About the Journal

Focus and Scope

TESOL in Context is the peer-reviewed official publication of the Australian Council for TESOL Associations (ACTA) for teachers, researchers and others interested in TESOL within Australia and internationally. Normally two issues are produced each year. TESOL in Context is a Scopus-indexed, diamond open access, internationally refereed journal with a wide target audience, both national and international. Readership includes TESOL / EAL professionals working in all sectors of education; universities, primary and secondary schooling, early childhood settings, adult migrant programs, vocational training, ELICOS and TESOL teacher education, both in Australia and internationally. Articles published in TESOL in Context typically examine the nexus between theory and practice.

The aims of TESOL in Context are to provide professionals in the field with insights into TESOL issues in Australia and internationally, contributing to the development of classroom expertise through dissemination of current research and thinking around TESOL.

Peer Review Process

Following a rigorous double-blind peer review process, each article submitted for potential publication in TESOL in Context is sent out to at least two independent reviewers. These are people who are working / have recently worked in the field of TESOL within Australia and abroad who have expertise and experience related to the focus of the article, and who have familiarity and experience in publishing academic articles in journals and other publications related to the fields of TESOL, language education and/or applied linguistics.

We ask that reviewers aim to complete their review within three weeks of agreeing to complete the review and receiving the article.

Reviewers may be invited to engage in additional review rounds on articles reviewed (particularly when the articles reviewed require major revisions or upon request from the editorial team).

Additional information about our peer review policy can be found in the Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement section.

AI and Generative AI Policy

1) Authorship:

AI or Generative AI (GenAI) technologies are not permitted to be part of the authorship of any submission. All scholarly work submitted to TESOL in Context must be the original creation of human authors.

2) Usage of AI or GenAI in research and writing:

  • Authors are allowed to use AI or GenAI tools to assist in their research and writing processes. However, such usage must be conducted appropriately and is subject to review by the editorial team on a case-by-case basis. The review decision shall be left to the editorial team's discretion.
  • Full disclosure of AI or GenAI usage is mandatory. Authors must provide a statement in their manuscripts detailing the extent and nature of AI tool usage.

3) Ethical considerations:

  • AI or GenAI tools must be used in a manner that respects privacy, confidentiality, and intellectual property rights.
  • The use of AI or GenAI tools must align with ethical standards and best practices as outlined by the Journal's code of conduct and relevant institutional guidelines.

Publication Frequency

There are two general issues published each year. All journal items are published as part of an issue. Each general issue has at least two or three main articles/research papers and two book reviews. Special issues are also considered (from 2025 onwards, TESOL in Context aims to include one special issue per year in the regular publication schedules).

Open Access Policy

This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.

Journal History

TESOL in Context is currently among the very few peer-reviewed scholarly journals of TESOL and EAL/D in Australia. The first issue of TESOL in Context was published in 1990 and since then has documented TESOL issues, relevant research and topics of interest both within Australia and internationally.

Back copies of TESOL in Context can be found on the Informit database.

Visit https://tinyurl.com/tesolincontext1-26 to access Volume 1 Issue 1 (1990) - Volume 26 Issue 1 (2017).
Visit https://ojs.deakin.edu.au/index.php/tesol/issue/archive to access Volume 27 Issue 1 (2018) and onwards.