The 30th Korea TESOL International Conference & PAC 2023 was conducted successfully on April 29-30, 2023, at Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul (Hybrid). The conference was opened by President Korea TESOL, Lindsay Herron. She gave her message on the importance of collaboration in teaching English at all levels. This conference was the first hybrid conference, after 3 years in Covid-19 situation. There are 430 participants in face to face, 130 participants online. This conference was attended by more than 30 countries. Kurniawan, the coordinator of TEFLIN Riau and Riau Island chapter and a lecturer at Universitas Lancang Kuning Pekanbaru was among the 560 worldwide participants to represent TEFLIN at this conference.

The theme of the 30th Korea TESOL International Conference, Advancing Collaboration: Exchanges Among Scholars, Instructors, & Students, seeks to enhance both the teaching and learning experience by encouraging the educational community to practically engage with and highlight collaboration in its various forms and the wider impact collaboration has for learning, teaching, and scholarship. This conference invites proposals on various topics related to collaboration in education and more disparate topics Such as:

  1. Expansion of our current understanding of the wider implications of collaboration. The such expansion allows us to better identify and engage in beneficial collaboration.
  2. Research the place and integration of collaboration into existing methodologies and pedagogical approaches.
  3. The benefits to education of exploring collaboration beyond the strict educational community.

This conference presented three Plenary Speakers:

  1. Thomas S.C. Farrell from Brock University, Canada
  2. Jack C. Richards from the University of Sydney, Australia
  3. Gabriel Diaz Maggioli from Universidad ORT Uruguay, Uruguay

The conference was also presenting some featured speakers, such as Boyoung Lee from Seoul, Korea, Raichle Farrelly from the University of Colorado Boulder, USA, Francisca Maria Ivone from Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia, George Jacobs & Chenghao Zhu from Universiti Malaya, Malaysia, Nikki Ashcraft from University of Missouri, USA, Judy Yin from Korea Natl. University of Education, Lindsay Herron from Gwangju Natl. University of Education, Korea.

Kurniawan presented his paper with the title Designing Listening Module Based on Malay Local Genius for Indonesian Higher Education: The Power of Collaboration. This title was in line with the KOTESOL theme. He presented his paper on Sunday, Apr 30, 13:30-13:55. Besides attending the conference, and special meeting and presenting his paper, Kurniawan also visited the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul and was welcome by Education and Culture Attaché at the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul, Mr. Gogot Suharwoto, Ph.D. He gave his high appreciation to TEFLIN for attending and giving some contributions to the KOTESOL International conference. He also would like to support the future TEFLIN’s useful agenda in Korea.

President Korea TESOL, Lindsay Herron, gave high appreciation to TEFLIN and TEFLIN’s representative for attending KOTESOL’s invitation and presenting the paper at this conference. Kurniawan, as TEFLIN representative was invited to attend some special events, such as

  1. President’s VIP dinner in La Lieto Italian restaurant, Sookmyung Women’s University on Friday, April 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m,
  2. Introduced to all attendees at the opening ceremony on Saturday, April 29
  3. PAC/International Partners Luncheon & Meeting on Saturday, April 29
  4. Pre-dinner reception (hors d’oeuvres & wine) KOTESOL 30th Anniversary Social on Saturday, April 29