ALL LANGUAGES - Key Persons
Ann encouraged us at Language World to Imagine... having recently imagined the creation of the ALL ITET Special Interest Group for Teacher Educators. Ann' s current project is as editor of Barry Jones' selected writings.
Job Titles:
- ALL Invited Trustee
- Teacher Trainer, Invited Trustee of ALL
Anna Lise Gordon has been a member of ALL since its inception. For the last 20+ years, she has worked in initial teacher education as MFL PGCE tutor, Academic Director for secondary PGCE provision, and latterly as Director of the Institute of Education at St Mary's University, Twickenham, Currently, Anna Lise is Professor of Education at the same institution. She is a National Teaching Fellow and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Anna Lise's tenure as ALL President was from 1st September 2016 - 31st August 2018. In her role as ALL Trustee, Anna Lise serves as the school liaison representative on the executive committee of The University Council For Languages (UCFL). She co-leads ALL's Learning from the Classroom initiative for members.
Anna Lise hosted two Language World conferences during her tenure as President. In 2017 she welcomed delegates to East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham, where the conference theme was 'Progress for ALL'. In March 2018 she welcomed delegates to Jurys Inn Hinckley Island in Leicestershire, where the conference theme was 'Flying the Flag for Languages'. During 2017 and 2018 Anna Lise has chaired the Publications Task & Finish Group, a working group of the ALL Council. She has also chaired meetings of the Initial Teacher Education and Training (ITET) forum.
Barry's theme at Language World, was 'Creating Opportunities'. This encapsulates many of his principles as a teacher and trainer. These are to be explored in ALL's publication of Barry Jones' selected writings.
'Languages for all - defining today, transforming tomorrow' expresses some of the passion that Bernardette continues to bring to her advocacy with Speak to the Future.
Bob's Language World in Edinburgh brought language teachers together with teachers of EFL in the cause of promoting language learning and best practice.
Brian's career encompassed teaching, teacher education, the launch of the European Actions and a keen interest in autonomy. See Looking back, moving forward (now available in the ALL Language Zones).
As befits someone with a specific interest in the early stages of language learning, Cynthia chose as her title for Language World, 'Building on Firm Foundations - Steps to Success'. The work she began continues with the ALL Primary Special Interest Group and the Primary Hubs around the country.
David Crystal is an academic, writer, editor and broadcaster, and Honorary Professor of Linguistics at the University of Bangor. He is a patron of the Association for Language Learning (ALL) and of the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL), president of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders and the UK National Literacy Association, an honorary vice-president of the Institute of Linguists and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. He received an OBE for services to the English language in 1995, and was made a Fellow of the British Academy (FBA) in 2000. David lives in Holyhead, where he is the director of the Ucheldre Centre, a multi-purpose arts and exhibition centre.
David encouraged us to focus on 'Expanding Horizons' and conveying positive messages about languages at the time of the Dearing Review. David continues to support ALL by acting as an objective reviewer and editor of ALL's web content.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- ALL Deputy Honorary Membership Officer
- Deputy Honorary Membership Officer )
Judith is a languages teacher and a long-standing ALL London Committee Member. She is a lecturer on the PGCE Secondary Languages Programme at Goldsmiths, University of London. A German and Spanish specialist, she has been teaching languages in the UK, Spain, Italy and the US in the primary and secondary school sector, as well as in higher education. She is particularly passionate about teaching languages with and through film(making) and fostering intercultural understanding. Judith is a co-opted member of the Management Board.
Job Titles:
- ALL Invited Trustee
- Teacher of French
Helen Myers teaches Languages at The Ashcombe School in Dorking, Surrey (a Language College since 1998). She is also the ALL London Branch Chair, a former President of ALL and currently on the ALL Management Board. Through her work at The Ashcombe School and ALL, she has helped many teachers across the country in their use ICT in the teaching of languages, and provided constant support to language teachers through moderating forums and resource websites. She combines senior management experience and a national perspective with the realities of teaching across the age and ability range, including AL and GCSE exam classes.
Helen 'Pulled the Threads Together' at Language World. Her interest in assessment is visible on the web pages of ALL London Branch, which she continues to chair.
Job Titles:
- Principal at North Cambridge Academy
Jane Driver is Principal at North Cambridge Academy in Cambridge. She is a Specialist Leader for Education in EAL and MFL, member of the British Academy Language Advisory Group and founded the ALL Peterborough MFL and EAL Hubs.
Jane served as President Elect during 2017/18 then as ALL President from September 2018 - August 2020 and has been a member of the ALL Council. Jane worked closely with five international partners, leading on behalf of ALL on the Erasmus+ ELAPSE; Embedding Languages across Primary and Secondary Education international project whilst also further developing bonds with LFEE (Languages for Education Europe) in Edinburgh to provide a range of training opportunities for ALL members and languages teachers. Jane also runs the ALL Border Marches Network. Jane taught French and Italian during her career and worked in the primary and secondary sectors. She finished her career in Further Education as Head of Learning at Gloucestershire College.
Jean Coussins graduated from Newnham College, Cambridge, in 1973 in Modern Languages (Spanish and French). Following a career in the public, private and charitable sectors, she also worked as an adviser to various international companies on corporate social responsibility. Created a Life Peer in 2007 she is an Independent Crossbencher in the House of Lords, focusing on languages, linguists and international relations. She co-chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on Modern Languages, is a vice-president of the Chartered Institute of Linguists and President of the campaign Speak to the Future. Jean is continuing her own language education by learning Arabic and has a special interest in Latin America.
