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in Newsletter
What is AILA
AILA is the acronym for Association Internationale de Linguistique Appliquée or International Association of Applied Linguistics. AILA (originally founded in 1964 in France) is an international federation of national and regional associations of Applied Linguistics. AILA has a membership of more than 8.000 individuals worldwide who as researchers, policy makers or practitioners are active in the field of Applied Linguistics.
Applied Linguistics is an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary field of research and practice dealing with practical problems of language and communication that can be identified, analysed or solved by applying available theories, methods and results of Linguistics or by developing new theoretical and methodological frameworks in Linguistics to work on these problems. Applied Linguistics differs from Linguistics in general mainly with respect to its explicit orientation towards practical, everyday problems related to language and communication. The problems Applied Linguistics deals with range from aspects of the linguistic and communicative competence of the individual such as first or second language acquisition, literacy, language disorders, etc. to language and communication related problems in and between societies such as e.g. language variation and linguistic discrimination, multilingualism, language conflict, language policy and language planning.
Upcoming Events
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our colleague Wolfgang Kuehlwein on September 23, 2024, at the age of 84. We would like to express our sincere condolences to his family. Professor Kuehlwein was president of GAL, the German affiliate of AILA, from 1977 to 1986, and Vice President of AILA from 1981 to 1987. GAL and AILA are grateful for his service to the field of Applied Linguistics and will honor his memory!
A full obituary (in German) can be found by clicking here:
https://gal-ev.de/nachruf-auf-prof-dr-wolfgang-kuehlwein/
in Events
We are pleased to invite researchers, educators, and advocates to contribute chapters to an upcoming edited volume titled “Local Voices, Global Impact: Examining the role of English in Multilingual and Multicultural Contexts of the Global South”, for submission as an edited volume to Routledge. This volume is edited by Dr. Mona Nishizaki (University of Genoa), Dr. Rafael Timmermann (Federal University of Pará), and Prof. Dr. Kyria Finardi (Federal University of Espírito Santo) and aims to identify, interrogate and hopefully interrupt the ongoing legacies of colonialism that continue to shape education systems across the Global South, with particular focus on whose knowledge, experiences, and perspectives are centered and whose are marginalized. At the same time, as we observe a growth in English Medium Instruction (EMI) as the internationalization of higher education accelerates, we seek to highlight how the Global South can carve its own place in this evolving landscape while promoting multilingualism in situated, decolonized educational practices. This book will showcase local voices and experiences that connect to global trends, emphasizing the importance of multilingualism and decolonization in shaping more inclusive and equitable educational futures. We welcome contributions that explore both theoretical frameworks and practical approaches from diverse contexts within the Global South. Submissions may include but are not limited to:
Original research studies
Conceptual/theoretical papers
Case studies of best practices
Policy analyses
Reflections on grassroots initiatives
We are particularly interested in chapters addressing one or more of the following broad themes:
Decolonizing Education: Reclaiming Knowledge and Epistemologies in the Global South
Multilingualism and Linguistic Justice in Postcolonial Contexts
English as a Global Language: Opportunities and Challenges for the Global South
Navigating Globalization: The Global South in the Internationalized Higher Education Landscape
Pedagogical Innovations: Bridging Local and Global Contexts in Multilingual Classrooms
Language, Power, and Identity in Higher Education: Whose Voices Are Heard?
Policy, Equity, and Access in Education in and for the Global South
English Medium Instruction (EMI) and Its Impact on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Grassroots Educational Movements: possibilities and challenges for Local Voices and Global Advocacy
Technology in Education: exploring affordances and challenges in a Multilingual-Interconnected World
We invite contributions that critically engage with these topics from local perspectives, emphasizing the ways in which educational practices in the Global South can influence and reshape global discourses. Contributors are encouraged to provide contextually grounded insights that reflect the realities of multilingualism, colonial legacies, and the push for decolonization in educational settings.
