The Journal is now 'under new management'. After a number of years of tender loving care from David Evans and David Cranmer, overall project management is now with our newly-appointed Country Examinations Manager, Simona Demuro, and the editorship in the capable hands of Julie Tice, who is now to be found managing the British Council branch in Parede. Simona and Julie have a real task on their hands in matching the dedication and commitment which the two Davids brought to the task. Thank you, David and David, for your excellent work, and good luck to Julie and Simona.

We are proud of the fact that 'Journal' readers are distributed all over the Portuguese-speaking world, and while it might be an expensive journey for some, I would encourage anyone in the Lisbon area, or those of you from further afield who find yourselves visiting Lisbon, to come and visit the newly refurbished British Council building, the 'Palácio do Menino de Ouro', in Rua Luis Fernandes. We have invested what is, for us, an enormous amount of money in refreshing and re-designing the building, and have particularly focussed on our new Library, Information and Study Centre, where visitors interested in the teaching of English will find a host of interesting resources and technology. Aesthetically, too, things are looking up, with the walls lined with interesting examples of contemporary British art. So do come and pay us a visit!

And just as we have refurbished and refreshed the British Council building here in Lisbon, as well as dressing up the premises in Coimbra and Porto, the next edition of the 'Journal' will be benefiting from a similar make-over. There may even be a change of name, depending on whether inspiration strikes, or not. But please be assured that the focus will continue to be on the English-learning environment of Portuguese-speaking learners, with what we think is a useful and judicious mix of features focussing on theory and on practice.

I wish good reading - and do, please, email us with your comments and suggestions.

Robert Ness
Director
The British Council Portugal