ECML/CELV > News > John Trim condolences

 

 

 

 

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John Trim, 1925-2013
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Messages of condolence
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15 April 2013
Beate Anhalt
John and I exchanged Christmas letters this past Christmas as we had done for many years. His was
addressed to Istvan and Beate Anhalt, but sadly Istvan passed away in February 2012, also of prostate cancer. We came to know John Trim in the
year 1976-77 when Istvan and I were in Cambridge on sabbatical leave from Queen's University in Kingston,Canada. Istvan was very interested in lingu-
istics in connection with music (he was a composer)
as he wrote a number of operas, thus combining text and music. He attended John's lectures and had
many conversations with him, and fond his ideas of great interest, and very useful for his work. we both
remembered John for his gentle nature and good sense of humour. His last letter of November 2012
was very much in that spirit. My condolences to the
family - I will remember him...


07 April 2013
Bernard Comrie
As an undergraduate and later a research student in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Cambridge in the late 1960s and early 1970s, I recognize the major contribution made by John Trim, as Head of Department, to the development of linguistics in Britain. Many household names in linguistics - John Hawkins and Andrew Radford to name just two who were my fellow students - came from the programme that John developed and led. I was also honoured to have him as my first boss as I was socialized into the world of being an academic in a linguistics department. I am proud of the continuing friendship of someone who was not only a great teacher, mentor and administrator, but also one of the nicest and most generous human beings it will ever be my privilege to know.


31 March 2013
Mats Oscarson
In common with so many others, I shall miss John Trim and his warmth and quiet wisdom. I first met John 40 years ago. It was at a Council of Europe symposium on ”A Unit/Credit System for Modern Languages in Adult Education”, at St. Wolfgang, in Austria, June 1973 (representing an early step in the development of the CEFR concept). It was led by John, diligently as always, and I was subsequently fortunate enough to meet him, and also work with him, many times over the years. John’s extraordinary ability to manage conferences and co-ordinate project activities was truely impressive. His concern for independent and also cooperative language learning was a great inspiration for many.

John Trim’s service to the language education field is unique and of lasting value.


23 February 2013
Svetlana Kurtes
I had the enormous privilege of getting to know John while I was coordinating the English Profile programme of research, part of the Reference Level Description Initiative of the Council of Europe. His inexhaustible energy and enthusiasm were inimitable and unique, his knowledge, experience, insightfulness and the effortless manner in which he was able to communicate his ideas – truly one of a kind. Above all, his personal charm, charisma, warmth, approachability, his flawless ‘old school’ gentlemanliness I will never forget. May he now eternally enjoy the best of all possible worlds!


18 February 2013
anonyme
Une seule pensée : essayer de transmettre avec nos humbles forces ce que votre intelligence et votre charisme nous ont offert.
Merci John! Tu restes en nous.


16 February 2013
Sarah Lambert
Everybody else remembers John as a giant on modern language policy. My take is different. I remember him for reintroducing me to A.A.Milne, particularly his poetry. Above all, I always enjoyed his ability to be engaged and intrigued by the structure of rocks in our national parks, the enjoyment of little 4-legged critters darting across the ground, or the intricacies of loading or off-loading a cruise ship. Then of course, there is his marvelous sense of humor and the love that he and Marion shared. We will miss him.


15 February 2013
Tony Male
John had a quiet voice but it resounded worldwide. There are few areas of language teaching and language learning that have not benefited from his wisdom and determination. As director of the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges, I was privileged to count him a friend and, on occasions, a working colleague. His was the first invitation I received on my appointment in 1986. Over the years we enjoyed a quietly close relationship. Working together on the Council of Europe Course on ‘La Pédagogie des Échanges’ in Lillehammer in 1995 and Sesimbra in 1996 was challenging, illuminating and fun.

We shall all miss his unassuming erudition, his devotion to the cause and those flashes of impish humour.


15 February 2013
Christoph Edelhoff
John Trim has been for us in Germany a great teacher of communication, both an elderly statesman and a personal colleague of internationalism and European spirit. We'll keep passing his message on.


