Dear all
The sad news below may not yet have reached you. John was prevented by his illness from taking part in our first workshop, but he was very supportive of the project and agreed to be interviewed by us last September. We showed excerpts from the interview at the workshop, and will make these available on the project website soon.
Richard
Dr Richard Smith
From: Graeme Porte [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 20 January 2013 09:00
Subject: John Trim
John Trim, a long-serving member of our <Language Teaching> Board, passed away yesterday. He worked tirelessly for the journal for many years until illness and personal circumstances made it impossible for him to continue.
I well remember my early days on the International Board of LT and the wonderful insights and anecdotes he presented at Board meetings which led us thankfully, joyfully, and humorously away from the business of the day! He was always a very useful source of advice in those early days of my editing the journal too, as you can imagine, and his contribution to the world of languages, language learning and teaching will be the great legacy. John was director of the Council of Europe’s Modern Languages Projects from 1971 to 1997 and directed developments ranging from the Threshold Level to the Common European Framework of Reference. LT will be honouring his work for us in the October (2013) and January (2014) issues with the text of one of his last interviews, given to David Little and Lid King. As you’d expect, it makes for great reading and is full of really fascinating insights into both his life and the world of languages and linguistics in the “early” days. A fitting salute from us to him, I hope.
Graeme
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