1st Call for Abstract Submissions

 International TESOL Union (ITU) and Saint Louis University – Madrid Campus are pleased to announce that the 2027 International TESOL Union Conference on Teaching with Meaning will be held on July 22-23 in Madrid, Spain.

 

Plenary Speakers (to be updated)

Dario Banegas (University of Edinburgh)

Nayr Ibrahim (Nord University)

Ana Llinares Garcia (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid)

 

Organising Committee

Kevin Xinghua Liu, Advisor (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

Wong Jock Onn, Advisor (National University of Singapore)

Hamish Binns, Co-Chair (Saint Louis University, Madrid Campus)

Anne McCabe, Co-Chair (Saint Louis University, Madrid Campus)

 

Conference Theme: Teaching with Meaning

In an era marked by rapid technological change, AI, linguistic diversity, and diverse intercultural contexts, TESOL professionals are being asked to reconsider what it means to teach, and to do so meaningfully. The Teaching with Meaning conference addresses questions of purpose, process, and human engagement in English language education. Rather than focusing solely on outcomes or products, the theme invites us to reflect on how meaning is constructed through pedagogy, interaction, identity, and communication. The conference will create conversations around how teachers can create meaningful learning experiences, reassess their professional roles, and prepare learners to use English authentically and ethically in diverse real-world contexts. By centering meaning as both a pedagogical goal and an integral part of our day-to-day teaching , the conference encourages dialogue across theory, research, and classroom practice.

 

Conference Strands

The conference welcomes contributions from researchers, teacher-educators, and practitioners that engage critically and creatively with the theme of Teaching with Meaning, including empirical research, theoretical perspectives, classroom-based studies, and reflective practice.

1. Language, Content, and Meaningful Learning

CLIL and content-based approaches; integrating language and content; disciplinary meaning-making; subject literacies; language development through content learning.

2. Developing Teachers for Meaningful Language Education

Teacher education and professional learning; teacher language awareness; preparing teachers for bilingual and multilingual education; teacher agency; teacher–researcher collaboration.

3. Translanguaging, Multilingualism, and Meaning-Making

Translanguaging as pedagogy; multilingual repertoires; language practices and identity; multilingual and multimodal meaning-making; challenging monolingual assumptions.

4. Language and Communication: From Form to Meaning

Grammar, vocabulary, and pragmatics in use; connecting form, function, meaning, and context; language development through interaction; communicative effectiveness; linguistic variation.

5. Meaningful Teaching and Learning in the Age of AI

AI as a pedagogical tool; human agency and creativity; originality, authorship, and assessment; AI-mediated interaction; teacher identity and professional judgment.

6. Learning, Assessment, and the Processes of Meaning-Making

Learning processes and reflection; formative assessment and feedback; task and activity design; assessment for learning; balancing institutional demands with pedagogical values.

7. English in the World: Communication Beyond Native-Speaker Norms

English as a Lingua Franca (ELF); intelligibility and interactional competence; global Englishes; communicating across linguistic boundaries; pedagogical implications of global English use.

8. Culture, Identity, and Intercultural Meaning-Making

Culture as dynamic and negotiated; intercultural communication; cultural perspectives and identities; negotiating meaning across cultures; ethical engagement across difference.

 

Submission Categories and Guidelines

ITU 2027 features two categories:

1. Paper Presentations

• Format: 25‑minute presentation, inclusive of Q&A
• Focus: Empirical research, conceptual/theoretical analyses, or reflective practice grounded in evidence
• Abstract length: 250–300 words
• What to include in the abstract: Title; author names and affiliations; email contacts; purpose and relevance; context and participants (if applicable); methodology or approach; key findings or arguments; implications for TESOL research or practice

 

2. Symposia/Panels

• Format: 55‑minute session consisting of 3–4 panelists
• Focus: A coherent theme explored from multiple perspectives (e.g., research, pedagogy, policy)
• Abstract length: Symposium overview: 250–300 words; individual presentation summaries: 150–200 words each
• What to include in the abstract: Overall rationale and thematic coherence; brief description of each contribution; role of the discussant; planned interaction format

 

Abstract/Paper Submissions

1.  Visit the ITU website at www.tesolunion.org and register for an account by clicking the "Sign In" button in the top right corner of the website. If you already have an account, simply sign in.

2.  In your personal account, click "Submit an Article" and fill in the required fields with your presentation title, abstract, and keywords.

3.  Important: Under "Submission Category," select "Special Issues" from the first drop-down list, then select "ITU 2027 Madrid Abstract Submission" from the second drop-down list.

4.  Suggesting reviewers is not required for this task. However, to complete the required "Recommended Reviewers" section, simply enter your own information or suggest a colleague you think would be suitable for this submission.

5.  Attach your complete abstract (including title, author information, abstract, and keywords).

6. Be sure to include your Short Bio.

 

Important Dates

Abstract submission due: February 15, 2027

Notification of abstract acceptance: March 15, 2027

Registration opens: March 2027

 

Registration and Fees (include lunches and teas on both days)

To be announced November 2026

 

Publication Opportunities

ITU2027 provides full publication opportunities for all attendees.

• First, all accepted abstracts will be included in the Book of Abstracts of the International TESOL Union Conference 2027 (with ISBN), published by the International TESOL Union.
• Second, full papers submitted after the conference will, following peer review and revisions, be included in one of the following publications:

1. International Journal of TESOL Studies (ESCI, Scopus‑indexed, conference special issue)

2. TESOL Communications (conference special issue)

3. Edited conference volumes (with ISBNs)

 

Contacts

All questions about submissions, registrations, and other conference‑related issues should be emailed to Kevin Liu (International TESOL Union) at info@tesolunion.org, or to Anne McCabe (Saint Louis University – Madrid Campus) at anne.mccabe@slu.edu.

 

Stay tuned by visiting our websites and following us on social media:

International TESOL Union: https://www.tesolunion.org.

TESOL Communications: https://www.tesolcommunications.com/

LinkedIn: international-tesol-union

Instagram: intl.tesol.union