14 February 2013
Richard D. Lambert
I knew John Trim best for his connection with American Language Policy. He was one of the first and most influential visiting scholars at the American Foreign Language Center and drafted there several of the competency criteria that later became standard throughout Europe. He managed a number of the European- American language conferences. We traveled extensively together in Europe and America and we will miss him immenselyl


12 February 2013
Daniel Coste
Depuis la période des Niveaux-seuils jusqu’à l’élaboration du Cadre européen commun de référence pour les langues, j’ai, à divers moments, eu la chance de travailler aux côtés de John Trim et sous sa responsabilité de directeur des projets Langues vivantes . J’ai beaucoup appris à le lire, à l’écouter, à le voir gérer des situations délicates, à l’observer « à la manœuvre » aussi bien dans le quotidien de la gestion des projets que dans la définition des enjeux et des actions à long terme. Sa remarquable intelligence, son sens stratégique, sa vision politique et sa capacité de synthèse novatrice auront profondément marqué le domaine de l’enseignement des langues et des politiques linguistiques, dans cette Europe qui lui tenait tant à cœur. Nous lui devons tous beaucoup.


11 February 2013
professor dr. Theo van Els
I have worked together with John over a number of years. I have always greatly appreciated him. It was a pleasue to work with him. He was an innovative language scholar and one of the most amiable perons I have ever met.


11 February 2013
Gé Stoks
It has been a privilege knowing John. I first met him in 1984 he has been is an example and a source of inspiration for my professional activities. It was always a pleasure meeting him, the last time during the Council of Europe Language Policy Forum in Geneva in 2010. He was a great European and above all a warm and gentle person.


09 February 2013
Roberta Signorino
I didn't personally know him, but as a language teacher I am indebted to John Trim for his invaluable contribution to language learning and teaching and to the building of a pluricultural and plurilingual Europe.


06 February 2013
Hisatake Jimbo
I first met John at the 23rd JACET (Japan Association of College English Teachers) summer seminar at Cambridge in 1989. JACET was fortunate eough to invite him to Japan several times. Following the 1999 AILA Tokyo Congress,
John visited my home and also my condo in Kusatsu, a well-known hot spa resort. He fully enjoyed staying there. I really treasure his memory.


06 February 2013
Roy Cross
Very few Englishmen and women have left the European education legacy that John has, and part of that legacy was recently adopted by the Japanese Ministry of Education as part of their national languages framework. His influence will continue to grow.


05 February 2013
Sauli Takala
Over a period of several years, I had the privilege of being associated with several Council of Europe´s modern language projects co-ordinated by John Trim. I learned a lot by simply listening to him and observing how he managed projects with tact and skill. I listened to his superb mastery of idiomatic English usage and became more aware of linguistic subtlety and precision. His combination of vision and pragmatism is probably the main reason why his work won such widespread recognition and appreciation. His legacy for language education is of lasting value.


04 February 2013
Richard Kiely
An intellectual who really knew the practice. So much for us still to understand.


04 February 2013
Richard Kiely
An intellectual who really knew the practice. So much for us still to understand.


03 February 2013
Alan Moys
I had the privilege of working as John's deputy at CILT from 1978 until his retirement in 1985: 'retirement' is hardly the right word, since John carried on his work in support of language learning in the same inspirational way for many more years. In common with so many others I shall miss a good friend, whose tolerance, warmth, expertise and determination will be sorely missed.


03 February 2013
John Norrish
I was very sad to hear of John's passing. I recall him well as my phonetics tutor in UCL when I was an undergraduate there in the late 50's.
He was brilliant, funny and a very good teacher. Later in BAAL I recall him as wise and considered. He was, I suppose, one of the most understated scholars I have ever met. He will be sorely missed.


03 February 2013
Ikuo Koike
Dr.John Trim visited the Japan Association of College English Teachers(JACET) to give lectures several times. All the attendants in the seminars had the strong impression that he was a great scholar with deep thought and long experiences on the modern language education policy. He was modest and challenging his dream for revising modern language education not only in Council of Europe but also in the world. He is the true leader of applied linguistics, the specialist of language education policy who gave a vast influence over the world. I don't forget his words that CEFR in Europe would be CFR over the
world in the future. I respet him. I love him as a model of human being. May he rest in peace.


