On the morning of May 24, 2025, at Hall 602, Vo Van Tan Campus, Ho Chi Minh City Open University hosted the Opening Ceremony of the 13th OpenTESOL International Conference. The event was held in a hybrid format, combining in-person and online participation. OpenTESOL 2025 spanned two days, from May 23 to May 24, 2025, attracting over 160 paper submissions and more than 500 speakers and participants, including scientists, managers, researchers, lecturers, graduate students, and undergraduate students majoring in English Pedagogy, Applied Linguistics, Chinese Linguistics, and Japanese Linguistics. They represented over 150 educational and training institutions worldwide, gathering to explore the theme: “Embracing Voices: Diversity, Agency, and Growth in Language Education.”
OpenTESOL: A Prestigious Academic Forum and Mission to Elevate Language Education in the New Era
OpenTESOL is a prestigious annual educational event co-organized by the Faculty of Foreign Languages and the Postgraduate Programs of Ho Chi Minh City Open University. The conference aims to serve the foreign language teaching community by fostering exchange, connection, and professional development for lecturers, teachers, doctoral candidates, academic managers, and experts across Vietnam, Asia, and the world. It contributes to improving training quality, innovating teaching methods, and creating a forum for sharing experiences, updating industry trends, promoting research potential, and helping learners apply knowledge in practice.
Under the theme “Embracing Voices: Diversity, Agency, and Growth in Language Education”, the event sought to address challenges and seize opportunities in the modern language education context. Research has focused on the key role of developing learner agency in foreign language learners, a decisive factor in helping them become active, autonomous, and highly effective individuals, thereby fostering lifelong self-learning skills. The Conference also proposed practical solutions for multicultural classrooms in the era of integration, emphasizing the diversity in learners’ cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Additionally, special attention was given to the profound aspects of the teaching staff, including their beliefs, values, career goals, personal experiences, social roles, and continuous professional development.
Opening Ceremony of the 13th OpenTESOL International Conference
The Opening Ceremony was attended by Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Ha, President of Ho Chi Minh City Open University, and Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thuy Nga – Senior Lecturer and Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages, along with speakers, professors, lecturers, and learners from universities and educational institutions nationwide and internationally.
In the opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Ha, President expressed his joy in welcoming speakers and participants from around the world, both in-person and online. He emphasized that the OpenTESOL International Conference demonstrates a shared commitment to promoting language education, collectively building a strong global community united by the belief in the transformative power of language learning to foster connections, opportunities, and impactful changes in educational development.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Ha also affirmed that since 2012, the OpenTESOL International Conference series has embodied Ho Chi Minh City Open University’s mission to provide high-quality, accessible education through in-person, online, distance learning, and part-time programs, meeting the diverse learning needs of society and contributing to national and global development.
Furthermore, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Ha stated that the theme “Embracing Voices: Diversity, Agency, and Growth in Language Education” provides an opportunity to reflect on the value of diverse perspectives in teaching and research, as well as the importance of empowering learners to take ownership of their educational journey. He affirmed dedication to lifelong development – as educators and individuals committed to excellence and equity in the field of language education.
Dr. Senior Lecturer Nguyen Thuy Nga – Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages, shared her pride in the significantly increased quantity and quality of this year’s research, which demonstrates the vibrancy of the TESOL community and affirms OpenTESOL’s position as a prestigious academic forum. She expressed hope that the conference would inspire and connect scholars and speakers from around the world, fostering a global learning environment.
In-depth Perspectives from Leading Scholars
Within the framework of the Conference, in addition to over 160 presented papers from international researchers, lecturers, teachers, and doctoral candidates from Vietnam and abroad included in the proceedings, 06 keynote sessions were presented directly by speakers who are leading and reputable scholars in the field of Theoretical and English Language Teaching (TESOL). These sessions provided profound insights and high practical value:
Prof. Tammy Gregersen – Director of the Intensive English Program, Tennessee State University, USA, presented on “Spurring Wellbeing Growth via an Exploration of Personal and Professional Agency.”
Dr. Raqib Chowdhury – Lecturer at Monash University, Australia, reported on “Decolonising ELT: Towards a Respectful and Culturally Affirming ELT Paradigm in Vietnam.”
Assoc Prof. Supakorn Phoocharoensil – Director of the Language Institute, Thammasat University (Thailand), shared insights on “Empowering TESOL Researchers: Trends and Practical Tips for Scopus-Indexed Success.”
Mr. Matt Blacker – Regional Customer Support Consultant for Asia, Oxford University Press, discussed “Developing student autonomy and self-esteem through effective feedback.”.
Dr. Glenn Low – Co-founder & CEO of Heyhi.sg, presented on “Assessment and Personalised Learning in the Era of AI.”
Mr. Andy Duenas – Teacher Training Specialist at National Geographic Learning, Vietnam, presented on “Diverse Literacies and Student Agency: Expanding Input Types and Production Opportunities.”
Through OpenTESOL 2025, participants had the opportunity not only to access the most advanced research and ideas but also to connect in an open and dynamic academic environment. This was an occasion for scientists, researchers, lecturers, teachers, and students to interact, learn from each other, build new cooperative relationships, and strengthen professional networks, promoting the sustainable development of language education, not only in Vietnam but also globally.
In the new era, as technology and globalization reshape how we learn and interact, OpenTESOL 2025’s theme “Embracing Voices: Diversity, Agency, and Growth in Language Education” became even more urgent. This promoted diversity in teaching methods, research, and learning approaches, encouraging learner autonomy and cultural sensitivity in foreign language classrooms.
OpenTESOL 2025 concluded with great success, leaving a mark as a high-quality intellectual forum where new ideas were nurtured and shared commitments to the development of language education were strengthened in the digital era.
Some photos of the event:
