Brita Haycraft was presented with a “Lifetime Achievement Award” at this year’s ELTons.
Entering its eleventh year, the awards, run by the British Council and sponsored by Cambridge ESOL, are a celebration of innovation and excellence in English language teaching (ELT) from around the world.
The ELTon Life Time Achievement honours outstanding leaders and innovators who have changed the landscape of language teaching and learning. Past winners include Alan Maley, Ingrid Fairbain and Brian Abbs.
Lifetime Achievement Award for innovation
Together with her husband, John, Brita founded the very first International House school 60 years ago in Cordoba. Swedish-born Brita met John in Oxford, they married and moved to Spain where John initially planned to work as a journalist. Instead, Brita and John started teaching English to the local people and soon their small school was also providing classes in Spanish and German.
Brita and John wanted to provide a welcoming language learning environment for cultural exchange and communication. Calling their small school ‘Casa Internacional’, to reflect the international nature of their classes, International House was born.
Brita and John moved back to the UK and in 1959 set up the hugely successful International House London school. They pioneered the very first EFL teacher training qualifications, with their International House Certificate forming the basis for what is known today as the CELTA.
Commenting on the award, Steve Brent, CEO, International House London, said: “John and Brita started the International House network of schools and on behalf of all the staff, students and trainees – past and present – I would like to record our collective thanks as well as our congratulations on this award which is so richly deserved, and so appropriate during International House’s 60th anniversary year.”
Shaping language learning around the world
Whether you’re learning a language or training to teach a language there’s little doubt you’ll be touched by Brita’s work over the years, directly or indirectly.
Either your language teacher or teacher trainer will themselves have been trained on a course directly established by Brita Haycraft or shaped by her dedication to improving language teaching and language learning.
CELTA at International House London
CELTA is an introductory course designed for people with little or no
previous English language teaching experience or training. CELTA provides you with the opportunity to teach English as a second language all over the world.
The Cambridge ESOL CELTA is highly regarded internationally and has been accredited at level 5 on the National Qualifications Framework.
Find out more about CELTA training and exams at International House London