02 February 2013
Josef Huber
I first met John as a linguist through his writings for the Council of Europe's languages work doing research for my own degree. Later I had the pleasure of meeting him regularly over the years and I got to now him as a advisor and leader in many Council of Europe international workshops. It was an honour to get the John Trim Collection for the ECML in Graz. In much of what I have been doing since - at the ECML and now in Strasbourg - I feel his influence as a model and the precious advice he has offered.
Thank you, John.


01 February 2013
Özcan Demirel
John Trim was really a great, magnificent and well-known language educator worldwide. It was always a privilege to be with him. Whenever I met him in language policy meetings and ELP seminars, I used to talk on CEFR and ELP implementations in education system and learn many brilliant and inspiring ideas from him. I will always be grateful to him for his in-depth experience and immense thoughts on language learning and teaching process. I will always remember and miss him. May he rest in peace.


01 February 2013
Walter Halley
I knew John as a neighbour and friend and one of the most gracious people I have ever met. Miles out of my intellectual league he never let me feel anything but warmth in our conversations. I don't think I shall ever forget him.


01 February 2013
Harold Ormsby L.
John Trim's patient, unflagging support for methods of learning and teaching that foster all learners' constrtuction of attitudes, knowledge and skills they need to be more independent in thought and action, and also more responsible and co-operative in relation to others will, I believe, guide many of us who are far outside Europe, for many years to come. Most of us never had the priviledge of meeting and knowing him; he is, then, still among us as he always has been, through his writings, talks, interviews, and the memories he left with others. I sincerely hope we can fully honor the legacy he has given us.


31 January 2013
Glyn Jones
I met him only twice, and very briefly, but first came across his name back in 1979 when I used his "English Pronunciation Illustrated" with a group of Saudi students. "Betty the buxom barmaid brings bitter beer from the back bar of the Bull and Bush. " Genius!


30 January 2013
Klaus Bung
John was my "Doktorvater" (doctoral supervisor) when I was working for my Ph.D. in Cambridge many many years ago (1967 to 1972). I also worked with him on some assignments for the Council of Europe, after 1972. He became a lifelong friend and, occasionally, useful critic, advisor and commentator. He spoke (and wrote) little, but chose his words carefully and to great effect. No false argument and no exaggeration would escape him, and he would, in due course, patiently and calmly and briefly point it out. He tolerated, or seriously considered, even strongly divergent ideas and gave them a chance to be persued. As he goes, some of us now move to the front of the queue and have no more elders to follow.

I would be happy to hear from anyone who would like to share memories and/or exchange ideas.

(Klaus Bung, Blackburn, Lancashire, UK, t: 01254-261 009, e: klaus.bung@rtc-idyll.com)


30 January 2013
Britta Horz
Ja, wir hatten John's Tod erwartet. Sein Weihnachtsbrief gab uns bereits Anlass, an die vielfältigen Begegnungen mit ihm dankbar zurückzudenken. Es gab trotzdem einen Stich ins Herz, dass wir ihn nun nicht mehr hier wiedersehen können.
Über meinen Bruder Klaus Bung, der bei ihm in Cambridge promoviert hatte, entstand die Beziehung. Sie weitete sich dann aber über die Familie aus, zu seinen Kindern und zu seinem Bruder Richard und seiner Frau Lindsay und dessen Kindern.
Johns nachdenkliche Art, die jeden Menschen in seiner Eigenart respektierte, soll uns Vorbild sein. "Unsere Haltung zeigt, wie wir uns Gott vorstellen".


30 January 2013
Ros Mitchell
I first met and worked with John in his CILT/ BAAL days, and later greatly admired his outstanding European and international achievements. John combined encyclopedic knowledge, great intelligence and a quiet friendly manner, with visionary ambition, persistence and negotiating skills. All these were needed for a life of great achievement. Together, John and Marion were always excellent company for others, though clearly 'best' company for each other. In retirement John continued his intellectual interests, and showed support and encouragement for younger scholars. We all learned so much from knowing you, John!


30 January 2013
Gisela Conde
Generations of language teachers have been inspired by his work, his expert judgement and his friendly ways of sharing that expertise. Those of us who have been around in the field for years will definitely miss his physical presence. His legacy will, however, remain with us. My sincere gratitude to John, a great human being and an extraordinary "maestro".


