The eighth ELC Bulletin continues an initiative introduced in the previous issue, namely the focus on a single theme rather than the inclusion of articles covering a variety of areas. Translation and Interpreting is the theme which has been selected. Karen M. Lauridsen, Handelshøjskolen i Århus, DK, and Daniel Toudic, Université de Rennes II, FR, who are guest editors for this issue, have been closely associated with this area for many years. Karen M. Lauridsen, Vice-Rector of Handelshøjskolen i Århus, DK, and ELC treasurer, has been vice-president of CIUTI, the Conférence Internationale des Instituts Universitaires de Traducteurs et Interprètes, since 1995. Daniel Toudic, who is well known for his work in postgraduate programmes of study in translation in the Université de Rennes II, has been an active member of the ELC since its creation, both in projects and in the Editorial Committee. The articles which they have selected are also by ELC members who are researchers and practitioners in the area. In addition, they have introduced a new genre to the bulletin, that of an article based on an interview, an excellent means of providing information on current developments by communicating directly with those experiencing and influencing such developments ”at the coal face”.

The News in Brief section provides up-to-date information on a number of activities recently or currently undertaken by ELC members, including the European Masters in Conference Interpreting, the CIUTI academy, a dissemination conference to mark the end of the TALLENT project, and two books published as a result of the activities of the first Thematic Network Project in the Area of Languages. As a result of the fact that the main articles in the bulletin in a number of future issues will also concentrate on a single issue, such as new learning environments and the Bologna process, the Editorial Committee believes that the News in Brief section may become more important in future issues, as the forum for the dissemination of information on members’ activities and achievements in a variety of areas.

Finally, the Editorial Committee would like to thank Dolorès Ditner, formerly of University College London, UK, for her very active participation in the work of the Committee and to wish her every success in her new career in Cambridge.

The Editorial Committee welcomes contributions to future issues, either in the form of 1000 word articles on ELC projects or issues of importance in language learning and teaching at European level, or in the form of brief information or progress reports on activities involving European co-operation in language studies which will be of interest to readers.

Information for inclusion in future editions should be sent to:

European Language Council/Conseil européen pour les langues
Freie Universität Berlin
ZE Sprachlabor
Habelschwerdter Allee 45
D-14195 Berlin
email: elc@zedat.fu-berlin.de
WWW: http://www.fu-berlin/elc

Members of the ELC Publications Committee

Angela Chambers, University of Limerick, IE
Mike Grenfell, University of Southampton, UK
Daniel Toudic, Université de Haute-Bretagne, Rennes II, FR.

ELC Information Bulletin 8 - April 2002