Dear TIRF Board Members and Supporters, Earlier this month, TIRF held its first symposium in China, in collaboration with Beijing Normal University–Hong Kong Baptist University United International College (BNBU, formerly United International College [UIC]) in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province. The event was titled “AI-Empowered English Language Teaching and Learning” and featured two distinguished

The Foundation’s 2025 DDG (Doctoral Dissertation Grants) application window closed on May 14th. Here is a quick glance at some of the key data we have collected based on this year’s competition. The applicants in this year’s DDG competition will be notified in late August or early September concerning the

The TIRF-British Council Research Mentoring Awards (RMA) program is now open! The RMA program is designed to support new researchers and improve the quality of research undertaken by students in doctoral programs within the field of English language education on issues of mutual interest to TIRF and the British Council.

The proposal window for the 2025 TIRF Kathleen M. Bailey Teacher-Research Award (hereafter, the “TIRF Bailey Award”) is closing soon. Recipients of the TIRF Bailey Award will receive $1,000 and will have an opportunity to receive mentoring services from the Foundation. The TIRF Bailey Award is meant to recognize Dr.

Editor’s note: ChatGPT was used to help create the following announcement. The registration deadline for the TESOL-TIRF Research Symposium is rapidly approaching! Do not miss your chance to engage with graduate students, researchers, and teachers worldwide in a unique online event taking place this summer. TIRF is partnering with TESOL

Dear TIRF Board Members and Supporters, On April 10-11, 2025, the conference titled “The Future of English Education in Asia – Power of Teaching in the AI Era,” co-hosted by National Geographic Learning and City University of Macau, was successfully held at the City University of Macau. As Rector of

Editor’s note: In this piece, Caroline Greeney, Associate Digital Marketing Manager at National Geographic Learning (NGL), shares information with TIRF supporters about an upcoming webinar on “future-ready skills.” Join National Geographic Learning’s (NGL) upcoming webinar to discover why “future-ready skills” are essential to prepare English language learners for today’s global

Editor’s note: In this piece, Diane Larsen-Freeman, PhD, (Professor Emerita of Education and of Linguistics, University of Michigan; Research Scientist Emerita and Former Director, English Language Institute, University of Michigan; Professor Emerita, SIT Graduate Institute; and Visiting Faculty, University of Pennsylvania) shares an obituary of Dr. H. Joan Morley, a

We are pleased to announce that Xiaoxin Damerow has joined The International Research Foundation for English Language Education (TIRF) as its new Executive Assistant. With her appointment, TIRF continues to strengthen its capacity to support global English language education and research initiatives. In her new role, Xiaoxin will provide key

Editor’s note: In this piece, TIRF Trustee Anna Krulatz and her colleagues Rai Farrelly, Zuzana Tomaš, Kristen Lindahl, and Tamrika Khvtisiashvili highlight a session at a recent presentation that took place during the 2025 TESOL Convention, designed to honor TIRF Trustee MaryAnn Chrisitson.  The Teacher Education Interest Section (TEIS) of

If you missed TIRF’s presentation at the 2025 TESOL Convention, we have good news to share. A slidecast has been created and posted to TIRF’s website and YouTube Channel. Click here to access the recording. The presentation is entitled “AI and Language Education: What Works, What Doesn’t, What’s Next.” The

Just last month, the TIRF Board of Trustees adopted TESOL International Association’s statement in response to the U.S. Executive Order designating English as the official language of the United States. In doing so, TIRF joins TESOL—and a growing number of other organizations—in expressing concern over the implications of this policy

Editor’s note: In this piece, we share details about an international symposium TIRF is co-hosting with United International College, its partner in Zhuhai, China. We are proud to spotlight the upcoming TIRF-UIC International Symposium on AI-Empowered English Language Teaching and Learning, taking place on May 17, 2025, in Zhuhai, Guangdong,

The proposal window for the 2025 TIRF Kathleen M. Bailey Teacher-Research Award (hereafter, the “TIRF Bailey Award”) is currently open. Recipients of the TIRF Bailey Award will receive $1,000 and will have an opportunity to receive mentoring services from the Foundation. The TIRF Bailey Award is meant to recognize Dr.