Please email submission to: teslcan@ualberta.ca.
Submissions
Author Guidelines
Submissions to the journal may fall into any of the following four categories. When submitting work, kindly consult the advice for authors provided below and also indicate in the subject line of your initial correspondence which category of submission is intended.
Full Length Research Articles
Manuscripts in this category advance conceptual, research‑based, or theoretical arguments, fully grounded in current literature. Manuscripts should normally not exceed 7,000 words, excluding references. Any manuscripts exceeding 7,000 words should be accompanied by a brief justification for the exceptional length. A maximum 200‑word abstract must be included.
Although not required for acceptance/publication, in some cases authors of manuscripts reporting research with human participants may find it appropriate to include a brief appendix on Research Ethics Considerations (or comparable section title), which could contribute to scholarly and professional reflection on effective measures to ensure protections for research participants.
Submissions will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Contribution to advancement of TESL in Canada
- Originality
- Method (central question, theoretical framework, data analysis, appropriateness of statistical procedures, interpretation, substantiation)
- Structure of the argument
Perspectives
Manuscripts in this category typically fall under one of the following headings: (a) viewpoints and opinions expressed in the form of a report, commentary, or interview on issues or topics of current interest; (b) reactions by readers to articles and reviews published in the Journal and rejoinders; (c) the texts of plenary keynote addresses; (d) reviews of one or more influential books or articles in the field of TESL in the light of current theory and pedagogy, or state‑of‑the‑art articles. Submissions should not exceed 3,500 words, excluding references. A maximum 200‑word abstract must be included.
Submissions will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Contribution to the advancement of TESL in Canada
- Structure of the argument
- Support, substantiation
- Originality
In the Classroom
Manuscripts in this category feature explanatory/analytical descriptions of teaching techniques or activities within a theoretical framework that is used to provide an explicit rationale and/or critique. These manuscripts should not take the form of a general review of the literature on a technique or activity (if so, they might instead be reworked for potential submission under division [d] of the Perspectives category). They must include identification of the particular audience, materials, and procedures under discussion so as to ensure integrated reflection on the specific classroom circumstances as well as the more general theoretical background. Manuscripts should not exceed 3,500 words, excluding references. A maximum 200‑word abstract must be included.
Submissions will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Contribution to the advancement of TESL in Canada
- Structure of the argument
- Detailed description of technique/material
- Detailed description of learners, context
- Support, substantiation regarding scholarly literature
- Originality
Reviews
TESL Canada Journal publishes short evaluative reviews of print and nonprint materials relevant to TESL professionals. A list of books available for review is published as part of the front matter of each issue of the Journal . Intending review authors should contact the Editor about any of the books listed in a current issue of the Journal (if more than one item is requested, indicate the order of preference); occasionally also it may be possible to consider reviews of print or nonprint materials not so listed if their relevance to the readership is clear, in which case review authors should approach the Editor in advance. Reviews should not exceed 750 words.
Required Style
Manuscripts should be double‑spaced, in 12‑point type, with one‑inch margins on all sides; a running head is unnecessary, but page numbers are required. They should conform to the guidelines for citations, reference list, and other scholarly features set out in the current edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association . For quick reference, most universities and similar educational institutions have readily accessible online advice on APA style to provide simple explanations and examples for the most basic principles; for more complex matters, a paper copy of the Publication Manual may be necessary. Consistent adherence to APA style is required: manuscripts reflecting other style systems may be returned for adjustment before review.
Authors are advised to consult a recent issue of the Journal for examples of the typical flow of subtitled sections that characterize the various categories of submissions. Careful attention to such formatting issues will not only help ensure that the necessary elements are present, but also make the manuscript more readable.
Diagrams and Tables
According to the complexity of the material, authors of manuscripts that are accepted may be asked to submit diagrams or tables in a publication‑ready electronic format.
Permissions
Obtaining permissions to reprint previously published material is the responsibility of the author(s).
Anonymity
Authors should take care to ensure that their manuscripts for review contain nothing that could identify the writer. For example, if authors refer to other work by themselves on which some aspect of the material in their present manuscript is based, that allusion should be couched in terms that do not identify the personal connection. Electronic traces of authorship should also be removed. For example, with Microsoft Office documents, author identification should be removed from the properties for the file (see under “File” in Word), by clicking on the following, beginning with “File” on the main menu of the Microsoft application: File > Save As > Tools (or Options with a Mac) > Security > Remove personal information from file properties on save > Save. Manuscripts will be screened for oversights in ensuring anonymity and may be returned for adjustment if necessary.
Review Process
Review outcomes include the following:
• acceptance as is or with minor corrections (in the latter case, comments will be provided);
• invitation to resubmit the manuscript with revisions (comments will be provided) for a new round of reviews;
• rejection of the manuscript.
Authors should be aware that an invitation to resubmit their manuscript with revisions is an indication that - with the adjustments advised - the work has the potential ultimately to be approved: although not all resubmitted manuscripts are subsequently published, many are. In addition, it is important to realize that articles not accepted by TESL Canada Journal may sometimes gain approval by other journals with different audiences and therefore different criteria for publication.
Editing of Manuscripts
The Editor reserves the right to make editing changes of a local or stylistic nature that do not affect the content of the manuscript. Authors will be contacted about any major editing or revisions. TESL Canada Journal welcomes manuscripts in English or French from native speakers of other languages, but would ask that ideas be clearly expressed.
Electronic Format of Submissions
Manuscripts must be submitted electronically. The preferred word‑processing format is Microsoft Word either for Windows or for Macintosh.
Languages of Publication
English and French.
Submission Correspondence
Manuscripts are to be transmitted as an e‑mail attachment directed to the Journal 's e‑mail address (teslcan@ualberta.ca). Manuscript files should be named by the author's family name, dot, manuscript type (e.g., Smith.ResearchArticle, or Jones.Perspectives, etc.). A separate attachment labeled by the author's family name, dot, info (e.g., Smith.info) should list the title of the manuscript, the name(s) of the author(s), and complete contact information for the corresponding author including both e‑mail and full postal mail addresses; a biographical note (maximum 50 words) for each author is also to be included.