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MAAL, SAAL and AILA ReN Migration Linguistics are jointly organising the International Conference on Migration Linguistics on 15-17 November in Singapore and Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

3rd International Conference on Migration Linguistics, Malaysia and Singapore, November 2026

Conference Theme: Migrants at the Margins: Roots, Routes, Belonging, and Language

Contemporary migration is a phenomenon shaped by histories of displacement, changing work opportunities, geopolitical shifts, global inequalities, and the climate emergency. As people migrate, they navigate new social, cultural, political, and linguistic terrains. A large proportion of people who migrate for better opportunities elsewhere tend to be at the mercy of forces of power both at the origin and in the destination. In the process, their identities are reshaped across roots (heritage and origin), routes (journeys, mobilities, border crossings), belonging (integration, exclusion), and language (communication, identity, power, survival).

This conference places special attention on migrants situated at the margins. It seeks to illuminate the complex linguistic, cultural, and social experiences of migrant individuals and communities whose voices often remain unheard in dominant narratives. We welcome contributions that engage with the intersections of migration and language from diverse theoretical, methodological, creative, and community-based lenses.

We welcome proposals for paper presentations, panels, workshops, and creative formats that engage with the following (but not limited to) sub-themes:

Roots: Histories, Heritage, and Language Maintenance
Heritage language preservation and intergenerational transmission
Narratives of homeland, displacement, and ancestral ties
Linguistic revitalization among migrant or diasporic communities
Linguistic traces in Migration Histories
Routes: Journeys, Transits, and Mobilities
Language use in transit, borderlands, and temporary settlements
Communication challenges in mobility
Linguistic landscapes across migratory routes
New mobilities in digital migration and transnational networks
Belonging: Identity, Integration, and Exclusion
Language policies and migrant inclusion/exclusion
Accent discrimination and linguistic prejudice
Language learning and social integration in migration contexts
Multilingualism and translingual practices in diaspora
Language: Power, Agency, and Negotiation
Language as a tool for advocacy and resistance
Linguistic exploitation and rights in
Disaster communication and forced migration
Theories, methods, and innovations in migration linguistics
Migrant storytelling, performance, and language in the arts

in AILA Regional Events / Events / featured stories / Newsletters

Online Workshop “Research Methods in Terminology.”

Online Workshop “Research Methods in Terminology.”

Hungarian Association of Applied Linguists and Language Teachers, Terminology Section, in cooperation with AILA Europe, hosts the online workshop “Research Methods in Terminology”.

This online workshop invites researchers, doctoral students and practitioners to explore and discuss methodological approaches to terminology research across disciplines. As an inherently interdisciplinary field, terminology research draws on linguistics, translation studies, corpus linguistics, knowledge representation, and the digital humanities. This workshop aims to provide a forum for reflecting on established and emerging research methods, their theoretical grounding and their practical applications.

We particularly welcome contributions that critically engage with research design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation in terminology-related studies.


Topics of interest include:

Qualitative and quantitative methods in terminology research

Corpus-based and corpus-driven approaches to terminology

Terminology extraction, annotation and evaluation methods

Methodological issues in multilingual and contrastive terminology research

Methods in terminography and terminology management

Use of digital tools, AI, and NLP in terminology research

 

Abstracts of approximately 200 words should be submitted via Google Form by 15 March 2026.

Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. The registration deadline is 31 March 2026.

For registration, please scan the QR: 

 

Important dates:

Abstract submission deadline: 15 March 2026

Notification of acceptance: 31 March 2026

Workshop date: 8 May 2026 (ZOOM) between 10 AM - 5 PM (CET)

The workshop will consist of 20-minute presentations, followed by structured discussion sessions.

We welcome contributions from both established scholars and early-career researchers, and we particularly encourage submissions that reflect on methodological innovation, limitations, and best practices in terminology research.

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AILA-Europe Junior Researcher Meeting 2026

AILA-Europe Junior Researcher Meeting 2026

AILA-Europe Junior Researchers Meeting (JRM) 2026 is hosted by the Irish Association for Applied Linguistics (IRAAL) and is part of the IRAAL Annual Conference, held 13-14 November 2026 at the University of Limerick. 

Conference theme: “Attitudes towards languages: Multilingualism, plurilingualism and language education for a democratic, just and sustainable world”. Contributions are invited from early-career researchers who are members of AILA Europe affiliate associations, eligible for the reduced registration rate. 

