Earl Stevick facts for kids

Earl Stevick (born October 23, 1923 – died August 13, 2013) was a very important expert in how people learn and teach languages. He helped create a popular way of learning languages called the communicative approach. This method focuses on using the language to communicate in real-life situations. Stevick was also a practicing Christian, and his beliefs greatly shaped his ideas about education.

Earl Stevick's Education and Work

Earl Stevick studied many different subjects. He went to Harvard University to study government. Later, he earned a special degree called a Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from Columbia University. He then got his highest degree, a PhD in linguistics, from Cornell University. Linguistics is the study of language.

After finishing his studies, Stevick started teaching at Scarritt College for Christian Workers in Nashville, Tennessee. He received a special grant called a Ford Fellowship, which allowed him to teach in Africa for two years. He taught in countries like Angola, the Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), and Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).

Later, Stevick worked for the U.S. State Department’s Foreign Service Institute. Here, he helped create courses to teach people local African languages.

In 1969, Earl Stevick was part of a small group of language teachers who started a new Master's degree program. This program was at the SIT Graduate Institute, which was then called the School for International Training. He continued to help guide this program as a member of its advisory board.

Earl Stevick's Family Life

Earl Stevick met Betty Rae Culp in 1947, and they got married in 1948. They built a loving family together. Earl Stevick had a brother named Bob Stevick, who lives in Seattle, Washington.

Earl and Betty Rae had three children: Becky Clarke, Marian Walton, and Joel Stevick. They were also proud grandparents to eight grandchildren and great-grandparents to six great-grandchildren.