30 January 2013
Elizabeth Guerin
John was a humane person, always ready to listen and help even the neophyte. His expertise and warmth encouraged people to engage and try to achieve. I am extremely lucky to have met and engaged with so a wonderful person and scholar. Those who have had the privelege of working with him over time such as Joe, Johanne, Sauli, David & Neus amongst so many others know the enormity of John's contribution to the changes that have taken place in the approach to language learning that John put in place. It is our duty to carry forward these mammoth steps which John activated and to us the task of working together to realize John's wish. A kind thought for Mrion in this moment of sadness. My deepest sympathy, Elizabeth


29 January 2013
Wilf & Sue Gunther
Wenngleich gefürchtet, denn John hatte uns ja selbst schon vor Weihnachten gewarnt, so sind wir dennoch erschüttert über Johns Tod. Obwohl John in den letzten Jahrzehnten hauptsächlich für den Fremdsprachenunterricht tätig war, sollte niemand vergessen, daß er zu der Generation großer Phonetiker gehört, in die sich u.a. Abercrombie, Gimson und O’Connor einreihen. Selten war ein Ausdruck mehr zutreffend als dies von John zu sagen: er war Mentor und Freund.


29 January 2013
Marie Bernadette Sabatelli - Fritze
We will always be grateful to John Trim.

Generations of learners are thankful to and have benefited from the work he first set in train some decades ago.

We celebrate today the life of a great European and an English gentleman who has promoted the values of the Council of Europe in language education.


29 January 2013
Ursula Newby
His wisdom, generosity and kindness were extraordinary. It was always a privilege to be with him.


29 January 2013
Alan Dobson
In 1997, at the close of the Council of Europe Modern Languages Projects which he led with distinction, John summarised the many developments, including the CEFR and the ELP, which we hoped would follow. I recall his smile as he said ‘I hope I’m around to see some of it happen’. Fortunately for language education, he was around not only to see those developments go forward but to continue to influence them and plant the seeds for future work.

In a letter last month, referring to the great esteem in which John has always been held in the language education community across Europe, I wrote:
‘(…) Generations of learners have benefited from the work you first set in train some decades ago and successive colleagues have much appreciated your wisdom, patience and good humour. (…) my understanding of language learning and awareness of the distinctive culture of the Council of Europe have been enhanced by our contacts over the years. I shall always be grateful for that experience and for the friendship which characterises your professional relationships. ‘

We celebrate the life of a colleague who was at the same time an English gentleman and a great European. Among John’s many legacies is the reminder that those identities are fully compatible and mutually enriching.


29 January 2013
Gábor Boldizsár
Homme, savant, ami. Un personnage qui reste pour toujours au coeur de ceux qui ont eu la chance de le connaitre!


28 January 2013
Angela Pereira
Altough I never had the pleasure of meeting Jonh and as I'm recently working on the education field as a consultant for Cambridge English I'd like to say that for what I read about Jonh's carreer he gave such a huge contribute to Human kind development and global understanding between people that I'm sure will allways be remenbered, valued and recognized.
Besides, only for is picture, anyone can tell that he must have been a very human and kind person. Hope he can rest in peace.
My regards to the family.


28 January 2013
Brian Wilkinson
As John Trim's cousin by marriage, we in the extended family knew that he was "something big" in the world of linquistics. But we knew him more as a kind, gentle, self-effacing gentleman who was always interested in our family "doings" but keeping modestly quiet about his own. We will miss him at family gatherings where he was often found listening intently, particularly to the younger generation. A dear gentle man.


27 January 2013
Dagmar Heindler
He will not be forgotten - his inspiring ideas will be with us for many more years. They will continue to form the basis for many changes in language education in Austria,...in Europe and beyond.


27 January 2013
Vasil Stoyanoff
Both his linguistic astuteness and ardent humanism proved to be a great inspiration for all of us involved with re-building Europe as a true family... Rest in peace, John !


