Call for Articles and Reviews

The ETAS Journal invites the submission of articles on various aspects of language teaching and methodology, lesson ideas, surveys of teaching materials, and reports that address language issues in Switzerland or the surrounding countries. We also invite submissions from presenters at the annual ETAS Conference and Professional Development Day for the new Conference Highlights section, and welcome offers to review books, digital resources, and other teaching materials for the Resources section.

Please adhere to the following guidelines when submitting your work.

Submissions

Please send submissions described below in Word format by email attachment including a short biography, a recent photo, and mailing address to publications@e-tas.ch

The ETAS Journal reserves the right to make editing changes without prior consultation with the author(s). Authors will be contacted regarding any major editing or revisions.
All contributors will receive one complimentary copy of the ETAS Journal.
The ETAS Journal and the author(s) hold the copyright to the articles published in the Journal. 

Articles may not be reprinted without prior permission of ETAS Journal and the author(s).

Submissions may be: 

A FULL-LENGTH ARTICLES 

Conceptual, research-based, or theoretical arguments that bridge theory and practice in ELT.
Word count: 2,000 (maximum, including references). 

B AT THE CHALK-FACE 

These articles are aimed at helping teachers do a better job – in and outside the classroom. They are descriptions of, or reflections on, teaching techniques or activities, teaching methods, best practice, professional development, and other useful information, including target audience, materials, resources, and procedures.
Word count: 1,500 (maximum, including references). 

C CLASS ACT 

These articles focus on practical teaching techniques and materials design.
They include sample materials, notes on teaching procedures, and recommended resources.
Word count: 2,000 (maximum, including references). 

D IT WORKS FOR ME 

Collections of short teaching ideas clustered around one particular theme. These would ideally include warmers, fillers, activities that could be extended to form the basis of an entire lesson, possible variations (e.g. for teachers working online). Where possible, please also include some activities that incorporate the learners’ mobile devices.
Word count: 2,000 (maximum, including references). 

All submissions must include a 50-word abstract, a brief author biography and recent photo, and a postal address. Articles should not include “commercial” text selling, promoting, or endorsing products or services.

ADDITIONAL SECTIONS IN THE JOURNAL

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

This section provides a selection of reports on sessions delivered at the last ETAS conference. 
Word count: 300–500 words. Two-line biography of presenter. Please send your submission to publications@e-tas.ch

RESOURCES

We also welcome reviews of the latest books, artificial intelligence use, digital tools, and classroom and reference materials. 
Word count: 300-500 words. Two-line biography of presenter. Please send your submission to publications@e-tas.ch

Please visit https://www.e-tas.ch/journal/guidelines/ for more information. 

FORMAT

Submissions must be in Word format and sent as an email attachment. 

  • Size: A4 page size, portrait (vertical). 
  • Font: Arial, 12-point font, black, left justified. 
  • Spacing: 1.5 lines. 
  • Do not use columns, indents or frames. 
  • Do not use headers or footers. 
  • Tables and diagrams must be in Word format. 
  • Other illustrative material should be in black and white and sent separately by mail. 
  • Photographs must be in JPEG format. 

REFERENCES

The ETAS Journal follows the APA 7th Edition Reference Style Guide. Sample formats for both in-text citations and references are available online at: http://owll.massey.ac.nz/referencing/apa-interactive.php
In-text citations must be included in the reference list. Please see ETAS Journal issues published after 2011 for examples. 

DEADLINES FOR UPCOMING JOURNALS

Winter 2023/2024: 11 September 2023 Conference Highlights

4 September 2023 all other contributions

Summer 2024: 18 March 2024 

Call for articles

ETAS Journal: Winter 2023/2024

Focus: Employability skills

Contact: matt.firth@e-tas.ch

Deadline: 4 September 2023 

Recent trends across all levels of education have seen an increased integration of employability skills across curricula. Many schools, universities, and employers understand the importance of teaching soft skills to students and employees, and this trend has profoundly impacted the EFL practice. Courses that once focused on English language skills now adopt a broader communication skills in English approach. EFL teachers with a sound knowledge of the soft skills needed in the workplace can benefit from this trend, and training courses often include the teaching of employability skills in their programmes. The Winter 2023 Focus will explore employability skills, and we invite submissions on topics including, but not limited to: 

  • Training soft skills in English;
  • How teachers and learners can best meet the demands of today’s workplace;
  • The challenges involved in training soft skills to pre-service learners;
  • Designing in-house training courses;
  • Integrating ICT into employability skills training;
  • The testing, assessment, and evaluation of employability skills;
  • Employability skills for EFL teachers;
  • Exploiting our skills outside the EFL classroom (e.g. writing articles, proofreading, advertising);
  • Materials development;
  • Teaching transferrable skills;
  • Helping students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills;
  • Encouraging concepts such as professionalism, teamwork, collaboration, and other key skills in both our courses and in our professional relationships with other teachers.

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

We also invite contributions from the Professional Development Day on 2 September 2023. Deadline 11 September 2023.
Please send your submission to publications@e-tas.ch

RESOURCES

We also welcome reviews of the latest books, artificial intelligence use, digital tools, and classroom and reference materials. 
Please send your submission to publications@e-tas.ch

ETAS Journal: Summer 2024

Focus: English as a lingua franca

Contact: matt.firth@e-tas.ch

Deadline: 18 March 2024 

English as a lingua franca (ELF) refers to the use of English as a common language for communication among speakers of different first languages. While ELF can facilitate communication and understanding across linguistic and cultural boundaries, it also presents challenges for English language teaching (ELT) practitioners.

One issue is the need to broaden the focus of ELT beyond L1 English proficiency in grammar and vocabulary to include intercultural communication skills, such as sensitivity to different cultural norms and values. Another challenge is the need to teach varieties of English that are appropriate for communication in global contexts, rather than focusing solely on teaching British or American English.

Furthermore, teachers need to be equipped with the necessary pedagogical strategies to help learners develop their ability to use English as a lingua franca effectively, such as promoting strategies for negotiation and repair of communication breakdowns. As ELT practitioners we must embrace these challenges to best prepare learners for effective communication in the globalized world.

The Summer 2024 Focus will explore the topic of English as a lingua franca in ELT, and we invite submissions on topics including, but not limited to: 

  • The need to broaden the focus of ELT to include intercultural communication skills;
  • The importance of teaching varieties of English appropriate for global contexts;
  • The need for teachers to be equipped with pedagogical strategies for teaching ELF;
  • The challenge of reconciling so-called native-like proficiency in grammar and vocabulary with effective communication in ELF contexts;
  • The importance of promoting strategies for negotiation and repair of communication breakdowns;
  • The challenge of balancing the teaching of English as a lingua franca with the teaching of other languages;
  • The need to take into account learners’ diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds;
  • The importance of developing learners’ awareness of the social and cultural dimensions of communication;
  • The challenge of finding appropriate teaching materials and resources for teaching ELF;
  • The need for ongoing professional development for ELT practitioners to keep up with the latest developments in ELF research and pedagogy.

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

We also invite contributions from the AGM Annual Conference in January 2024.
Please send your submission to publications@e-tas.ch

RESOURCES

We also welcome reviews of the latest books, artificial intelligence use, digital tools, and classroom and reference materials. 
Please send your submission to publications@e-tas.ch