Linguist to give up full-time teaching

Press, 21 December 1981, Page 6

Linguist to give up full-time teaching

Mr . Desmond Walker speaks 18 languages, coaches and administers two sports, and teaches full-time. But his doctor has told him to “take it easy,” and so Mr Walker will not return to teach at; Mairehau High School next year, nor will he do quite as much coaching as he would like. .

However, Mr Walker intends to keep all his 18 languages as polished as possible through regular visits to foreign ships berthed at Lyttelton. The ship visits have a history that dates back to 1958, when Mr Walker arranged for a group of his language pupils to meet a French crew. “Since then, I have ar-

ranged 70 to 80 trips, but sadly, Saturday’s visit to the Russian Iraqian ship Zain al Qaws was my last involving a class,” Mr Walker said. Generally, Mr Walker has found the on-board visits surprisingly easy to organise. “I just bowl along to the ship myself, and ask them if they would mind a visit. Virtually before I have uttered my first sentence they are dragging me off for a drink.'“You speak our language’ instant friend.”

Mr Walker sees his- visits as an enjoyable’ combination of two of, his greatest in : terests, languages and shipping-

His interest in languages led to his introducing language studies at Mairehau

High School, the first course of its kind in New Zealand. “The course is about learning languages, and has been brought in at about 50 schools throughout New Zealand,” Mr Walker said.

Mr Walker has also acted as an official interpreter for more than 25 years.

“I have done a lot of work for French people, and to mark my retirement the French Embassy in Wellington is sending a large French flag to Mairehau High School,” he said.

. Mr Walker intends to spend; his new-found spare time relaxing, .doing language coaching, and keeping up with his language contacts.