Journal of Research in Applied Linguistics (RALs), published by Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz (Iran) is a double blind, peer reviewed, and open access international journal of applied linguistics. The journal, published biannually in print and electronic formats, provides a forum devoted to the study of language in use as aspects of social life. The journal publishes empirical articles of comparative or methodological interest to scholars and students in applied linguistics and related disciplines. It encourages approaches to the study of language with methodological innovations. Journal of Research in Applied Linguistics aims to bolster interdisciplinary cooperation among researchers interested in language, education and work by publishing high quality works which speak to a wide audience.

Special edition: Language Teacher Development and Digital Technologies

Date of publication:

01/10/2023

Special edition editors:

John Traxler (University of Wolverhampton, UK)

Elena Bárcena (National Distance Education University, Spain)

Alberto Andújar (University of Almeria, Spain)

Supervising editors:

Alireza Jalilifar and Amir Mashhadi (Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran)

The editors are delighted to announce a special edition of the Journal of Research in Applied Linguistics (indexed in Emerging Sources Citation Index and Scopus, among others). The general topic of this volume revolves around language teacher training with a special focus on the role played by digital technologies and methodological innovations as the focal point of enquiry. In the last decades, the learner became the main point of attention of the educational research community, and teachers subsequently expressed their need for further academic research and support on their own professional development. This volume aims to be a valuable contribution in this sense and provide insights on the various ways in which language teachers can be empowered throughout their careers to reach their full potential whatever their situational context may be.

The special issue welcomes both high-quality theoretical papers and experimental full-research papers driven by data in any language. Contributors are encouraged to submit original proposals on relevant topics, taking the following guidelines and deadlines into serious consideration.

Proposal submission: 

We call for proposals on the theme of the special issue. Submitted proposals and the subsequent paper drafts will be subject to double blind peer-review. Final drafts need to be submitted via the Journal website according to the Guidelines for Authors. Special reference will be given to both quality and diversity in terms of topics, data, theoretical orientations, methodology, and contexts. 

Proposals should be submitted by email to the special issue editors, John Traxler (john.traxler@wlv.ac.uk), Elena Bárcena (mbarcena@flog.uned.es) and Alberto Andújar (alberto.andujar@ual.es), in a Word file with the following information:

• Title of proposed paper 
• Name/s and affiliation/s of author/s 
• Email of corresponding author 
• Abstract of maximum 500 words should outline the following: the focus and aim of the proposed paper, its theoretical underpinning, nature of data to be engaged with, preliminary findings and how the proposed paper connects with the special edition theme 
• Any references – maximum five 
• Bio of author/s – maximum 75 words (each) 

Special issue timeline: 

It is highly important to meet the following deadlines, especially if the works in progress are to be considered for publication.

Deadline for article proposals: 30/04/2023 (to be sent to the Editors – see emails above) 

Decision on abstracts: 15/05/2023

Deadline for article drafts: 15/06/2023 (to be sent to the journal website registration and submission portal). In order to make sure your paper is included in the special edition, please use the following heading on your title page, and before your paper's main title:

"Contribution to Special edition of Research in Applied Linguistics 2023, dedicated to Language Teacher Development and Digital Technologies”.

We remind authors to check the journal's instructions before submitting their draft article. Instructions for authors and a template for formatting of articles may be found on the journal website: https://rals.scu.ac.ir/journal/authors.note

First round review feedback to authors: 15/07/2023

Deadline for revised articles: 30/07/2023

Feedback on revised articles: 15/08/2023

Final submission from authors: 30/08/2023

Publication: 01/10/2023