Submission Guidelines:
Please submit an abstract (300–500 words) that clearly outlines your chapter's focus, methodology (if applicable), and how it relates to the overarching themes of the volume. Please submit your abstract and biography to elinetbrazil@gmail.com
Key Dates:
Abstract submission deadline: 15 January 2025
Notification of acceptance: 15 February 2025
Full chapter submission deadline: 15 August 2025
For inquiries, please contact the editors at elinetbrazil2024@gmail.com
in Events
- The 2024 Annual Conference of China English Language Education Association was held in Dalian on October 18-20, 2024. It was hosted by Dalian University of Foreign Languages. The theme of the conference is Interdisciplinary Integration and Collaborative Innovation: Enhancing the Overall Quality of Talent Cultivation. Prof. Azirah Binti Hashim, Prof. Wen Qiufang, Prof. Chang Junyue, Prof. Xu Jinfen, and Prof. Liu Fengguang gave plenary speeches at the conference. Eleven symposia, one workshop and one editor-in-chief forum were held. Sixteen groups of individual papers were presented during the conference. More than 200 EFL scholars and teachers attended the conference on site and 30,000 people watched the plenary sessions on-line.
- The 2025 Annual Conference of China English Language Education Association will be held in Chongqing on October 17-19, 2025.
- CELEA delegates attended the 22nd AsiaTEFL International Conference held in Chiang Rai, Thailand on November 14-17, 2024. CELEA President Prof. Sun Youzhong was elected as the Vice President of AsiaTEFL, the Asian Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language. Some CELEA council members, including Prof. Sun Youzhong, Wen Qiufang, Jiang Jinlin, Duan Changcheng, as well as other CELEA members organized 3 symposia on the following topics:a) Language and Critical Thinking Integrated Teaching: Task Design, Pedagogies and Assessment
b) Developing and Applying an Evaluation Framework for the Development of Learning Outcomes in a Cloud Community
c) Examining Foreign Language Textbooks at Schools in China: Content, Utilization and Database
in Events
Report by Grégory Miras as AILA ReN Coordinator
The AILA Research Networks (ReNs) are enshrined in the statutes and by-laws of the Association Internationale de Linguistique Appliquée - AILA as a lever for promoting research on burning issues in applied linguistics arising from real-world problems.
Although the statutes specify a number of 15 ReNs for periods of 3 years, the wording was changed in 2012 to allow greater flexibility according to needs. For the previous period 2021-23, there were 20 ReNs plus a special ReCAL on Research Cultures in Applied Linguistics. During this special period, ReN convenors had the opportunity to organise symposia at the two jubilee congresses, AILA 2023 (Lyon, FRANCE) and AILA 2024 (Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA).
With the return to a three-year cycle, the call for ReNs for the period 2024-27 has focused on finding a balance between renewing ReNs that have demonstrated their impact on the scientific field and allowing new ones to emerge. The idea is to come close to the numbers of ReNs set out in the By-laws, while at the same time proposing a framework that will allow us to build on existing promotional tools (for example, the publication of news in the International Journal of Applied Linguistics) and also to propose new formats (a focus in the President's Newsletter).
The call for proposals was sent out on 9 September, with a deadline of 13 October 24, and projects could be submitted until 16 October, in accordance to the AILA statutes, which stipulate a deadline for submissions up to two months after the end of the AILA Congress, which took place from 11 to 16 August 2024. The submission consisted of filling in a template describing the ReN project.
The ReN Committee is made up of 4 members, one of whom is a member of the Executive Committee and three of whom are members of the International Committee:
- Prof. Dr. María Luisa Carrió-Pastor, Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain
- Dr. Anitha Devi Pillai, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
- Dr. Doris Cristina Vicente da Silva Matos, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Brazil
- Dr. Caroline Tagg, The Open University, United Kingdom
The Committee met on 19 November 24 to consider each application according to the following criteria, as defined in the AILA by-laws:
- at least 5 members
- at least 1 new scholar
- international team
- produce a report on the previous year for renewals
but also on items such as :
- the contribution of the topic to applied linguistics
- a clear work programme for the period in question
- the strategic dimension of the theme for Applied Linguistics
In the end, 16 ReN proposals were accepted including 4 new projects and 12 renewals. They all present the diversity of approaches in applied linguistics.
The newsletter reports on the UN Summit of the Future which happened in September in New York City, USA, with the theme “Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow” where member states agreed on working on seven pillars: governance reform, climate action, technology for the common good, human rights, peace and security, and strengthened multilateral partnerships prioritizing the interests of future generations in global decision-making. UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that while war is a choice, so is peace.
