More Than Professional Development: Networking at the 2026 TESL Ontario Annual Conference

When we think about attending a conference, professional learning is usually at the top of the list. We choose our sessions, listen to speakers, take notes, and hopefully leave with new ideas to bring back to our classrooms, programs, and workplaces.

But some of the most valuable conference experiences happen between the sessions: a conversation with a colleague, a new professional connection, an idea shared during a roundtable, or a chance meeting with someone working in another part of the language education sector.

The 2026 TESL Ontario Annual Conference, taking place virtually from November 4–6, offers plenty of opportunities to connect, collaborate, and build your professional network — whether you’re joining us online, attending TESL Ontario Connect in person, or doing both.

Connect Online Throughout the Conference

With more than 70 sessions taking place over three days, the virtual conference provides plenty of opportunities to meet and interact with educators and language-training professionals from across Ontario and beyond.

As you build your conference schedule, don’t just think about which sessions you want to attend. Think about the people you might meet there, too.

Join the conversation. Share an idea in the chat. Ask a question. Follow up with someone whose presentation or comment caught your attention. You never know where a five-minute conversation might lead.

Make Career Connections

Networking isn’t only about finding your next job. It’s also about learning more about the profession, discovering different career paths, and connecting with people whose experiences can help shape your own professional journey.

The Career Booster Forum will help educators develop skills and knowledge for navigating their careers, while Career Conversations: Leading Through Innovation, Entrepreneurial Mindsets and Everyday Leadership in ELT will explore leadership, innovation, and the many ways language educators can contribute within and beyond the classroom.

These sessions offer natural starting points for conversations about career development — whether you’re entering the profession, considering a change, looking toward leadership, or simply curious about what comes next.

Share Ideas at Roundtables

Sometimes the best networking opportunities are the ones where everyone has something to contribute.

Interactive roundtable discussions will give participants a chance to exchange ideas and perspectives rather than simply listen to a presentation.

Come prepared with a question, an experience to share, or a challenge you’re currently thinking about. You may discover that someone else has faced the same situation — or has a completely different perspective to offer.

Don’t Miss TESL Ontario Connect

For a more traditional conference networking experience, TESL Ontario Connect: Networking, Awards & Fireside Chats takes place on Wednesday, November 4, from 4:30—9:00 p.m. at Toronto Metropolitan University.

The evening will feature a fireside chat with education leaders, interactive roundtables, informal networking, and an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of TESL Ontario members.

Taking place on the first evening of the conference, TESL Ontario Connect is a great way to start your conference experience by putting some faces to the names you’ll encounter throughout the rest of the week.

Connect Through Shared Interests

One of the easiest ways to network is to start with something you already have in common.

Interested in research? The Research Symposium brings together perspectives on connecting TESL research with classrooms and communities.

Interested in technology? Look for TechKnow sessions and opportunities to exchange ideas about technology and innovation in language education.

Thinking about the future of the sector? The 21st Annual Panel Discussion: Charting a Sustainable Future for Language Education brings together government representatives and sector professionals to discuss issues affecting language education in Ontario.

And with more than 70 sessions covering a wide range of topics, there are plenty of opportunities to find people who share your professional interests.

A Few Simple Networking Tips

You don’t need to be a natural networker to make meaningful connections at a conference. Try setting yourself a small goal: start three new conversations during the conference.

You might also:

• Introduce yourself to another participant before or after a session.
• Ask a presenter a follow-up question and introduce yourself.
• Join a roundtable discussion, even if you’re not sure what you’ll contribute.
• Use the virtual conference platform to connect with people whose ideas interest you.
• Attend TESL Ontario Connect and make a point of speaking with someone you don’t already know.
• Follow up after the conference through LinkedIn or another professional network.

Networking doesn’t have to mean handing out business cards or “making a formal professional connection.” Sometimes it’s simply discovering that another educator is wrestling with the same question you are.

The People Are Part of the Conference

The 2026 TESL Ontario Annual Conference is about professional learning, but it’s also about professional community.

This year’s theme, Resilient. Relevant. Ready., reflects a profession that continues to evolve. Navigating that change is easier when we have opportunities to learn from one another, share our experiences, and build connections across the sector.

So, when you put together your conference schedule, leave a little room for the unexpected. Attend the session you hadn’t originally planned to attend. Join the conversation. Take part in a roundtable. Introduce yourself to someone new.

You may arrive looking for professional development.

You might leave with something just as valuable: a new connection.

The 2026 TESL Ontario Annual Conference takes place November 4–6, with TESL Ontario Connect taking place in person on November 4 at TMU. Registration for both is now open.