Garth Elzerman joined KOTESOL when he first arrived in Korea, in 2019, and served as the 2019 International Conference HR Coordinator. For the 2021 International Conference, he assisted with coordinating the Zoom-room hosts. He was elected to the position of 2022 International Conference Co-chair and is now chairing the 2023 Korea TESOL International Conference. Garth moved to Korea in early 2019 from South Africa. He is now teaching at Kyungdong University in Sokcho, Gangwon-do. He has a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of South Africa, a postgraduate certificate in education from Essex University, a honours degree in philosophy from UNISA, a TESOL certificate from the Wits University, and a baccalaureate in philosophy, psychology, and law from Rhodes University. He will soon be undertaking his doctoral studies in moral emotions.

Lindsay Herron has been a visiting professor at Gwangju National University of Education in Korea since 2008; prior to that, she taught English on a Fulbright grant in Seogwipo, Jeju-do. Currently a doctoral candidate in literacy, culture, and language education at Indiana University (USA), she also has a master’s in language education; a master’s in cinema studies; bachelor’s degrees in English literature and psychology; a postgraduate certificate in learning sciences, media, and technology; a CELTA; and the CELTA Young Learner Extension. Her current research focuses on the critical cosmopolitan literacies of language learners participating in an online cross-cultural exchange. Lindsay is the current president of KOTESOL and the registration director for the conference.

Bryan Hale served as president of Korea TESOL from 2021 to 2022. He is currently Gwangju-Jeonnam KOTESOL chapter president. He was first blown away by the 2012 international conference and has been involved with KOTESOL since. Bryan teaches at Jeonnam Foreign Language High School in Naju. In 2020, he completed a Master of Applied Linguistics (TESOL) through the University of New England in Australia, in which he researched language play and playfulness in the foreign language classroom.

The 30th Korea TESOL International Conference - Invited Speakers Director - Financial Affairs Director

Hello! Michael Free here. It's my pleasure to be, along with the awesome Kirsten Razzaq, a Co-chair for this year's KOTESOL International Conference. If you've any questions, suggestions, or just want to chat, please find me on our Discord server. :)

Kirsten Razzaq is an English language lecturer currently working and residing in Seoul. She has taught EFL in Korea for more than six years and also trains pre-service English teachers for the National Institute for International Education (NIIED). Originally from London, she has years of experience in the creative industry managing design projects and client accounts. As a language educator, she is curious about learner autonomy and project-based language learning in the classroom. Her happy place is teacher training and supporting others to upskill, gain confidence and develop self-awareness.