It is based in Britain and was founded in 1967 as ATEFL (it became ‘International’ in 1970),[1] by W. R. (Bill) Lee, who also served as the organisation's first Chairman until 1984.
The renowned British linguist David Crystal was patron of IATEFL from the mid 1960s until 2023.
[3][4] IATEFL holds an annual conference in the spring, with key speakers and individual papers, workshops and symposia.
The primary activities for IATEFL members throughout the year are centred on Special Interest Groups (SIGs), which hold various types of meetings, conferences and webinars,[5] and publish newsletters.
Officers are elected on a regular basis, with a professional staff performing logistics and promotional tasks throughout the year.