Submissions

Author Guidelines

The BC TEAL Journal is a peer-reviewed publication of the Association of BC Teachers of English as an Additional Language (BC TEAL).  The journal exists to promote scholarship related to the teaching and learning of English as an additional language (EAL) in British Columbia, with articles explicitly reflecting the varying contexts and settings of the BC TEAL membership.  Submissions that fit within the scope of the journal undergo double-anonymous peer review (the identities of authors and reviewers are not revealed to either party during the review process) by reviewers knowledgeable about EAL teaching and learning.  All authors should demonstrate their familiarity with EAL teaching and learning in British Columbia, with direct connections to teaching and learning in British Columbia, or the wider Canadian context, included in all submissions.  More information about the peer review process can be found at this link:  https://ojs-o.library.ubc.ca/index.php/BCTJ/about.

Original previously unpublished contributions, such as research articles, theoretical analyses, classroom practice descriptions, opinion essays, and book reviews from all sectors and experience levels represented by the BC TEAL membership, are welcome.

Research articles should aim for +/- 8,000 words, plus references.  Theoretical analyses, classroom practice descriptions, and opinion essays should aim for +/- 4,000 words, plus references. Book reviews of recent books related to EAL teaching and learning are typically no more than 1,000 words plus references.  Please contact the editor if you would like to submit a book review.

Generally, successful submissions to the BC TEAL Journal clearly establish a relationship between theory and practice within the context of EAL teaching and learning in British Columbia or the wider Canadian context. Submissions include significant discussion related to the implications of the research findings or scholarly work (for example, theoretical analyses, classroom practice descriptions, opinion essays, or literature reviews) and demonstrate how the ideas in the submission apply to EAL teaching and learning in British Columbia and the wider Canadian context.  In particular, submissions are much more than a simple restating or review of research and theory. Rather, submissions provide unique interpretations of original sources of information to provide insights that have not been previously published. Most importantly, successful submissions offer readers convincing and practical connections to the English language teaching profession in British Columbia. To get a sense of the types of articles the journal publishes, authors can review previously published issues of the journal.  

Authors should follow the manuscript guidelines in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7^th Edition.  However, for Canadian spelling conventions, please refer to the Canadian Oxford Dictionary.  All submissions should include an abstract of no more than 200 words, followed by five key words.  Submissions should be in MS Word or RTF format. 

All submissions should use a Times New Roman 12 point font.  All tables, figures, and illustrations should be placed directly within the text where the author(s) would like them to be located.  All submissions should be made through the BC TEAL Journal’s Online Journal System.  Authors are also requested to submit a short biography.  

Submissions should not be previously published or submitted for consideration with any other journal.  Please note, lead authors may only submit one article or essay at a time for consideration.  In addition, lead authors may only submit one article or essay per year for consideration.  Authors may withdraw a submission at any time upon notice to the journal editor.  

Ensuring Anonymous Peer Review

When submitting to the BC TEAL Journal, please anonymize your manuscript to prepare it for peer review so that the identities of the authors and reviewers are not known to each other. All identifying information should be removed to assure anonymous review. In particular, please ensure that your name and institution are not listed in the “properties” section of your document in MS Word. More information about removing hidden data and personal information can be found at this link: https://tinyurl.com/5xe87dam

You can further ensure anonymous peer review by anonymizing any in-text citations and corresponding reference list entries. For in-text citations, you can use (Author, XXXX) or Author (XXXX).  For the reference list, please move entries to the top of the list and enter them as: Author. (XXXX).

Please note: All submissions must be made through the BC TEAL online journal system (https://ojs-o.library.ubc.ca/index.php/BCTJ). Submissions cannot be accepted via email or the postal service.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism will result in a rejection of any submission to the journal.

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

All uses of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools must be cited and referenced (see link). A rationale for their use must also be provided in the main body of the submission. Failure to cite and reference the use of generative AI tools will result in an article's rejection or retraction.