Call for papers is open. Submission deadline: Sunday 12th of April, 2026: 

https://sites.google.com/view/iraal2026/call-for-papers

in AILA Regional Events / Events / featured stories / Newsletters

The special issue of the European Journal of Applied Linguistics

The special issue of the European Journal of Applied Linguistics 

This special issue of the European Journal of Applied Linguistics (Miras, 2026 (Ed.)) explores the evolution and identity of European Applied Linguistics through the contributions of emerging scholars who participated in recent AILA Europe Junior Researchers' Meetings (JRM). This is the second special issue published by AILA-Europe (Gnach & Miras, 2022 (Eds.)). The volume reflects on the discipline's historical development in Europe and examines how early-career researchers are shaping a distinct European identity in the field. It builds on previous editions of the JRM, including those held in Belfast (2022), and Lyon (2023). The editorial of this issue exclusively presents the results of two survey conducted two decades apart by Karlfried Knapp, which has been updated to compare with more recent data. This work, spanning past and present, offers a reflection on AILA-Europe's position within AILA.

This issue brings together ten scientific contributions, most of which are long papers. It features research conducted across Europe – including Germany, Estonia, Italy, France, Ireland, Finland, Greece, and the United Kingdom – as well as from Tunisia and the USA. All contributions come from Early Career Researchers (ECRs) who critically engage with topics in applied linguistics related to European languages or linguistic practices in European contexts.

https://www.degruyterbrill.com/journal/key/eujal/14/1/html

 

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MAAL Webinar Series: International Mother Language Day 2026

The Malaysian Association of Applied Linguistics (MAAL) warmly invites you to join our upcoming International Mother Language Day webinar in celebration of linguistic diversity and heritage.
Theme: Voices of Our Roots: Preserving Malaysian Heritage and Indigenous Languages for Lifelong Learning and Quality Education
 🗓 Date: 20 February 2026  (Friday)
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (MYT)
💻 Platform: Zoom
📌 Scan the QR code on the poster to register/Click the link to register:  https://forms.gle/mz44NZXoy8LhtwRa8
(The Zoom link will be sent one day before the event.)

🎙️ Featuring distinguished invited speakers who will share insights on indigenous knowledge systems, heritage languages, and the role of mother languages in shaping education and identity.

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11th Biennial International Conference on the Linguistics of Contemporary English (BICLCE) – EXTENDED Call for Papers

Dear colleagues!

We are pleased to announce that, due to popular demand, we have extended the Call for Papers deadline by two weeks for the Call of Papers for the 11th Biennial International Conference on the Linguistics of Contemporary English (BICLCE), to be held from 3rd to 5th July 2026 in Austria, at the University of Klagenfurt.

For over two decades, the BICLCE conference series has been a forum for researchers who are interested in the linguistics of contemporary English. It is open to different theoretical and methodological perspectives. Previous conferences were held in Edinburgh (2005), Toulouse (2007), London (2009), Osnabrück (2011), Austin TX (2013), Madison WI (2015), Vigo (2017), Bamberg (2019), Ljubljana (2022) and Alicante (2024). BICLCE 2026 wishes to continue this long-standing tradition of exploring contemporary English.

We are pleased to announce the following keynote speakers:  Daniel Davis, Maria Kuteeva, Marc Xu, Barbara Seidlhofer, and José Fajardo.

This time, BICLCE11 comes with an additional thematic focus on “English in a geopolitically changing world”, motivated by the major changes the world has experienced in the last several years which may potentially influence how English is used and perceived internationally.  Therefore, we are happy to invite researchers to submit proposals addressing this topic in particular. Beyond this special theme, contributions related to English are also welcome in any of the following fields/areas: syntax, morphology, sociolinguistics, semantics, pragmatics, discourse analysis, cognitive linguistics, phonetics/phonology, applied linguistics, and more.

We invite proposals for contributions to the conference, either for the General Sessions or for one of seven Thematic Sessions:

  1. Exploring contemporary English(es) using the BSLVC database
  2. English as a catalyst of change? Gender inclusivity, cross-linguistic dynamics, and colonial legacies
  3. Comparing the incomparable – Exploring the synchronic relevance of historical sociolinguistic insights
  4. Social variation and norms in Outer Circle Englishes
  5. A matter of concord: English agreement across varieties and registers
  6. When English is no longer a ‘foreign’ language – Signifiers, attitudes and didactic approaches
  7. The applied linguistics of ELF communication

For all sessions, we invite proposals for individual papers consisting of a 20-minute presentation followed by 10 minutes of discussion.

Abstracts should clearly indicate the theoretical framework, the research question(s), elaborate data and methodology and discuss (expected) findings. The abstract should not exceed 300 words (excluding references). The abstract should be adapted to the Chicago Manual of Style (18th edition), and be anonymized before its submission as they will undergo anonymous peer-review.

The abstracts should be submitted electronically and as either docx or pdf files, using the following template: https://conference3.aau.at/event/156/attachments/116/305/Template_BICLCE11.docx.

The author(s) should submit their abstract via https://conference3.aau.at/event/156/abstracts/.

