Journal of Research in Applied Linguistics

Journal of Research in Applied Linguistics

Call for Papers - Special edition: The Role of Generative AI in Second Language Acquisition

  • 2025-10-31

Call for Papers - Special edition

The Role of Generative AI in Second Language Acquisition  

Journal of Research in Applied Linguistics. To be published in September 2026.

 

Special edition editors: Elena Barcena (UNED, Spain), Timothy Read (UNED, Spain), & John Traxler (University of Wolverhampton, UK)

Supervising editors: Alireza Jalilifar & 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 devoted to recent contributions on GenAI, Generative AI, in Second Language Acquisition. The special issue welcomes high-quality theoretical and experimental full-research papers. Contributors are encouraged to submit original proposals on the relevant topics, taking the following guidelines and deadlines into serious consideration.

 

The editors welcome contributions that might include empirical studies, literature reviews, and speculative pieces, developments to policy and practice, pilots and proofs-of-concept, scaling-up and embedding, implementation and delivery, addressing themes such as the following:

  • Modelling GenAI-based second language learning
  • GenAI and adult, community and informal language learning
  • GenAI in second language acquisition and digital neo-colonialism
  • Harm, hallucinations and half-truth in GenAI-based second language learning
  • GenAI, Generativism and other new pedagogies for learning languages
  • GenAI and the evolution of language and communication amongst learners
  • GenAI and the international language school industry
  • Minority languages, global power languages and GenAI
  • Plagiarism, originality and assessing language learning with GenAI
  • GenAI for LSPs (Languages for Specific Purposes)

 

Proposal submission: 

We call for proposals on the theme of the special issue. Submitted proposals and the subsequent paper drafts will be subject to peer-review. The entire submission and review process will be managed through the journal's portal. 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 (mbarcena@flog.uned.es; tread@lsi.uned.es; john.traxler@wlv.ac.uk) 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 which should outline the following, as relevant to the topic and treatment: 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 abstracts:  March 1, 2026 (send to editors – see emails above) 

Decision on abstracts: March 15, 2026 

Deadline for article drafts: June 15, 2026 (submit via  journal website registration and submission portal; please indicate on the title page “Contribution to special edition of Research in Applied Linguistics 2025, dedicated to The Role of Generative AI in Second Language Acquisition”).

First round review feedback to authors: July 10, 2026 

Deadline for revised articles: September 10, 2026

Feedback on revised articles: September 20, 2026

Final submission from authors: September 25, 2026 

Publication: September 30, 2026

 

There is no author processing charge, or other financial obligation or liability on accepted authors.