Joseph Sheils, receiving a gift fromThomas O’Reilly, Chairman of Fermanagh District Council
ENNISKILLEN-BORN, Joseph Sheils, who until his retirement last year, was involved for over 30 years in drawing up language-teaching textbooks for 47 European countries, was a guest last week of the chairman of Fermanagh District Council, Thomas O’Reilly.
The function was organised to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of Mr Sheils, not least his having been awarded the rank of Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters, France’s highest cultural honour in recognition of his work to promote language learning and linguistic diversity in Europe.
Joseph is the oldest son of the late Patrick and Mai Sheils of Riverside, Cornagrade. He was educated at St Michaels College, Enniskillen and, following his university studies at UCC, he began a career as a language teacher.
While teaching, he joined a voluntary group of teachers who were keen to develop more communicative approaches to foreign languages teaching.
He gave up teaching in 1979 and was seconded to the Linguistics Institute of Ireland in Dublin, taking up the post of Modern Languages Adviser, going on to become Head of Department.
In 1992, he was appointed as an Adviser to the Council of Europe, and moved to Strasbourg with his wife, Fionnuala and their daughters, Aoife (who is now based in Strasbourg), Amy, a student in Amsterdam, and Fiona, who is a student in Trinity College in Dublin.
In due course, he became responsible for the Council of Europe’s modern languages work. He oversaw the development of some landmark projects, including the European Year and Day of Languages, and, also, some important publications, among them the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
The chairman noted that some of his work had been translated into over 30 languages and that it had a major impact on how languages are taught and text books written throughout Europe, America and Asia.
His work has taken him to nearly every country in Europe, including the Eastern Block and Russia, where he has become a familiar and respected figure in the languages’ field.
All this dedication resulted, following his retirement, in his nomination by the former French Culture Minister to the rank of Commander of France’s National Order of Arts and Letters, the country’s highest cultural award.
He received his award from the French Ambassador to the Council of Europe in a ceremony in Strasbourg in June of last year.
Councillor O’Reilly told him last week: “Joseph, you are an excellent ambassador for County Fermanagh, and I am delighted to host this reception to recognise your marvellous achievements.
Your work stands as a testament to your ability and diligence.”
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