Events Archives

2024-12-022024-12-02

By Markus Bieswanger (Vice President of AILA and Past President of GAL)

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

2024-12-02

Local Voices, Global Impact: Examining the role of English in Multilingual and Multicultural Contexts of the Global South

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

2024-11-252024-11-25

China English Language Education Association (CELEA)

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

2024-10-032024-10-03

China English Language Education Association (CELEA)

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.

in Events / Past Events

2024-10-032024-10-21

Report Congress Kuala Lumpur 2024

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.