The founder of language chain the Elizabeth Johnson Organisation has died at the age of 92.

Elizabeth Johnson set up her organisation in the early 1960s, initially working out of home with her fledgling business. A passionate linguist, she believed that teenagers learned more quickly if lessons were fun, and worked hard for student welfare and to establish recognised standards for short-term language course organisations.

Mrs Johnson co-founded FELCO (The  Federation of English Language Course Organisations), which later joined ARELS (The Association of Recognised English Language Schools) which merged with BASELT to form English UK in 2004.

She withdrew from active running of the EJO in 2001, spending more time on her lifetime passion of music and singing. She made CDs and published a book about her childhood and early life in Vienna, Amsterdam and Bucharest. She died in Vienna after spending two days preparing for an Austrian radio broadcast to celebrate the German version of the book, called Rosl's Daughter.

Nicholas Lockstone of the Elizabeth Johnson Organisation said: "Elizabeth was an energetic, vibrant and colourful figure and a warm and generous person who will be remembered by many and will be greatly missed."