Dr. Richards draws your attention to a recent publication that provides a comprehensive overview of the opportunities, challenges, and practical considerations associated with the use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in language teaching and learning.
Keith Cheng Lin and Jack C. Richards:
GenAI-assisted language teaching (GenAILT): Approach, design,
and procedure.
Two piano majors from the Victoria University of Wellington School of Music, Junwei Chen and Shanyi Zhou, have been awarded prestigious scholarships to attend the Semaine Internationale de Piano an advanced piano masterclasses in Blonay, Switzerland, in August 2026. The scholarships recognise their outstanding musical achievement and will support their participation in an intensive international programme, where they will study with leading artists and educators while gaining valuable professional and artistic experience.
The Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures at the Ecole Normale Supérieure, Mohammed V University de Rabat, is honored to welcome Dr. Jack C. Richards as the Keynote Speaker for their first international conference on Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching & Learning.
Join us for his inspiring keynote at this landmark event.
Converging Disciplines, Evolving Classrooms: Applied Linguistics and ELT in Context
June 24–25, 2026 | ENS, Mohammed V University, Rabat
Dr. Richards recommends an important new book on curriculum development in language teaching. Fundamentals of Curriculum Planning, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation in English Language Teaching By Eman Elturki.
Dr. Richards and his former student, Virak Chan, were featured speakers at CamTESOL in Phnom Penh in February. Dr. Richards also had a photo opportunity with the 25 teachers from rural schools whom he sponsored.
Dr. Richards has generously donated a significant Art Deco sculpture titled Young Lady With Gazelle, created in 1936 by French artist Charles-Georges Barberis. Previously part of a private collection in Austria, the sculpture now joins MTG Hawke’s Bay in Napier, New Zealand, as a gift from Dr. Richards’ personal collection.
This contribution enhances the museum’s renowned Art Deco collection.
Dr Richards reports that he has come across an article of his that he had long forgotten about but he believes would still be of interest to teachers.
New editions of both the Interchange and Four Corners series are upcoming.
Cambridge University Press have announced that new editions of both of the popular series for learners of English will be published in 2027.
Dr Richards at CamTESOL with teachers from rural schools in Cambodia who he sponsored to participate in the Cambodian TESOL Convention in February 2025. Click on the image for a larger version.
An important venue for musical performances in Wellington is St Andrew’s on the Terrace, a heritage listed building which the St Andrew’s community make available for many kinds of musical events.
The fine pipe organ in the church was built by Jack’s uncle Bill Croft, who together with Jack’s grandfather George Croft, built many highly regarded pipe organs in New Zealand. Jack’s middle name is Croft (hence Jack C Richards).
Jack is the principal sponsor of a lunchtime concert series that has been an important part of musical life in Wellington since 1974. In 2025 with Jack’s sponsorship a new series of Sunday afternoon concerts will be held in the church, the first featuring two outstanding Australian musical prodigies, Joshu Han (piano) and his bother Oscar Han (violin).
Dr Richards has been invited to give the keynote address at the annual LaoTESOL convention in Vientiane on February 5, 2025, following which he will also be presenting at the Cambodian TESOL convention in Phnom Penh. Dr. Richards is sponsoring CamTESOL for 40 teachers from rural schools in Cambodia.
In October Dr. Richards sponsored a private function to launch pianist Quang Hong Luu’s recording of The Twelve Transcendental Etudes of Franz Liszt.
In September Dr. Richards sponsored a recital by Vietnamese/Australian pianist Quang Hong Luu.
Dr Richards and student participants in the Blonay master-class program.
In August, Dr. Richards sponsored four young pianists to attend the Semaine Internationale de Piano an international masterclass and chamber music festival in Blonay, Switzerland.
The following pianists were chosen to attend the masterclasses:
In February Dr Richards spoke at Thammasat University in Bangkok and was also a plenary speaker at the Cambodian TESOL annual conference in Phnom Penh.
Jack with colleagues and former students at the CamTESOL convention February 2024.
Worldly Possessions: The Collection of Jack C. Richards Part IV is the fourth auction of items from Jack’s collection. It will be held in Auckland on February 12, 6:30 PM NZDT.
You can view the catalogue here.
From the Victoria University of Wellington website:
Victoria University of Wellington adjunct professor and alumnus Jack Richards has had an illustrious career in teaching English as a second language. But if not for a chance conversation with a friend about a job opportunity, his career might have looked very different…
Dr Richards highly recommends this article by Professor Gregory Hadley. It reports on one of the few empirical studies that have been conducted to assess the effectiveness of global English textbooks, using the the Interchange series as an example.