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Canadian Association of Teachers of Korean:
The 7th Annual Summer Conference
Kyoungrok Ko
(Professor, University of Toronto / President, Canadian Association of Teachers of Korean)
The Canadian Association of Teachers of Korean (CATK) was founded in 2017 to strengthen the network of Korean language educators across Canada, facilitate the sharing of research and teaching materials, and support teacher training and professional development for both established and new instructors. With annual support from the Academy of Korean Studies, the association has held summer conferences and winter colloquia in major Canadian cities from 2019 to 2025. Previous host institutions have included the University of Toronto and York University in Toronto, Carleton University in Ottawa, the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and McGill University in Montreal. In 2025, the 7th Annual Summer Conference was held at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities.
The conference at the University of Alberta on August 12, 2025, featured 12 research and teaching material presentations on the theme “The Evolving Role and Professional Development of Korean Language Teachers in the AI Era.” The conference was conducted simultaneously in person and online, continuing the dual-mode format that has been a distinctive strength of CATK’s since the pandemic. Given Canada’s vast territory as the world’s second-largest country, this approach ensures that teachers unable to attend in person can still observe presentations and share their perspectives. This year’s conference drew online participants not only from Canada but also from Korea, Japan, and the United States, demonstrating global interest in the educational applications of AI.
The conference at the University of Alberta on August 12, 2025, featured 12 research and teaching material presentations on the theme “The Evolving Role and Professional Development of Korean Language Teachers in the AI Era.” The conference was conducted simultaneously in person and online, continuing the dual-mode format that has been a distinctive strength of CATK’s since the pandemic. Given Canada’s vast territory as the world’s second-largest country, this approach ensures that teachers unable to attend in person can still observe presentations and share their perspectives. This year’s conference drew online participants not only from Canada but also from Korea, Japan, and the United States, demonstrating global interest in the educational applications of AI.
Approximately fifty people attended the conference in person at the University of Alberta, including university professors and lecturers, continuing education and community education professionals, high school credit course teachers, and Korean language school teachers. The strong participation from local Edmonton educators was particularly encouraging, as it aligned with the conference’s goal of strengthening regional networks. About thirty additional presenters and attendees participated online. The in-person attendance of presenters from Hanyang University and Kyung Hee University in Korea, as well as Princeton University and the University of Illinois in the United States, demonstrated the continued growing recognition of CATK.
The conference opened with welcoming remarks from Dr. Kyoungrok Ko, President of CATK, followed by congratulatory remarks from Jihoon Jang, Director of the Korean Education Centre in Canada, and a welcome address from Professor Daniel Fried, Chair of the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Alberta. The conference featured keynote presentations by Professor Mijeong Kim from Washington University in St. Louis and Professor Hyewon Cho from the University of Pennsylvania, which were enthusiastically received by attendees for their creative and ethical approaches to using AI in educational settings. The keynotes were followed by the 12 research and teaching material presentations, which sparked lively discussions among both in-person and online participants. A dinner reception after the conference provided opportunities for participant networking.
The conference opened with welcoming remarks from Dr. Kyoungrok Ko, President of CATK, followed by congratulatory remarks from Jihoon Jang, Director of the Korean Education Centre in Canada, and a welcome address from Professor Daniel Fried, Chair of the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Alberta. The conference featured keynote presentations by Professor Mijeong Kim from Washington University in St. Louis and Professor Hyewon Cho from the University of Pennsylvania, which were enthusiastically received by attendees for their creative and ethical approaches to using AI in educational settings. The keynotes were followed by the 12 research and teaching material presentations, which sparked lively discussions among both in-person and online participants. A dinner reception after the conference provided opportunities for participant networking.
Alongside the annual summer conference, CATK also holds a winter colloquium each December and hosts the Toronto Korean Language Speaking Contest for Canadian university students each March. Despite the regional challenges and limitations of operating in North America and Canada, the association’s various events and initiatives since its founding have been made possible through the continuous support of the Academy of Korean Studies. Building on this foundation, the association is planning diverse projects to support Korean language education at secondary and post-secondary institutions across different regions. (See the CATK website for more information: https://catk.ca/)
