Applied Language Sciences (ALS) is a unique journal devoted to the scientific investigation of applied linguistics, published by the Global Digital Applied Linguistics Association (GloDAL). ALS is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access venue committed to rigorously examining and disseminating scientific innovative practices, theories, and research at the forefront of language application — serving as a crucial forum connecting applied linguistic theory with real-world impact.
Editors-in-Chief ▪ Prof. Mark Feng Teng, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao SAR ▪
Prof. Junjie Gavin Wu, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao SAR Associate Editors ▪
Prof. Sangmin-Michelle Lee, Kyung Hee University, South Korea ▪
Prof. Seongyong Lee, University College London, United Kingdom ▪ Prof. Danyang Zhang, Shenzhen University, China
RATIONALE FOR THE SPECIAL ISSUE
The rapid advancement and widespread adoption of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools, such as ChatGPT and other large language models, are fundamentally reshaping language learning, teaching, and assessment practices. While these technologies offer unprecedented opportunities for enhancing learner engagement, personalization, and access to language resources, they also raise pressing concerns regarding academic integrity, epistemic trust, and the development of critical thinking in applied linguistics contexts. This special issue seeks to bring together scientifically rigorous, theory-driven, and empirically grounded research that examines how critical thinking and academic integrity can be conceptualized, operationalized, and sustained in GenAI-mediated language education. Moving beyond simplistic narratives of either technological optimism or risk mitigation, the issue aims to foster nuanced scholarly dialogue on how applied linguistics can respond to the transformative implications of GenAI in pedagogically meaningful and ethically responsible ways.
In alignment with the mission of ALS — to connect applied linguistic theory with real-world impact — this special issue invites contributions that critically engage with the intersection of technology, cognition, ethics, and pedagogy. By foregrounding critical thinking and academic integrity, the issue aims to reposition these constructs not as constraints, but as central drivers of sustainable and meaningful language education in the AI era.
SCOPE AND THEMES
We welcome original research articles, systematic and scoping reviews, methodological papers, and theoretically informed discussions addressing (but not limited to) the following themes:
▪ Conceptualizations and measurements of critical thinking in GenAI-supported language learning environments ▪ Academic integrity in the age of generative AI: challenges, redefinitions, and assessment practices
▪ The role of GenAI in shaping learner agency, autonomy, and metacognitive regulation ▪ Pedagogical frameworks for the responsible and sustainable integration of GenAI in language education
▪ The impact of GenAI on language assessment validity, reliability, and authenticity
▪ AI literacy and its relationship with critical engagement and ethical use
▪ Cognitive and affective dimensions of interacting with GenAI (e.g., trust, over-reliance, cognitive offloading)
▪ Comparative studies of human vs. AI-mediated feedback and evaluation
▪ Equity, access, and ethical considerations in GenAI adoption across diverse educational contexts ▪ Methodological innovations in researching GenAI in applied linguistics
Submissions should:
▪ Be grounded in applied linguistics theory and/or interdisciplinary frameworks
▪ Demonstrate methodological transparency and rigor
▪ Provide clear implications for language education practice, policy, or research
▪ Align with ALS's commitment to scientific innovation and real-world impact
1 May 2026 Call for Papers released
1 July 2026 Abstract submission deadline
1 December 2026 Full manuscript submission deadline
1 January 2027 First round of reviews
1 April 2027 Final decisions
May 2027 Publication
▪ We welcome empirical studies; conceptual and review papers are by invitation only.
▪ Abstracts should not exceed 500 words.
▪ Use APA (7th edition) referencing style, if applicable.
▪ Write in a clear and formal academic style.
▪ Abstracts reporting preliminary findings are encouraged. Submission Form: https://forms.gle/WiAZREHpFP7vcZXi7
GUEST EDITOR CONTACT Dr. Ngo Cong-Lem Faculty of Foreign Languages, Dalat University, Vietnam Postdoctoral Fellow, Monash University, Australia E: lemnc@dlu.edu.vn