We are delighted to announce that our longstanding patron Professor David Crystal will be joined by Baroness Coussins, who has accepted an invitation by the Association’s trustees. Baroness Coussins, who co-chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on Modern Languages commented on her appointment:
“Language teaching and learning is so vital for the future prosperity of the UK, economically, culturally and diplomatically. It’s time we stopped believing as a nation that we’re hopeless at languages, and instead recognise their value to our lives as individuals, businesses and society in general. The Association for Language Learning does sterling work in helping to equip our teachers and students to take advantage of learning languages and I am very proud to be one of their champions and supporters.”
For those of you who may not have come across Baroness Coussins yet, here a short biopic:
Baroness 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, Jean is an Independent Crossbencher in the House of Lords, focusing on languages, linguists and international relations. Alongside co-chairing the All Party Parliamentary Group on Modern Languages, she 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.
The Management Board and the ALL Council are welcoming Baroness Coussins whole-heartedly to her patronage and are grateful to her and David Crystal for their longstanding support and advocacy for languages.