26 January 2013
Helmut Vollmer
John Trim spoke to me in German when I first met him within Workshop 12A or 12B on Bilingual Education in Europe. At the time I hardly knew about his many achievements and his master mind, but I immediately experienced his warmth, his clarity and his compelling ways of formulating, with a modest mind, yet sharing his expert judgement with us. I felt invited to engage in discourse with him, he was almost like an older brother. Our paths crossed several times again at the Council of Europe, in Strasbourg and in Graz and last as we were trying to "allign" the CEFR scales with those of the ACTLFL. Thank you, John. I honour you as a great man, as a teacher, as a great European and democrat, as an older friend, with a shared vision. I will miss you, as many of us will.


26 January 2013
Nicole Raes
An inspiring, most aimiable and humble man of enormous importance for language education and teaching has left us. With my deepest sympathy.


26 January 2013
David Little
John was a great teacher; his words rarely failed to illuminate and his pauses frequently refocussed our minds. He was also a great democrat, for whom language education was an intensely collaborative effort with liberating consequences. Typically, his preferred version of Scrabble was one in which the players work together to achieve the highest possible aggregate score with the letters they have been dealt. John and Marion had countless friends and the gift of making each of them feel uniquely privileged. All those whose lives they touched will remember them with love and gratitude


26 January 2013
Suliko Liiv
John will be missed by Estonian language teachers.
Puhka rahus, hea kolleeg ja sõber!


25 January 2013
Arin Bayraktaroglu
An exceptional human being with warm demeanour and most convincing reasoning, John Trim was one of those rare individuals who would immensely impress everybody around them. For me he will always be the pinnacle of academic excellence and I regret to find out that it is not possible to nominate an outstanding person like him posthumously for an OBE or similar award which he definitely deserved in his lifetime with his contributions both at home and overseas to the language teaching, learning, and assessment. His work will be an inspiration to many researchers to come. May he rest in peace.


25 January 2013
Sonja Novak Lukanovič
I met him several times when he was in Slovenia. He was always prepared to help us with his enormous knowledge and always open to give us suggestions. And he was so warm person. Slovene applied linguists will miss him!


25 January 2013
Alan Davies
John, your conversation, indeed all your speech, had the gravitas and architecture of a Beethoven symphony, delighting your listeners, coda upon coda.


25 January 2013
Mike Byram
As 'Mr Trim', he was my teacher in Cambridge and I continued to learn from him as 'John' at the Council of Europe. His intellectual force was evident to us all, equalled only by his modesty and his willingness to help us. I will miss him and Marion both.


25 January 2013
Sinan Bayraktaroğlu
With the kind permission of John Trim's daughter Elizabeth, the following is a quote from John's traditional Christmas and New Year newsletter to his friends and relatives, which I thought should be shared here:

"For myself, I fully accept my position without fear or anxiety (once my tax return is safely dealt with !), trusting that I may remain largely pain-free and in the care of loved ones, until probably going into full time care in St Elizabeth's hospice in Ipswich, in which I have great confidence.

As this is likely to be my last chance to be in communication with many of you who have given me so much over so many years, please allow me to take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your love and help in building networks of good personal relations and working towards a better world. I remain convinced that the collapse of false ideals and values are no cause for dismay, cynicism or despair, but offer a new generation a challenge they seem to me better equipped than ever to face.

With much love and all best wishes for 2013 and the years to come.

Yours, now and forever

John Trim "


25 January 2013
Isidor Marí Mayans
J'ai eu l'honneur et le plaisir de travailler avec John Trim lorsque nous avons préparé le Niveau Seuil (Nivell Llindar) pour la langue catalane et puis le cours multimédia "Digui, digui...". Son soutien et sa guidance ont été précieux pour nous, avec Tony Fitzpatrick. J'ai eu l'occasion d'apprécier la grande qualité humaine de John Trim et son dévouement à l'égalité entre les langues de l'Europe. Je regrette vivement sa mort et je veux exprimer mes condoléances les plus vives à sa famille.


25 January 2013
Simon Buckland
An inspiration and a visionary, whose work enabled and formed a foundation for so much that we take for granted today in the field of curriculum, assessment and standards


25 January 2013
Sinan Bayraktaroglu
Hearthbroken with the very sad news of a very close friend and a colleague of many years working together at Cambridge University and Sawston Hall. John's vision, wisdom, brilliance, academic professionalism and excellence (you name it..), are all exemplified in CEFR and in his many other scholarly works. Above all, his internationalism with his warmth, kindness, tolerance and patience makes John an idol of many of us iwho knew him. He has always been a strong source of inspiration for me. I will miss him very much. May he rest in peace.


