Author Guidelines

About the Journal

Contemporary English Teaching and Linguistics (CETL) is a peer-reviewed, open-access international journal devoted to advancing scholarship in English language teaching, applied linguistics, and related interdisciplinary areas. The journal aims to provide a global forum for researchers, practitioners, curriculum designers, and policymakers to share innovations, empirical findings, and theoretical insights that shape the future of English education and linguistic studies.

The scope includes, but is not limited to:

  1. English Language Teaching (ELT):pedagogy, curriculum design, assessment, classroom practices, technology integration.
  2. Applied Linguistics:second language acquisition, discourse analysis, pragmatics, sociolinguistics, corpus linguistics.
  3. Language and Society:language policy, multilingualism, intercultural communication, English as a lingua franca.
  4. Technology in Language Learning:MALL (mobile-assisted language learning), AI in ELT, digital literacies.
  5. Professional Practice:teacher education, professional development, reflective practice.
  6. Theoretical & Historical Linguisticswhere relevant to English teaching and learning.

Types of Contributions

CETL welcomes the following categories:

  1. Original Research Articles (6,000–8,000 words)
    • Empirical studies contributing new knowledge.
    • Must include clear objectives, methodology, results, and discussion.
  2. Review Articles (6,000–9,000 words)
    • Comprehensive overviews of a research area.
    • May include systematic reviews, meta-analyses, or narrative reviews.
  3. Conceptual/Theoretical Papers (5,000–7,000 words)
    • Papers proposing new frameworks, models, or theoretical debates.
  4. Teaching/Practice Reports (3,000–5,000 words)
    • Descriptions and evaluations of classroom practices, case studies, or pedagogical innovations.

(Word counts include references, tables, figures, and appendices.)

Manuscript Preparation

Language

  1. Manuscripts must be in English. Both UK and US spelling are acceptable, but must be consistent.
  2. Authors whose first language is not English are strongly encouraged to seek professional language editing before submission.

Style & Referencing

  1. Use APA 7th Editionfor references and citations.
  2. Examples:
    • Journal article: Brown, A. (2021). Language learning and identity. Applied Linguistics, 42(3), 235–250. https://doi.org/...
    • Book: Smith, J. (2020). Language teaching in the digital age. Routledge.

Manuscript Structure

Research Articles should typically include:

  1. Title Page:Title, author(s), affiliation(s), ORCID iD(s), corresponding author details.
  2. Abstract:150–250 words (background, purpose, method, results, implications).
  3. Keywords:4–6 keywords.
  4. Introduction:Research problem, objectives, significance.
  5. Literature Review:Theoretical and empirical foundations.
  6. Methodology:Design, participants, instruments, procedures, data analysis, and ethics.
  7. Results/Findings:Clear presentation with tables/figures.
  8. Discussion:Interpretation and contribution to the field.
  9. Conclusion:Summary, limitations, implications, recommendations.
  10. References:Complete list in APA 7th.
  11. Acknowledgments & Funding Statement(if applicable).
  12. Conflict of Interest Declaration.

Formatting

  1. Format: MS Word (.docx).
  2. Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt, double-spaced.
  3. Alignment: Justified.
  4. Headings: APA 7th heading levels.
  5. Tables/Figures: Numbered, with descriptive captions, inserted within text.

Ethical Standards

CETL adheres to COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines.

Authorship

  1. Only individuals who made substantial scholarly contributions should be listed.
  2. All authors must approve the submission and final version.

Research Ethics

  1. Studies involving human participants require ethical approval and informed consent.
  2. Ethical compliance must be described in the Methods section.

Misconduct

  1. Plagiarism, data fabrication, duplicate submission, or redundant publication will result in rejection or retraction.
  2. Manuscripts are screened with plagiarism detection software.

Use of Generative AI

CETL permits responsible use of generative AI and AI-assisted tools. These may support language editing, literature mapping, or data visualization but must never replace the author’s intellectual contribution.

Authors are required to:

  1. Critically review all AI-assisted content for accuracy and validity.
  2. Ensure AI outputs are integrated with their own analysis.
  3. Transparently disclose AI use in a statement upon submission.
  4. Comply with the privacy, intellectual property, and legal requirements of the tools used.

Example disclosure: “Generative AI tools were used for language refinement. The authors reviewed and take full responsibility for all content.”

Submission Process

  1. Submissions must be made via the CETL Online Submission System[insert link/email].
  2. Required documents:
    • Cover letter (confirming originality and significance).
    • Author Declaration Form (authorship, conflicts, ethical approval, AI use).
    • Manuscript file in MS Word.
    • Figures/tables (if high-resolution images are required).

Peer Review Policy

  1. CETL follows a double-blind peer review
  2. Each manuscript is evaluated by at least two reviewers.
  3. Review outcomes: accept, minor revisions, major revisions, reject.
  4. Typical review cycle: 8–12 weeks.
  5. Final decisions rest with the Editor-in-Chief, based on reviewer feedback.

Data Availability and Transparency

  1. Authors should provide a data availability statementindicating where supporting data can be accessed.
  2. If data cannot be shared due to confidentiality, this must be stated explicitly.

Conflict of Interest

Authors must declare any financial or personal conflicts of interest that could influence the research. If none exist, authors must state: “The authors declare no conflicts of interest.”

Post-Acceptance and Production

  1. Accepted manuscripts undergo copyediting, typesetting, and proofing.
  2. Proofs are sent to the corresponding author for final corrections.
  3. Articles are published online first online (early view)before appearing in an issue.

Contact Information

Editorial Office
Contemporary English Teaching and Linguistics (CETL)
Email: 
Website: