AsiaTEFL 2026 to Spotlight AI, Inclusion and the Future of English Language Teaching
20th May, 2026
The global TEFL community is preparing for one of its biggest annual gatherings as the 24th AsiaTEFL International Conference begins this month, with educators and researchers set to debate how English language teaching is evolving in an increasingly AI-driven world.
Hosted by Xi'an Jiaotong University in Xi'an from the 28th - 31st May, the conference will bring together teachers, policymakers, researchers and graduate students from across Asia and beyond under the theme: “ELT in a Changing World: Global Challenges and New Opportunities.”
Organisers say the event will focus heavily on how artificial intelligence, digital innovation and sustainable teaching practices are reshaping English language education. Topics scheduled for discussion include AI-assisted language learning, digital literacy, multilingual education, inclusivity, student wellbeing and the ethics of AI in the classroom.
The conference reflects a wider shift taking place across the TEFL industry, where educators are increasingly adapting to hybrid teaching models and experimenting with AI-powered tools rather than resisting them outright.
Several keynote speakers are expected to address this transformation directly. Glenn Stockwell will present on pedagogy in the age of AI, while Shawn Loewen is scheduled to discuss the role of technology in English language learning and teaching. Jiajin Xu will explore multimodal creativity and large language models in ELT. Other keynote speakers include Hossein Nassaji, Markus Bieswanger and Isaiah WonHo Yoo.
Conference organisers describe AsiaTEFL as one of the region’s leading academic platforms for advancing research and collaboration in linguistics and applied linguistics. Alongside keynote presentations, the programme will feature workshops, symposia, research papers, multimodal poster sessions and networking events. The event also highlights the growing internationalisation of English language teaching in Asia, with participation expected from universities and institutions across China, South Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe and North America.
As debates continue over the long-term impact of AI on teaching jobs, AsiaTEFL 2026 appears set to frame technology not as a replacement for teachers, but as a tool requiring new forms of pedagogy, ethics and professional development. For many TEFL professionals, the conference may offer an early glimpse into what the next phase of English language education will look like.
Find out more here.