TESOL MA
The Pit Corder project
Learn more about our project celebrating the life and work of Stephen Pit Corder in York.
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Students on our TESOL MA course successfully applied to unveil a blue plaque celebrating the life and work of Stephen Pit Corder in York.
The students were working on an assessed project on the work of Stephen Pit Corder, the first Chair of the British Association of Applied Linguistics, when they uncovered key information about his life in York. As part of the project, the students wrote an application to York Civic Trust requesting a blue plaque to be erected at his birthplace in York. Following a successful process, a plaque for Pit Corder was unveiled at Hedley House on Bootham Terrace on Thursday 24 February 2022.
Pit Corder was a founding figure in the then new field of applied linguistics. He is considered one of the most influential applied linguists of the 20th century and has inspired generations of language teachers and researchers through his innovations in the field of practical research into second-language acquisition and teaching. His ideas have become the framework on which many later linguists have built new theories and approaches.
Known as Pit, he was born in York at 4 Bootham Terrace to a Quaker family and educated at Bootham School, where his father was a master. His mother was Dutch, which meant that he acquired a second language from birth. Corder attended Merton College Oxford in 1936 where he studied for a degree in Modern Languages (French and German).
Pit Corder Plaque unveiling
The unveiling of a blue plaque dedicated to S. Pit Corder (1918-1990).
Pit Corder speeches
Speeches given at the unveiling of the blue plaque dedicated to S. Pit Corder (1918-1990).
Grace TESOL MA
Not only was Pit Corder a trailblazer for UK Applied Linguistics but he carried out his work, through the British Council, across the globe. We were able to discover many links from Corder family members to Bootham School and so it feels fitting that the Corder name will be commemorated in the area. To find out that the plaque will finally be unveiled is so exciting! Years have now passed since we first sat and talked about our project, it’s a lovely feeling to have succeeded as a group.
Doria TESOL MA
I feel proud to have been involved in such a significant project for the University as well as the city of York, and thankful for the opportunity. It was fun working collaboratively and pouring our energy into something so meaningful and permanent. It is a nice feeling to be forever connected to York in this way even though I live quite far away.
Helen Sauntson Director of York St John University’s Centre for Language and Social Justice Research
We’re delighted to have played a part in York’s recognition of Pit Corder and proud that the diligent work of our students has led to this point. This further cements the position of York as the ‘home’ of applied linguistics. Pit Corder was a Quaker and used his training in linguistics to ask challenging questions that are consistent with the history and mission of York St John University and its work for social justice.
