Dear TIRF Board Members and Supporters,

I hope this message finds you well.

As we continue to navigate a time of profound change and opportunity, I am writing to invite your strategic thinking and collaboration on the future development of TIRF in the digital era. Specifically, I would like to open a dialogue on how we, as a foundation committed to the advancement of research and scholarship in English language education, can take a leading role in exploring the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance language learning and teaching worldwide.

AI is rapidly transforming the landscape of education—redefining how learners interact with content, how teachers facilitate instruction, and how researchers investigate educational processes. While this technological evolution holds significant promise, it also presents complex questions about pedagogy, equity, ethics, and impact. With these issues in mind, I believe TIRF is uniquely positioned to shape a thoughtful, research-informed approach to these issues.

To begin this work, I propose that we explore the development of a research framework for AI-enhanced language education. Such a framework could guide future inquiry by helping us identify the most pressing questions, promising innovations, and meaningful outcomes related to AI’s integration into English language learning and teaching. In particular, I am interested in how we might:

• Define core principles and priorities for research in this emerging area
• Ensure that our research agenda addresses diverse learner populations and contexts
• Explore the implications of AI for teacher education, curriculum design, and assessment
• Promote ethical use of AI, with a focus on data privacy, fairness, and inclusivity
• Translate research findings into practical tools and strategies that can demonstrably improve classroom practice and learner outcomes

I invite each of you to share your thoughts, expertise, and ideas on how we can begin shaping this agenda. Whether through a working group, a special initiative, or collaborative projects, your perspectives will be essential as we chart this new path forward.

TIRF has already made efforts in coming up with ethical guidelines for using AI for language teachers and learners, and has already shared this resource with some teachers through conferences and symposia. But I believe there are more areas related to AI that require our strategic thinking and planning for future research. Please give some thought to this topic and write to me at [email protected]. I would like to see us further discuss how we might move ahead collectively.

Thank you, as always, for your commitment to TIRF’s mission. Together, I believe we can help ensure that research not only keeps pace with technological change but actively informs a more inclusive and effective future for English language education.

Warm regards,

Jun Liu, PhD

TIRF President