Tribute to Marc
Japan, 19 March 2025?¨C?It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Professor Emeritus Marc Helgesen on March 11th, 2025. Marc left an indelible mark within the English language learning community. First and foremost, he inspired thousands through his engaging and hands-on teaching at Miyagi Gakuin Women¡¯s University. You could see his influence when you met his students who often volunteered at JALT events. He encouraged them be active, curious, and thoughtful learners. This philosophy carried through into English Firsthand. And through his publishing, he was able to reach beyond the walls of his classroom, beyond Japan, and into the minds of teachers and learners all over the world.
The following is a letter that Marc wrote to one of his teachers, which is included in English Firsthand. It¡¯s short story about how he became a teacher but teaches us the importance of gratitude. In his own words...
Marc taught us all. Not just about English. But about how you can inspire and change people¡¯s lives. About how to make a meaningful difference in this world. And how to be thankful for the people in your life. Everyone who has had the privilege of learning from Marc has a little bit of him within ourselves. For that, we want to say, thank you.