She is an Honorary Fellow of UCL and Newnham College Cambridge, and was awarded the British Academy's President's Medal in 2013 in recognition of her work on languages. In 2019 the Open University awarded her an Honorary Doctorate in recognition of her work to promote the teaching and learning of languages.
John raised the important issues around 'Celebrating Diversity', still relevant within ALL, as reflected in the work of the World Languages Special Interest Group.
Karl Pfeiffer has lived and worked in the United Kingdom continuously since 1986. He first came to Folkestone, Kent, as a German Language Assistant in 1977. From 1986 he taught German at Goldsmiths' College and from 1989 at the Goethe-Institut London. There, for 30 years, he closely co-operated with all educational institutions and schools that support the teaching of German in the UK. He became a member of ALL in 2007 when he joined the Executive Council. He was President of ALL from 2010 until 2011. From 2015 until 2018 he ensured that ALL was actively involved in the highly successful Erasmus + project "The Language Magician". He retired from the Goethe-Institut in 2019 and continues to support ALL and its members.
Kathy's campaigning work on behalf of CLIL is still as vibrant now as it was at 'Language World: Working Together'. She also led the Linked Up project for ALL and served on many ALL Committees and Councils. Kathy sadly died in 2018.
Job Titles:
- Professor of Innovation in Languages Education at the Sheffield Institute of Education
Kim is Professor of Innovation in Languages Education at the Sheffield Institute of Education, a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a National Teaching Fellow. She is an experienced lecturer and researcher in the field of languages and teacher education and an expert in CLIL.
Her career as an initial teacher trainer started in 2000 at Hull University. Prior to this, Kim taught French and German for 16 years. During her time as a secondary language teacher and senior leader, she was involved in running exchanges and residential visits as well as a number of national curriculum projects. Kim led two national pilots and innovations in MFL teacher education: French Extension Courses, which became known as subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) courses and the secondary Anglo-French bilateral exchange pilot for the Teaching and Development Agency (TDA). In her current role she has established a community of academics and practitioners of CLIL in Anglophone countries and is the conference chair of the Biennial International CLIL conferences hosted in June 2017 and June 2019 at Sheffield Institute of Education.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- President
- ALL President
Beyond the classroom Liz has also been involved in sport and trips to outdoor education centres, organised numerous exchanges, and accompanied students on the UK German Connection study programme; she believes in extending and enhancing the experiences of students, because
Liz has been a member of ALL for many years, and her passion for teaching languages has been shared far and wide at ALL local and national events, in the pages of Languages Today, and during two periods on ALL Council.
Madeleine's first Language World in York included the introduction of the European programmes (then called Socrates) while her second celebrated European Year of Lifelong Learning.
Margaret's theme 'The Way Ahead: language strategies for the millennium' explored the potential for ICT and the way towards learner autonomy, and her talks always included the importance of diversification of language provision.
Pauline's presidential challenge was about 'Grasping the nettles that beset us'. Pauline served as an Invited Trustee for a number of years beyond her presidential tenure.
Peter's theme of 'Raising Standards' is reflected in his work with the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and on Language Awareness.
Job Titles:
- Teacher of Languages and Deputy Principal at Comberton Academy Trust
Rachel is also a Languages Advisor for TES Resources, and, planned her Language World to get us 'ALL Joined up', reflecting her sense of the community of language professionals, and the importance of teachers working together and with others.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- ALL Invited Trustee, Treasurer )
- Treasurer ( ALL Invited Trustee )
Richard works as a partner at a law firm in London. He has wide experience of most aspects of private client work including trusts, wills and probate and associated tax planning and his work is international,and as a French speaker his work is particularly focused on France and French clients in London.
Richard holds two French medals: Officer dans l'Ordre des Palmes Academiques, and Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite.
Richard was a long serving Chair of ALL's Board of Trustees (ALL Management Board), and also serves on other language and education-based boards. From 01 September 2016, Richard became ALL's Treasurer on its Board of Trustees.
Job Titles:
- ALL Honorary Membership Officer
Twice President of ALL, and long-serving Honorary Membership Officer, ALL Fellow and Chair of ALL North-East Branch, Steven Fawkes continues to support Branches, Networks and Hubs as well as the SIGs for Primary, ITET and De-colonising the Curriculum, the STALL and PHOrum online events, and the ALL Literature project.
Steven taught Languages in Co. Durham before working in curriculum development in special and comprehensive schools. At the BBC he developed TV, radio, print and internet resources for Schools Languages before taking the overview of policy across the schools area.
In 2022 Steven was honoured by the French Government with a nomination as Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Palmes Académique s. He is an Editor for ALL, an d author of works for the benefit of the Association, available in the ALL Shop.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- ALL Honorary Membership Officer
- Honorary Membership Officer
Suzi Bewell is a well-known languages teacher and trainer. Until 2015, she ran the PGCE MFL course at York University. She has over 20 years' experience of teaching French, Spanish and German, and more recently Mandarin in the UK and overseas, is a SSAT Lead Practitioner for language and also runs her own successful educational consultancy supporting languages teachers worldwide.
Terry's presidential theme of 'Building Bridges' related to bridges between sectors and languages, especially with community languages, and is now continued in his work with FIPLV.