The EXTENDED deadline is January 31st, 2026. Notifications will be sent out by 15th March.

Please forward this information to your colleagues, students and interested parties.

We look forward to welcoming you in Klagenfurt!

All the very best,

Nikola, for the BICLCE11 organization team

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TESL Canada Journal Special Issue 2027: Call for Papers

Call for Papers - Special Issue Winter 2027  

Guest editors:  

Ibtissem Knouzi, York University  

Penny Kinnear, OISE - University of Toronto  

Merrill Swain, OISE - University of Toronto  

Proposal deadline: February 01, 2026  

Full paper deadline: June 15, 2026  

Vygotskian sociocultural theory: Transforming L2 teaching, learning, assessment, and  research  

Vygotskian Sociocultural Theory (V-SCT), as a theory of mind, has had a major impact on  second language (L2) theory and practice over the last four decades. It has challenged L2  educators' understanding of the genesis of L2 development and effective pedagogy through a  set of principles (see Swain, Kinnear & Steinman (2015) for a comprehensive and accessible  review) such as the central role of interpsychological mediation, and the focus on conceptbased  teaching and curriculum design. However, as L2 educators and researchers, often trained in  cognitivist paradigms, redefine their roles and attempt to reconcile previous practices and  beliefs with new concepts, many confusions persist (Knouzi, in press). These confusions exist  especially with respect to key concepts such as ZPD vs. i+1; mediation vs. scaffolding; role of  concept-based language instruction in form-focused instruction; role of affect vs. positive  psychology; and Dynamic Assessment vs. proficiency testing.  

This special issue seeks to explain key V-SCT concepts and demonstrate their relevance to L2  theory and practice in Canadian contexts, as demonstrated by Canadian scholars through  conceptual papers and empirical studies.  

We invite submissions that examine and critique L2 development, teaching, and assessment  practices, and teacher education from a V-SCT perspective, addressing topics such as, but not  limited to, the following:  

- Role of mediation in learning and development, focusing on the range, affordances, and  constraints of mediational means (including digital and multimodal) in L2 language  classrooms.  

- Role of language as a cognitive tool (e.g., languaging, collaborative dialogue,  instructional interactions)  

- Concept-based instruction in L2 classrooms and in teacher education programs  - Dialectic relation between affect and cognition  

- Assessment  

- Activity theory-informed analysis of learner/teacher development 

Papers in English and French will be considered. We welcome papers for inclusion in one of  three sections: “Full-Length Research Articles” (original research), “Perspectives” (theoretical  explorations of relevant issues), and “In the Classroom” (pedagogical focus). Please refer to  the TESL Canada Journal author guidelines for more information:  

http://www.teslcanadajournal.ca/index.php/tesl/about/submissions  

Interested authors are invited to submit a 400-word abstract (including references) to  teslcanadajournal@tesl.ca by February 01, 2026. Please indicate clearly the category to which  your abstract belongs. Notice of abstract acceptance will be emailed by March 01, 2026. Full  manuscripts are due June 15, 2026, and will be subject to a rigorous blind review process. In  line with SCT principles, we will follow a process that fosters collegial mediation and creates  opportunities for scholarly development. In a two-phase process, each contributor will be asked  to review a paper in the special issue (blind review). Following the first revisions and  resubmission, all contributors will have the option to receive additional feedback through  discussion at a meeting attended by SCT colleagues before submitting a final version. The  special issue will be published in January-March, 2027.  

If you have any questions or queries about this special issue, please contact Ibtissem Knouzi at  iknouzi@yorku.ca

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Confucius Institutes in Brazil (by Francisco Figueiredo- ALAB)

Brazil Unifies Its Confucius Institutes Under New National Network; 

UFG Represents Country in Global AI Forums

On September 12th, 2025, the Network of Confucius Institutes in Brazil was officially established, marking an important milestone in strengthening academic and cultural cooperation between Brazil and China. The proposal for its creation originated from the Confucius Institute at UNESP, which also hosted the inaugural meeting. On that occasion, it was decided that Professor Luís Antônio Paulino, from UNESP, would assume the presidency of the Network.

The event was marked by broad institutional and diplomatic representation, bringing together Brazilian and Chinese directors of the Confucius Institutes operating in the country, as well as various authorities from both China and Brazil. Among those in attendance were the Minister of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, the Acting Consul General of the Consulate General of China in São Paulo, the Director-General of the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC) in Beijing, along with the Rector of UNESP, the Rector of UnB, the Vice-Rectors of UEPA, UEMA, UFBA, UFC, and UFT.

