Language Teaching Research Quarterly

When I was first contacted to contribute to this book, my first reaction was one of honour that the editors had thought of asking me to recognise the work of one of the most  influential professionals in our English Language Teaching profession, as well as a feeling of excitement that I could pay tribute to a man who has deeply impacted my career although I have seldom managed to acknowledge that influence directly. We all know the facts behind Dr. Brian Tomlinson’s distinguished career and his standing as one of the world’s leading experts on materials development in English language teaching and learning. However, it has been his ability to touch the professional lives of so many of us which is truly impressive, and I hope that this journey through my career and how it has been impacted by his work will not only resonate with you as readers but also introduce you to some of his work that you may not have been familiar with.