It is with a heavy heart that International House World organisation (IH World) shares the news of the passing of Brita Haycraft, co-founder of International House and pioneer in language education. Brita passed away peacefully on 28th December 2024, surrounded by her loving family.
Brita’s visionary work and leadership have left an extraordinary legacy, inspiring countless individuals within the International House family and beyond. Alongside her husband, John, Brita established a network over 70 years ago that has shaped the field of language education on a global scale.
Swedish-born Brita was a distinguished academic and a talented linguist, fluent in several Germanic and Romance languages. She earned first-class honours in French and English at Uppsala University, excelling in grammar, literature, and phonetics. It was in Oxford that she met John, and together they embarked on a journey to promote international understanding through language learning and teacher training.
Brita’s passion for language education was particularly evident in her dedication to teaching pronunciation. She served as the Head of Speech Training at IH London for many years and authored several influential books, including The Teaching of Pronunciation: A Classroom Guide (Longman, 1975), It Depends How You Say It: Materials for Language Practice (Elsevier, 1981), and English Aloud (Macmillan Education, 1992). Her contributions extended to writing for the IH Journal, where she shared her insights and expertise with educators worldwide.
Brita and John revolutionised language teaching by emphasising the communicative method, an approach that encourages students to use new language interactively in real-life situations. This innovation, rooted in their own experiences as language learners, remains at the core of International House’s ethos. Brita once reflected:
“Already some of the fundamental aims are in place: the reason for founding Casa Internacional, small classes, language exchanges between nationalities, company teaching, the chance to follow up with a course in Spain, versatility, and flexibility.”
(Haycraft, B. 2008, ‘IH in Covent Garden, Then and Now,’ IH Journal, Issue 24)
Brita’s dedication to excellence and her unwavering commitment to setting high standards in language teaching created a lasting sense of professionalism within the language education community. Her contributions continue to inspire the IH network, and they owe her a profound debt of gratitude.
As the organisation mourns Brita’s loss, they also celebrate her remarkable life and enduring impact. Her vision and passion will remain a guiding light for all of everyone in the International House network.