Currently, Brazil has 14 Confucius Institutes – located at UNESP, UFG, PUC-RIO, UEPA, UFBA, UFC, UFF, UFMG, UFRGS, UFRJ, UnB, Unicamp, UPE, and FAAP – and one Chinese Center at UFMT. Together, they form a national network dedicated to ‘promoting the Chinese language and culture, as well as fostering academic and scientific exchange between the two countries.

Subsequently, on October 10th, 2025, the first online meeting of the Council of the Network of Confucius Institutes in Brazil was held. The main objectives of the meeting were to approve the 2026 Work Plan and to elect the two vice-presidents of the Network, as established in its Statute. Following deliberations, Professor Francisco José Quaresma de Figueiredo, Director of the Confucius Institute for Chinese Medicine at UFG, and Professor Antônio Braga, Director of the Confucius Institute at UEPA, were elected to join the Network’s leadership alongside the president.

The strengthening of this organizational structure represents a significant step toward consolidating the presence of the Confucius Institutes in Brazil, expanding opportunities for interinstitutional cooperation and broadening the reach of initiatives aimed at Chinese language teaching and the promotion of intercultural dialogue.

The Confucius Institutes have as their main objective the dissemination of the Chinese language and culture, and some of them, such as the Confucius Institute of Chinese Medicine at the Federal University of Goiás, in addition to offering courses on the Chinese language and culture, also provide courses in the area of Chinese Medicine. Every year, a major global event is held in which new methods and approaches for teaching Mandarin are discussed – the World Chinese Language Conference, which took place in Beijing from November 14th to 16th 2025. The event is attended by directors of Confucius Institutes around the world, as well as the President or Vice-President of the institutions responsible for each Confucius Institute. This year’s theme was “Innovation Leads, AI Empowers: Learning Chinese Without Borders.”

The use of Artificial Intelligence in Mandarin teaching was also discussed at another event held in Hong Kong from November 16th to 17th – the Global Confucius Institutes Hong Kong Forum, organized by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, with the theme “Exploring New Opportunities for Cooperation among Confucius Institutes in the Era of AI.” The event was attended by 150 invited participants from various Confucius Institutes in 69 countries. The Confucius Institute of Chinese Medicine at UFG represented Brazil at this event.

Prof. Francisco José Quaresma de Figueiredo

Brazilian Dean of the Confucius Institute for Chinese Medicine at UFG

Vice-President of the Network of Confucius Institutes in Brazil

 

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 Call for Papers:  UNICollaboration conference in Limassol, Cyprus June 4-5 2026

The UNICollaboration organisation is organising an international research conference on the theme of “Virtual Exchange in a Changing World: Innovation and Inclusion”. Our 2026 theme acknowledges the transformative power of digital connectivity and collaborative learning in times of global complexity.

The conference will take place on June 4-5, 2026 at the Cyprus University of Technology in Limassol, Cyprus and welcomes presentations, workshops, panel discussions and posters that include both research studies and practical reports.

The deadline for submission is 15 November 2025. Details can be found in the Call for Papers HERE and the link to submit abstracts can be found on the conference website HERE.

If you have specific questions about conference logistics or travel issues, you can contact the organizers at their email address: unicollabconference2026@gmail.com; or directly to anna.nicolaou@cut.ac.cy; annanicolaou0@gmail.com

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2nd CFP AESLA GRANADA 2026

The Spanish Association of Applied Linguistics (AESLA) and the Organizing Committee of this edition are pleased to invite you to the 43rd International Conference of the Spanish Association of Applied Linguistics, organized by the Department of Spanish Language at the University of Granada. The conference will be held in Granada from April 15 to 17, 2026, at the School of Civil, Canal, and Port Engineering.

With the topic: ‘Language, variation and identity: linguistic dynamics for representing identity’, we want the conference to become a space for dialogue where we can reflect on how language reflects and shapes social reality and how speakers use linguistic resources to represent their identity.

The AESLA 2026 Organising Committee encourages you to participate in the conference by submitting a proposal for an oral presentation or a poster.

We remind you that each participant may submit up to two proposals, in Spanish and English, from 15 October 2025 to 20 December 2025. Proposals should be submitted via the web platform: https://matrix.aesla.org.es/aesla2026, and will be assigned to the thematic panel chosen for review (each proposal may only be submitted to one panel).

For more detailed information about the AESLA 2026 conference, please visit our website: https://wpd.ugr.es/~aesla26/

If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact us at the following email address: aesla2026@aesla.org.es

We look forward to seeing you in Granada!

Elena Fernández de Molina Ortés, Rocío Cruz Ortiz and Edyta Waluch de la Torre

Coordinators of the Organising Committee for the AESLA 2026 Conference

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Highlights UNESCO Chair Intercultural Competences Newsletter

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: 

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Educational Initiatives:
    • The summit’s focus on education aligns with our endorsed goal of promoting language education that supports sustainable development, diversity and inclusion.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.

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