The Case of TESOL in Applied Linguistics

This paper considers TESOL as a case of applying applied linguistics to identify some tensions and the increasingly recognized complexities in past and current develop-ments. Against a brief historical background of applied linguistics and the evolution of TESOL as a profession and as a focus for research, the paper makes consistent links with education. It considers some critical features of TESOL pedagogy, intertwined with applied linguistics: language teaching methods, individual differences, teaching English to young learners, the relationship with multilingualism, and using English as medium of instruction. These are also TESOL research areas as are recent develop-ments for research ethics and uses of AI, among other future directions.