25 January 2013
Neus Figueras
John will be sadly missed by all of us involved in language teaching and learning; we will no longer be able to feel his authoritative presence at meetings or to listen to his sharp comments. His legacy will always stay with us .


25 January 2013
Erna Gille (Cito the Netherlands)
We lose in him an amiable man and an excellent scholar.


25 January 2013
Margaret van Naerssen
My condolences from across The Pond. While I didn't know him very well, I was inspired by his work and talks at various international venues.


25 January 2013
John H.A.L. de Jong
Diplomacy and patience I have learned from John in the many years I was fortunate to work with him and Jan van Ek on the development of the Threshold and subsequent levels and on the Common European Framework for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment. He was a great scholar, a great model and a dear friend.


24 January 2013
Protus Bobga NJI
Sir,You will always be great.Great people do not die.It is a moment to rest after hard work.Your contribution in Language developement shall always be felt.Thanks John for everything.God Bless.


24 January 2013
Dina Vilcu
I had the chance to participate in the workshop that Dr. John Trim led at the ALTE meeting in Rome, in 2010. I met then not only the brilliant visionary, but also the warm and kind man that John Trim was. It was a real joy to have the chance of meeting him, I deeply regret our loss, but I am also convinced that if somebody is to remain in the memory of the people in his field of work that someone is definitely John Trim.


24 January 2013
Lucija Čok, Slovenija
I met John in 1995 at the CoE workshop 5B in Portorož. He helped me a lot as it was for me the first time that I coordinated such a big conference. He has come several times in Slovenia and every time it was like having back a friend, an advisor and a teacher at the same time. He was unique in his style of giving knowledge, wisdom and kindness. We will miss him! Lucija


24 January 2013
Alister Cumming
You did far more, John, for language education around the world than most people will ever know, but we will all benefit from your lasting legacy, diligence, and foresight.


24 January 2013
Bernard Spolsky
We will miss his warmth and quiet brilliance!


24 January 2013
Meg Malone
John was a revered colleague. We will all miss him.


24 January 2013
Sibylle Plassmann
Ich habe selten eine so inspirierende Persönlichkeit in unserem Feld getroffen. Wir werden John Trims Beitrag zum Sprachenlernen und zur Verständigung über Grenzen hinweg nicht vergessen.


24 January 2013
Mohammed Shafi
we will miss him.


24 January 2013
Luca Tomasi
“When one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language …” In John Trim’s case, it is difficult to imagine a clearer version of such a bright master of languages.


24 January 2013
Heinrich Ruebeling
It has saddened me immensely to hear that John has passed away. He was a truly wonderful person, loved, respected and admired by all. I feel privileged to have known such a brilliant individual with such an open aura.


23 January 2013
Barry Jones
An inspirational figure in my professional life who was encouraging at all times, critical in gentle ways and always kind and thoughtful. With many, many others I shall miss his wisdom, expertise in so many aspects of the world of languages and, foremost, as
a friend.


23 January 2013
Johanna Panthier
L’apprenant en langues, cible numéro un de tous les travaux de John Trim, doit une fière chandelle à ce Guide généreux et engagé ! L’apprentissage des langues pour la communication, par l’action, pour la participation et l’inclusion, en vue d’objectifs réalistes et bien définis, voilà quelques-unes des grandes contributions de John Trim à une meilleure communication entre citoyens. En tant que professionnels, nous avons tous beaucoup appris avec lui. Merci John et bon voyage !


23 January 2013
Waldek Martyniuk
John has inspired many of us in our work for the Council of Europe and was admired for his gently way to offer advice and encourage reflection - best illustrated in the famous CEFR phrase "You may wish to consider and, where appropriate, state, whether ...". I will miss him a lot.


23 January 2013
Joe Sheils
John will be missed by the many language professionals throughout Europe who have had the privilege of working with him in promoting the values of the Council of Europe in language education. John will be remembered not only for his remarkable achievements and contribution to our field, but also for his patience and generosity in sharing his unique expertise and experience with others.

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