Hans-Eberhard Piepho, RIP

Michael K.Legutke, University of Giessen, Germany

On 11 September 2004 Professor Hans-Eberhard Piepho died at the age of 75. There is hardly any applied linguist in Germany who has had such a lasting impact on the teaching and learning of foreign and second languages as he has. He started his career as a classroom teacher, was headmaster of a school in Hanover, and Director of the America-House in Hanover. He was a founding father of the Association of Teachers of English at German Comprehensive Schools, a member of the Executive Committee of IATEFL and, for 23 years, a professor of Applied Language Studies and English at the Justus-Liebig University in Giessen, Germany.

His famous and controversial book Kommunikative Kompetenz als übergeordnetes Lernziel im Englischunterricht (Communicative Competence as Primary Goal in Teaching English) (1974) was received by many as a manifesto of change heralding a new era of language teaching in Germany. With numerous articles and books he contributed in his inspiring and creative way to the professional discourse in Germany and far beyond, earning himself an international reputation. Very early he began to reach out into the field of German as a foreign language and travelled the world for the Goethe-Institut to conduct teacher education courses, give key note lectures and help shape language policies.

Those of us in the profession who had a chance to experience Hans-Eberhard Piepho in action will not forget his wonderful sense of humour, his excellent performance in the language classroom and his stimulating seminars and lectures. For many of us he was a unique innovator, a formidable teacher, a critical colleague and a friend.