Report on the 44th Annual International TESOL France Colloquium 2025

16 grudnia, 2025 Anna Rogalewicz Gałucka

International School Honoré-de-Balzac, Paris
Theme: One Language, Many Voices

The 44th Annual International TESOL France Colloquium took place in 2025 at the International School Honoré-de-Balzac. This year’s gathering opened with a small AI Fair, which showcased emerging tools and classroom applications. Although modest in scale, it offered a practical look at how teachers are beginning to experiment with technology. Set against the backdrop of a cold school building and an even colder Paris, the event felt relatively small overall. Attendance was more intimate than in pre-pandemic editions, creating space for closer exchanges but contributing to a generally subdued atmosphere.

The programme followed the theme One Language, Many Voices, bringing together educators, researchers, and practitioners interested in current issues in English language teaching. Despite the compact schedule, the colloquium featured a variety of talks, workshops, and roundtable discussions, many of which touched on evolving technologies—including artificial intelligence—and the shifting needs of learners in diverse classrooms.

The keynote speakers provided the main highlights of the event. Their presentations addressed broad pedagogical trends and practical implications for teachers navigating increasingly multilingual environments. While the topics were relevant, the tone remained consistent with the rest of the colloquium: informative without being particularly dynamic.

The conference schedule ran smoothly, with sessions well-spaced throughout the day. Breaks provided modest opportunities for networking, though the chilly setting made extended conversations between sessions less tempting. Exhibitors were few, reinforcing the quieter feel of this year’s edition.

A dedicated AI panel closed the colloquium, bringing together speakers who discussed both the opportunities and limitations of AI in language teaching. Unfortunately many participants left before it but it still offered a balanced range of perspectives, rounding off the event on a thoughtful note.

On a personal level, my own presentation went smoothly, and I appreciated having such active and engaged participants in the room. I also heard several teachers comment at the end of the conference that “Debbie managed to get a really good selection of speakers,” which seemed to reflect a shared sense of satisfaction with the programme despite the event’s overall low-key nature.

In sum, the 44th TESOL France Colloquium was a modest and quiet gathering, offering solid professional content without much fanfare. While not particularly exciting, it still provided space to reconnect with colleagues, hear from the keynote speakers, and reflect on current developments shaping the field of TESOL.