Recap of TIRF Activities at 2025 TESOL Convention

TIRF had an extremely busy and productive time last week during the 2025 TESOL Convention & Expo, which took place in Long Beach, California, USA. In this piece, we highlight three major activities: (1) TIRF’s spring Board meeting, (2) TIRF’s colleague session presentation, and (3) TIRF’s Annual Community Gathering.

TIRF hosted its spring Board meeting on Tuesday, March 18^th. Sixteen of TIRF’s 23 Trustees were able to attend in person and most others were able to attend online. Trustees spent large portions of the meeting reviewing updates from committees, working groups, and officers; reviewing the Foundation’s strategic plan activities, those both in progress and still in developmental stages; and discussing plans for various initiatives, including those related to services, AI, and policy. Updates on TIRF Trustees’ accomplishments and future plans will be periodically shared with TIRF supporters over the next six months, in the lead up to TIRF’s fall Board meeting.

Back Row (Left to Right): Lorraine de Matos, Donna Christian, Evelina Galaczi, Jun Liu, Joan Shin, MaryAnn Christison, Michael Carrier, & David Nunan; Front Row (Left to Right): Ryan Damerow, Kathi Bailey, Jodi Crandall, Suzanne Panferov Reese, Joyce Kling, & Polina Vinogradova

Once again, TIRF’s colleague session at TESOL 2025 was well attended, with standing room only (or floor-sitting room only, as was this case in Long Beach) for the more than 200 participants who joined the session. The presentation, entitled “AI and Language Education: What Works, What Doesn’t, What’s Next,” took place on Wednesday, March 19^th and featured the following abstract: “Fed up with the GenAI hype? Join TIRF and its partners from global organizations who will share their experiences with AI in English language education. They will discuss the benefits and shortcomings of GenAI in content creation, assessment, and language practice. An interactive audience-led gathering of insights will be included.”

Attendees at TIRF’s Presentation in Long Beach, California, USA (March 19, 2025)

The presenters of the TIRF session included Dr. Cindy Berger (Duolingo), Mr. Michael Carrier (TIRF Trustee; Highdale Learning), Dr. Larry Davis (ETS); Dr. Evelina Galaczi (TIRF Trustee; Cambridge University Press & Assessment), Dr. Jun Liu (TIRF), and Dr. Debra Suarez (TESOL International Association; Uplifting Teachers, LLC). Interest in the presentation provides further evidence that colleagues in our field are not only interested in the topic of AI, but are looking for solutions to help guide their AI efforts in teaching, learning, research, and so on. TIRF intends to release a slidecast (i.e., audio from the presentation matched with presenters’ slides) from the session as soon as next month.

Presenters at TIRF’s Presentation in Long Beach, California, USA (March 19, 2025): Left to Right: Michael Carrier, Evelina Galaczi, Jun Liu, Cindy Berger, Debra Suarez, & Larry Davis

TIRF’s Annual Community Gathering took place on Wednesday, March 19^th, as well. The event provided a unique opportunity for attendees to meet fellow supporters, educators, and researchers passionate about advancing English language education worldwide. Additionally, we recognized TIRF Past President and current Trustee Dr. Kathi Bailey for her 13 years of service as TIRF President (2009 to 2013). TIRF President Dr. Jun Liu and TIRF Trustee Dr. David Nunan highlighted TIRF activities, including the establishment of the TIRF Kathleen M. Bailey Teacher-Research Award, named after, of course, Dr. Kathi Bailey. In attendance at the gathering was Ms. Grace Davis, one of the inaugural TIRF Bailey Award recipients.

We will continue to highlight future TIRF events via our website, newsletter, and social media channels (i.e., Facebook and LinkedIn) in due course. We look forward to seeing TIRFers from around the world in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, as part of the 2026 TESOL Convention there!