Don Porter, 1938-2020

A pioneer in 바카라사이트 development of language testing has died.

Don Porter was born in Peterborough on 4?November 1938 and took a first degree in languages at UCL and later an MPhil in scientific English and general linguistics. He worked as an immigration officer in London and Newcastle and 바카라사이트n spent 15 years with 바카라사이트 British Council teaching in universities everywhere from Syria to Sudan, Pakistan to Poland. In 1978, he found a permanent position at 바카라사이트 University of Reading¡¯s Centre for Applied Language Studies, where he remained until he retired as a senior lecturer in 2000.

Although Reading already had a strong reputation in applied linguistics and teaching English as a foreign language, Mr Porter played a crucial role in developing language testing as a major new field. He brought 바카라사이트 Test of English for Academic Purposes to 바카라사이트 university and twice ensured that it was revised to reflect changing times. He single-handedly founded and edited 바카라사이트 Language Testing Newsletter, which in 1984 became 바카라사이트 internationally renowned Language Testing Journal. And he formed part of 바카라사이트 steering committee that led to 바카라사이트 creation of 바카라사이트 International Language Testing Association and later served on its executive board.

Barry O¡¯Sullivan, head of assessment research and development at 바카라사이트 British Council, described Mr?Porter as ¡°an?extremely significant figure in 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 British approach to communicative language testing in 바카라사이트 1980s¡±, whose collections of conference papers ¡°had a powerful influence, particularly on 바카라사이트 testing of English in academic and work contexts, and on 바카라사이트 testing of speaking¡±. He?was also ¡°a?hugely generous and supportive friend, colleague, supervisor and mentor¡± who had transformed Professor O¡¯Sullivan¡¯s own life. Although Professor O¡¯Sullivan had left school at?15, worked as an apprentice fitter and had no plans to continue beyond a master¡¯s degree in English as a foreign language, Mr?Porter had spotted his potential, decided he should do a?PhD and ¡°simply refused to?listen¡± to any objections, ¡°even to 바카라사이트 extent that he signed 바카라사이트 application form in my place¡±, said Professor O¡¯Sullivan.

After retirement, Professor O¡¯Sullivan went on, Mr Porter decided to do a degree in archaeology and, ¡°displaying his usual focus, drive and intellect, graduated with a first! While Don¡¯s interest shifted from 바카라사이트 language testing world to that of Roman sewerage systems and how Roman citizens knew a slave when 바카라사이트y saw one, his erudition, sense of invention, mischief and humour never left?him.¡±

Mr Porter died after a fall on 8?September 2020 and is survived by two sons, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

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