Privacy Policy

Your privacy is very important to us. This policy explains how TESOL International Association (TESOL) collects and processes your personal data. This policy applies to all TESOL web properties, including the TESOL website, its microsites, online community, and other sites within TESOL’s control (Sites). This notice is applicable to all users and visitors of the Sites.  

Personal data is any information that enables us to identify you, directly or indirectly, by reference to an identifier such as name, identification number, location data, online identifier, or one or more factors specific to your physical, genetic, mental, economic, cultural, or social identity. TESOL follows the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and is the data controller. TESOL’s head of operations, Juliet Mason, is responsible for overseeing compliance and responding to inquiries about this notice.  

By visiting www.tesol.org or its related properties, you acknowledge that you have read and understand the processes and policies in this notice.  

We reserve the right to disclose your information where required by law or to comply with a valid legal process (such as a search warrant, subpoena, or court order), to protect TESOL’s rights or property, or to ensure users’ safety. 

When you visit our website information about your navigation patterns and device, including your internet protocol (IP) address, what type of device you’re using (e.g., tablet, desktop, mobile phone), your device’s operating system, the type of browser you use, and the specific web pages that you visited during your connection is collected. None of this information is personally identifiable. 

We may also track data such as the total number of visits to our website and the number of visitors to each web page. This information is aggregated with member demographic data and used to maintain our system and to better understand how our visitors use our sites and other services. Our goal is to ensure that our website and other services meet our users’ needs. 

When you make a purchase or register through the TESOL website, we ask you to provide your name, email address, postal address, telephone number, and demographic information. In addition, any purchase you make, payment information, or web form you complete is stored.  For online programs we may also store your participation and completion data and any digital badges or certificates earned. We also maintain records of your activity with TESOL to include volunteering, presenting, and community activity. When you join TESOL, we may ask for more detailed demographic information. TESOL does not store credit card or other third-party account information; all payment information is encrypted. 

We may use your data to carry out obligations arising from your membership or other contract entered into between you and TESOL and to provide you with the information, products, and member services you request from TESOL. Additionally, we may use the information to organize events you have purchased or registered for, to provide you information, publications, and other resources, to respond to questions, and to provide information about other events, products, and services we offer that are similar to those you have already purchased and/or expressed interest in.  

By making a purchase from TESOL, attending a TESOL-sponsored or organized event, including community of practice webinars, or subscribing to receive information from TESOL, you are consenting to receive information from TESOL. You may withdraw this consent or manage your communication preferences at any time. The exception to this is where processing in necessary for the performance of a contract to which you are a party, we are required by law, processing is required to protect your vital interests or those of another person, or processing is necessary for the purposes of our legitimate commercial interests, except where such interests are overridden by your rights and interests.  

TESOL does not offer continuing education units. We maintain a confidential record of all the TESOL education programs you have completed and any digital badges or certificates you have earned. Your information is secured and not shared with any third parties. For more information on access, see “How Does TESOL Protect My Information?” below. For more information on how to obtain a transcript, please contact us. 

Yes. When you sign up as a new user, the TESOL website places a cookie on your computer. A cookie is a small piece of text that gives your computer a unique identity, but it does not contain any information that allows us to identify you personally. 

Cookies enable us to keep track of your shopping cart when you make a purchase, and they can remember your password for you so that you don’t have to retype it every time you visit the website. 

TESOL also uses cookies to gather demographic and other statistical information. We aggregate this information and use it to improve our website and our services. Most browsers automatically accept cookies, but if you prefer, you can opt out by changing your browser setting. If you opt out, you can still access most of the TESOL website, but you will not be able to make purchases. 

When you visit a website that has partnered with a specific remarketing advertising network, a small piece of code called a pixel is created and stored on your web browser, usually in the form of a cookie. This special cookie allows advertisers to provide highly targeted ads to website visitors as they browse the internet. TESOL has partnered with a remarketing advertising network to utilize remarketing. TESOL does not provide personal information about its website visitors to remarketing partners. 

Before you send your information to our database, we encrypt it with secure server software so that no one can read it during transit. We also use secure socket layer (SSL) certificates to protect all the information that we collect against unauthorized access. 

Only authorized TESOL staff and contractors have access to personally identifiable information in our database, and that access is limited to what is necessary to complete a transaction with you or to carry out other work-related responsibilities. We take the sharing of personal information very seriously, and staff or contractors who violate TESOL’s privacy policy are subject to disciplinary action, including termination. 

TESOL may occasionally provide, sell, or rent limited data to third parties, including companies that offer products and services for sale to TESOL’s members and customers and agents of TESOL. This information includes names, job titles, companies or organizations, and preferred addresses, but does not include phone numbers, business fax numbers, educational background, or email addresses. Additionally, TESOL or its agents may occasionally send email messages on behalf of third parties. You can opt out of these activities at any time.  

TESOL may contract with an individual or agent to perform a specific task on behalf of TESOL and data may be provided for the purpose of completing the contracted task, TESOL retains all ownership of the data and employs means to ensure the data is not reused or shared beyond the contracted services. 

If you join TESOL, your contact information may be made available to other members through a password-protected member directory. Should you volunteer with TESOL your information may be shared with other volunteers for the purpose of conducting the work for which you have volunteered. You can opt out of this at any time. 

TESOL may also share statistical or demographic information in aggregate form with TESOL leadership and other third parties for marketing or research purposes. This aggregate data does not contain any information that identifies you personally. 