In what regards the role of applied linguists in the creation of conditions for this peace, we highlight some of the issues that were addressed in the summit that are of special relevance to us:
- Emphasis on Intercultural Dialogue:
- The summit stressed the importance of intercultural and intergenerational dialogue in peacebuilding and global cooperation, highlighting the role of language in fostering understanding across cultures.
- Focus on Human Rights:
- Discussions around human rights included the protection of marginalized populations, emphasizing the need for linguistic accessibility in education and healthcare to ensure universal rights.
- Global Governance and Communication:
- The call for global governance reform includes improving communication strategies within international frameworks, which is critical for effective collaboration among diverse language groups and populations.
- Educational Initiatives:
- The summit’s focus on education aligns with our endorsed goal of promoting language education that supports sustainable development, diversity and inclusion.
- Technological Impact on Language:
- The discussions on the use of technology for the common good, especially regarding AI, raised important questions about language representation, ethics, and the need for multilingual capabilities in technological solutions. It also stressed the need for global ethical guidelines and reinforced cybersecurity.
- Multilingualism and Global Identity:
- The summit highlighted the idea of a global identity which recognizes multilingualism, and we underscore the role of applied linguists in promoting language diversity, inclusion and equity. Noting that this is the most fraught time since World War II, themes from the Interactive Dialogue on Peace and Security included the importance of focusing on shared values, particularly around human rights, the need to embrace inclusivity in peacebuilding efforts and the role of solidarity to address causes of conflict. The importance of intercultural and intergenerational dialogue was also stressed.
- Partnerships and Collaborations:
- The emphasis on partnerships and collaborations suggests opportunities to engage in projects that contribute to global initiatives and dialogue that promote diversity in addressing these pressing global challenges.
The newsletter also reports on the UNESCO Chair Forum which took place in Ethiopia with the theme "Transforming Knowledge for Africa's Future," convening over 500 scholars, policymakers, educators, and stakeholders from 90 countries to discuss pivotal issues in education, culture, science, and sustainable development. The forum aligned with Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including discussions related to the recent Pact of the Future from the UN Summit. It emphasized the need for inclusive and principled dialogue to co-create visions for Africa’s future.
UNESCO Co-Chair Dr Divinia Jithoo also contributed with a report outlining her recent experiences and insights to international education, focusing on the importance of intercultural competence and equitable practices in higher education internationalization focusing on decolonial approaches. Her highlights include the need to address power dynamics in international partnerships and a discussion on the importance of languages, access to technology and virtual exchange for a more inclusive internationalization.
- The 2024 Annual Conference of China English Language Education Association will be held
in Dalian on October 18-20, 2024. The theme of the conference is Interdisciplinary
Integration and Collaborative Innovation: Enhancing the Overall Quality of Talent
Cultivation. - More than 70 titles of The Key Topics Library, edited by Prof Wen Qiufang，Prof Sun
Youzhong et al., have been published by Foreign Language Teaching and Research
Press(FLTRP) in China. Written by more than 100 Chinese top scholars, this large-scale
systematic library consists of 5 series: linguistics, applied linguistics, literature studies,
translation studies, and intercultural studies. Focusing on a key topic, each work serves as a
research guide for young researchers and presents Chinese perspectives for readers. With
agreement with FLTRP, Taylor & Francis is planning to publish the English version of the
Key Topics Library in the next few years. - English Test for International Communication, a local English proficiency test developed by
Beijing Foreign Studies University, has just implemented its 7th remote online testing from
home in August 2024. Until now, more than 400,000 candidates have taken the test, most of
whom are university students and professionals. The test aims to assess test candidates’
global competence and promotes the college ELT reform in China.
AILA World Congress 2024: A Historic Diamond Jubilee in Kuala Lumpur, 11th -16th August 2024
Global Delegates Celebrate 60 Years of Linguistic Innovation
The 21st International Association of Applied Linguistics (AILA) World Congress concluded with great fanfare in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, marking a pivotal moment in the association’s 60-year history. Drawing over 1,700 onsite and online participants from across the globe, the congress not only celebrated AILA’s diamond jubilee but also underscored its continued influence in shaping the future of applied linguistics. Hosted by the Malaysian Association of Applied Linguistics (MAAL), this milestone event at the iconic Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre reflected both the rich heritage and the forward-thinking vision of the global linguistics community.
