version, well, when it's ready.
As for a beta version, well, when it's ready.