We may share your personal data for the purposes described here with: 

  • TESOL employees.
  • Partners, suppliers and sub-contractors, for the performance of obligations arising from your membership, or any other contract we enter into with them or you or to provide you with the information, products and membership services that you request from us.
  • Analytics and search engine providers that assist us in the improvement and optimization of our Sites.
  • Trusted third-party companies and individuals to help us provide, analyze, and improve the Sites and our membership services (including but not limited to data storage, maintenance services, database management, web analytics and payment processing).
  • In the event that we sell or buy any business or assets, in which case we will disclose your personal data to the prospective seller or buyer of such business or assets.
  • If TESOL or substantially all of its assets are acquired by a third party, in which case personal data held by it about its customers will be one of the transferred assets. 

We will only transfer your personal data to trusted third-parties who provide sufficient guarantees in respect of the technical and organizational security measures governing the processing to be carried out and who can demonstrate a commitment to compliance with those measures. 

TESOL uses up to date security measures to help protect your personal data against loss, misuse, or unauthorized access; we cannot guarantee the security of information transmitted to us over the internet. All information provided to us is stored in a secure environment with password-protected access. Any payment information is encrypted using SSL technology. 

TESOL is headquartered in the United States, but your information may be accessed by or transferred to and from partners, merchants, or service providers located worldwide. If you are visiting our Sites from outside the United States, be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States. By using our Sites and services you consent to any transfer of this information. 

We will store your data, in a form which permits us to identify you, for no longer than is necessary for the purpose for which the data is processed. We may retain and use your personal data as necessary to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements and rights, or if it is not technically reasonably feasible to remove it. Consistent with these requirements, we will try to delete your personal data quickly upon request. 

We will retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you with access to our Sites. If you wish to cancel your account or request that we no longer use your information, you may contact us. We will retain and use your information as necessary to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. We maintain one or more databases to store your personal data and may keep such information indefinitely. 

We encourage you to keep your information up to date. To check or update your contact or demographic information, you can log in to the TESOL website and click on “My Account” in the upper right corner of the page, or you may send an email message to TESOL member service, and we will gladly update your information for you. 

If you would prefer not to receive notices, updates, or correspondence from TESOL International Association, please contact customer service, and we will remove you from our mailing lists. 

If you would prefer that TESOL did not disclose your information to third parties, you can log in to the TESOL website, click on ‘My Account,’ and update your preferences or you may contact customer service. Changes may take up to 30 days to go into effect. 

The TESOL website includes links to other websites and resources. TESOL International Association has no control over such sites and resources and is not responsible for the availability of such external sites or resources. TESOL also does not endorse and is not responsible or liable for any advertising, products, or other materials on or available from such sites or resources, and TESOL shall not be held responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with use of or reliance on advertising, products, or other materials on or available from such sites or resources. 

We encourage our users to check the privacy policy of other websites before giving them any personal information. 

Our Sites are not directed to children under the age of 16, if you are not 16 years or older, do not use our Sites. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under the age of 16. If we learn that personal data of persons less than 16 years-of-age is stored in our systems or Sites, we will take the appropriate steps to delete this information. If you are a parent or guardian and discover that your child or a minor under the age of 16 has posted, submitted or otherwise communicated personal data to TESOL without your consent, please alert us so that we may take appropriate action to remove the minor's information from our systems. 

Correction and removal 

If any of the information that we have about you is incorrect, or you wish to have information removed from our records, you may do so by visiting the your profile, or contacting us. 

Opting Out 

Additionally, if you prefer not to receive marketing messages from us, please let us know by clicking on the unsubscribe link within any marketing message that you receive, by visiting communication preferences within the individual profile, or by sending a message to member@tesol.org 

Your European Rights 

FOR EUROPEAN RESIDENTS ONLY. You have the right to ask us not to process your personal data for marketing purposes. We will usually inform you (before collecting your personal data) if we intend to use your personal data for such purposes or if we intend to disclose your information to any third party for such purposes. You can exercise your right to prevent such processing by checking certain boxes on the forms we use to collect your personal data. You can also exercise this right by contacting us.  

Under European data protection law, in certain circumstances, you have the right to: 

  • Request access to your personal data. You may have the right to request access to any personal data we hold about you as well as related information, including the purposes for processing the personal data, the recipients or categories of recipients with whom the personal data has been shared, where possible, the period for which the personal data will be stored, the source of personal data, and the existence of any automated decision making.
  • Request correction of your personal data. You may have the right to obtain without undue delay the rectification of any inaccurate personal data we hold about you.
  • Request erasure of your personal data. You may have the right to request that personal data held about you is deleted.
  • Object to processing of your personal data. You may have the right to prevent or restrict processing of your personal data.
  • Request restriction of processing your personal data request transfer of your personal data. You may have the right to request transfer of personal data directly to a third party where this is technically feasible.
  • Withdraw your consent. 

In addition, where you believe that TESOL has not complied with its obligations under this Notice or European law, you have the right to make a complaint to an EU Data Protection Authority, such as the UK Information Commissioner’s Office. 

You can exercise any of these rights by contacting us. 

Your Californian Rights 

FOR RESIDENTS OF CALIFORNIA ONLY. Section 1798.83 of the California Civil Code requires select businesses to disclose policies relating to the sharing of certain categories of your personal data with third parties. If you reside in California and have provided your personal data to TESOL, you may request information about our disclosures of certain categories of personal data to third parties for direct marketing purposes.  

TESOL may revise or update this policy at any time. Any revisions or updates will be posted on this page. This policy was last revised December 2025.  

This website uses cookies. A cookie is a small piece of code that gives your computer a unique identity, but it does not contain any information that allows us to identify you personally. For more information on how TESOL International Association uses cookies, please read our privacy policy. Most browsers automatically accept cookies, but if you prefer, you can opt out by changing your browser settings.