Against the dramatic skyline of the Petronas Twin Towers, the congress took on the theme "Linguistic Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Sustainability," sparking robust discussions on critical issues facing the field. With 14 thematic tracks, the event provided a platform for a wide range of research and ideas, making it a hub for academic exchange and collaborative innovation.
Bridging Cultures and Minds
Far more than just an academic symposium, the congress was a vibrant celebration of linguistic and cultural diversity. The opening ceremony featured a stunning showcase of Malaysian culture, with distinguished ambassadors, sponsors, and representatives from numerous countries in attendance. The congress was officiated by the President of AILA, Professor Azirah Hashim, the first Asian president of the Association. 80 successful recipients of the AILA Solidarity Awards were announced by the Chair of the Solidarity Awards committee, Prof. Kyria Finardi. The AILA Honorary Award was presented to Professor Wen Qiu Fang of the National Research Center for Foreign Language Education and the Consortium for Chinese Studies and Intercultural Communication, Beijing Foreign Studies University.
More than 1200 papers were delivered in three modes - onsite, hybrid and online at the congress featuring an array of keynote papers, featured papers, symposia, workshops, individual papers and posters. Six keynote papers were delivered onsite at the congress, featuring renowned applied linguists, Prof. Ingrid Pillar, Prof. Asmah Hj Omar, Prof. Catherine Nickerson, Prof. Enric Llurda, Prof. Low Ee Ling and Prof. Sinfree Makoni. One of the highlights of the congress was the 60th Anniversary Plenary symposium on the ‘History of Applied Linguistics’ which was led by Prof. Richard Smith alongside a panel consisting of Prof. John E. Joseph, Prof. Azirah Hashim, Assoc. Prof. Ruanni Tupas, Prof. Cristine Severo, Prof. Claire Kramsch and Assoc. Prof. Ashraf Abdelhay. There was also UNESCO presence in the Special Symposium by the Asia-Pacific Multilingual Education Working Group comprising UNESCO Bangkok and UNICEF EAPRO on ‘Partnerships, Policies and Practices on First Language-Based Multilingual Education in Asia and the Pacific’.
Social gatherings were equally memorable. Delegates enjoyed an array of cultural activities, from a lively cultural welcome reception to the gala dinner at the Royale Chulan Hotel, which featured traditional fashion shows, music, and dance. The Malaysian satay evenings and city walkabouts offered attendees the chance to explore Kuala Lumpur’s vibrant cityscape while building lasting connections within the global linguistic community.
A Future of Collaboration and Impact
Chaired by Professor Shameem Rafik-Galea and co-chaired by Associate Professor Cecilia Yin Mei Cheong, the event supported by the MAAL Committee and members, MP Events (the professional congress organizer), and the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre team, was a powerful reminder of AILA’s continued leadership in fostering innovation, research, and social impact within the field of applied linguistics.
AILA’s incoming president, Professor Kyria Finardi delivered her aspirations for the future of AILA under her leadership for the next chapter of AILA's journey. The congress concluded on a high note, with Professor Rafik-Galea presenting awards for the best poster presentations and delivering her closing speech, culminating in a celebratory end to the five-day congress.
The organising committee of AILA 2024 extends their heartfelt thanks to all sponsors, particularly ELS Language Centres Malaysia, the Sime Darby Foundation and the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, as well as to delegates, publishers, and contributors who made this event a resounding success.
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
The Opening Cultural Troup
AILA President, Azirah Hashim's Opening Address
AILA 2024 Chair's Welcome Address
Kyria Finardi's Speech as Incoming President
The Final Gathering
The AILA 2024 Team
Gala Dinner
Opening Ceremony
Cake Cutting: HAPPY 60th ANNIVERSARY AILA!
AILA EBIC
The China Delegates
The AILA 2024 Delegates - Coffee Break
AILA 2024 Audience
Snapshots of AILA Sessions and Delegates
Making New Friends
Making New Friends
AILA 2024 Sessions