25th International Annual Conference of the Japan Second Language Association
(J-SLA 2025)

Dates: 14-15 June, 2025

Venue: Shizuoka University (Shizuoka Campus) and Online

Invited Speaker: Dr. Theres Grüter (University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa)

Access: https://www.shizuoka.ac.jp/english/access/

How to apply to present your research at J-SLA 2025

Applicants are invited to apply for research presentations (oral presentations, poster presentations, and student workshops) at J-SLA 2025. If you wish to present your research, please follow the guidance in 1-11 below.

1. Presentation format

There are three formats for research presentations at J-SLA 2025

(1) Oral presentation: Hybrid format

(2) Poster presentation: Face-to-face format

(3) Student workshops: Face-to-face format

(Note 1) All presentations must be given in a face-to-face format at Shizuoka University venue. However, oral presentations will also be available online.

(Note 2) 'Student workshops' are for undergraduate and postgraduate students conducting research in second language acquisition. Each session will be attended by researchers specialising in the field, who will be available to answer questions and offer advice. Presentations can also be on 'work in progress' research.

2. Presentation time

The time allocated for research presentations is as follows

(1) Oral presentations: 20 minutes for presentation and 10 minutes for Q & A

(2) Poster presentations: 90 minutes (posters will be displayed in the poster presentation room and participants will be invited to present their research orally).

(3) Student workshop: 20 minutes for presentation and 10 minutes for Q & A.

3. Eligibility requirements

(1) Applicants for oral and poster presentations must be 'members' of J-SLA (individual or student members) as of 1st June 2025.

(2) Applicants for student workshops must be 'student members' of J-SLA as of 1st June 2025.

(3) If there is more than one author, the first author must be a member of J-SLA. The co-authors do not necessarily have to be, but any co-authors who intend to participate in J-SLA2025 (whether in-person or online) must hold membership.

4. How to apply

If you wish to present your paper, please log in to the 'Abstract Submission Form' and upload your abstract.

5. Deadline

The deadline for applications for presentation is as follows: Friday 14th 28th February 2025, 24:00 (JST).

The deadline for the J-SLA2025 abstract submission will be extended to 28th February 2025, 24:00 (Japan Standard Time).

Please note that abstracts submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.

6. Content of research presentations to be invited/ accepted

J-SLA 2025 is calling for research presentations on "theoretical and empirical research on second language acquisition" in line with the "aims of the founding of the Japan Second Language Association".

(Note 3) Please refer to the following 'Inaugural aims of the society'.

“We hereby establish the Japan Second Language Association (abbreviated: J-SLA) for the express purpose of promoting within Japan the advancement of research into second language development that seeks to elucidate the process of second language acquisition through theoretically grounded analyses of empirical data.

Our approach sees second language acquisition research as a scientific field of study on par with cognitive science, first language acquisition research, and linguistics, one that does not, therefore, depend on whether the findings have a direct application to foreign language education per se. Ascertaining the mechanisms of second language acquisition through a rigorous scientific method will contribute, along with other areas of cognitive science, to our understanding of human cognition.” (an excerpt from the J-SLA website at https://www.j-sla.org/about)

7. How to prepare an abstract

Abstracts should be prepared in accordance with the following instructions. Please note that presentation abstracts that do not follow the guidance in (1) to (8) below may not be accepted.

(1) Language: Please write in English or Japanese.

(2) Means of writing: Please use BOTH Word AND PDF.

(3) Font: Please write in Times New Roman 10.5 pt for English and MS Mincho (or Yumincho) 10.5 pt for Japanese.

(4) Volume: English abstract should be no more than 1,000 words, and Japanese abstract should be no more than 1,600 characters.

(Note 4) You may add figures and tables, but the final abstract should fit into two A4 pages.

(Note 5) Titles, figures, tables, and references do not count as word or character counts.

(5) Margins: 3 cm both top, bottom, left and right.

(6) Title: The title should be written in the 'top centre' of the text of the abstract.

(7) Do not write your name in the abstract. Also, please erase the 'Author information' in the 'PDF version' of the abstract of your presentation. This is in order to ensure that the review process is carried out in an anonymous manner.

(8) Please write the number of words or characters at the end of your abstract.

8. Email confirmation of receipt

Once your abstract submission is complete, a copy of your abstract will be automatically sent to the email address you provided in the form. If you do not receive the copy, please check your spam or junk mail folder. If it is still missing, please contact the head of the reviewing board, Yohei Hirano (jsla2025abstract★j-sla.org). Please replace “★” with “@” when emailing.

9. Reviewing method

Abstracts will be assessed by the reviewers using the following five main points.

A.   Importance of the research: Does the research contribute to the academic development of second language acquisition research?

B.   Clarity: Is the theory, data, discussion, and conclusions of the research clearly presented? Including all these elements for work-in-progress student workshops is not required if not available.

C. Structure: Is the research appropriately structured?

D. Overall evaluation: Overall assessment of persuasiveness, clarity, and  organisation.

E. Aims of J-SLA: Is the research content in line with the aims of J-SLA?

(Note 6) Please note that research that does not conform to the aims of the J-SLA may not be accepted, even if it is excellent research.

10. Announcement of review results

Presenters of successful submissions will be notified of acceptance by email by 24:00 on 15th April 2025.

11. Other notes

(1) Double submissions are not permitted. Only unpublished (not presented or published elsewhere) research should be presented.

(2) Substitute presentations are not permitted. The researcher himself/herself must present the research.

(3) For oral presentations, only 'one submission per author' will be accepted as the first author.

(4) It is permissible to apply for both the ‘poster presentation’ and the ‘student workshop’, but the same presentation cannot be given in both the poster presentation and the student workshop.

<Other inquiries about J-SLA 2025>

If you have any questions, please feel free to send an email to the secretariat and ask for his answer.

Secretariat: Kazuyuki Shite (skazuyuki2017★gmail.com) Replace "★" with "@".

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11th November 2024

Steering Committee of J-SLA