16th International Conference on TESOL – August 2025

From Policy to Practice: Rethinking English-Medium Education at TESOL 2025

In an era of globalization and increasing internationalization of education, English has become a common medium of instruction across many disciplines and academic levels. To address relevant issues and share best practices, SEAMEO RETRAC, in collaboration with Curtin University, Australia, successfully organized the 16th International Conference on TESOL on August 14–15, 2025. With the theme “English-Medium Education: Global Perspectives and Local Applications,” the conference explored the expanding role of English as a medium of instruction and the opportunities and challenges it brings.

The conference brought together English language educators, researchers, policymakers, and technology developers from across Southeast Asia and beyond. Participants engaged in keynote speeches, paper presentations, interactive workshops, panel discussions, and poster sessions, all designed to share innovative research, practical strategies, and future directions in English language teaching and English-medium education (EME).

At the Conference, a keynote presentation by Dr. Gary Bonar, Lecturer in languages and TESOL at Monash University, Australia, addressed the rapid expansion of English-Medium Instruction (EMI) in higher education and its impact on academic staff. He discussed the pressures lecturers face when teaching complex disciplinary content in English with limited institutional support. Drawing on examples from Vietnam and other EMI contexts, Dr. Bonar emphasized the need for more practical and sustainable support for EMI educators.

By fostering dialogue on pedagogy, technology, and language policy, the conference enhanced participants’ understanding of emerging innovations in English language education. Attendees left with practical insights, strengthened professional networks, and actionable strategies to improve teaching and learning in English-medium contexts worldwide.