Call for Book Chapter abstracts – Innovative language teaching practices in higher education in a post-COVID era

In an ever-changing world, education in the last few years has experienced a turnover, due to the COVID pandemic, technological advancements, socio-economic and educational developments (Petrenko et al. 2020). There are, currently, unprecedented social shifts worldwide, and a profound development of technologies like artificial intelligence, and wearable technologies (Mills et al., 2023). The sudden, and often unanticipated, developments occurring in the socio-economic context have made it necessary for educators to adjust their teaching practices and face challenges in the classroom, according to new realities. Language education has also been greatly affected by the challenge of adapting teaching practices accordingly. As at all levels of education, language teaching in higher education has experienced shifts from exclusively online, to hybrid and to on-site mode. Much research has been carried out on online practices during COVID, highlighting the benefits and challenges of using technology in teaching languages (Maican and Cocoradǎ, 2022; AlTameemy and Alrefaee, 2021), but how do we move forward from here? It is worth exploring how the blend of pre- and post-COVID teaching practices within the current seismic social context can serve as a means to more innovative, and smart approaches to language learning literacy in higher education. The role of higher education is as important as ever, and language instructors in higher education are faced with the great challenge of filling a gap created in the two-year COVID period, in terms of language knowledge as well as skills (Jaganathan et al. 2014; European Commission, 2018) and competences which will lead learners to employability and lifelong learning (European Commission, 2018).

Another concern in the changing global environment described above is the increasing use of language as a vehicle to embed ideology through the abundance of information on the internet and media discourse. Language is the most important medium through which changes are verbalised, conceptualised and negotiated (Fairclough, 2013; Halliday, 1994). Becoming aware of the ways information may be presented to create or reinforce specific ideas while at the same time developing an understanding of how language can encode views and ideas on current affairs is imperative for both language educators and learners. Could such an awareness, reflected in the design of teaching materials and activities, pedagogically support instructional practices? Perhaps we, as educators, could reinvent learners’ engagement with language by developing their understanding of the potential it holds in the formation or reversal of ideology.
Contributions to this volume will specifically showcase innovative language teaching practices in higher education, and provide empirical research as to how they incorporate emerging developments and meet learners’ needs in language education.

Abstracts should be attached as a Word document and sent via e-mail to the chief editor Dr. Androulla Athanasiou (androulla.athanasiou@cut.ac.cy), using the subject title “Abstract submission for a Book Chapter_(Name of author)”. Abstracts should also include the title, names of author(s)/affiliation(s), and a short bio of 100 words.
Submission deadline: 28th February 2023 (max. 400 words, excluding title, author(s) name(s) and bio(s))
Notifications of acceptance will be sent to authors by 28th March 2023.

For further information, please contact:

• Androulla Athanasiou: androulla.athanasiou@cut.ac.cy
• Stavroulla Hadjiconstantinou: s.hadjiconstantinou@cut.ac.cy
• Maria Christoforou: maria.christoforou@cut.ac.cy

Information about the book

TITLE OF THE BOOK: Innovative language teaching practices in higher education in a post-COVID era

EDITORS

• Dr. Androulla Athanasiou: PhD in Εnglish Language Teaching, Special Teaching Staff at Cyprus University of Technology Language Centre
• Dr. Stavroula Hadjiconstantinou: PhD in Linguistics, Special Teaching Staff at Cyprus University of Technology Language Centre
• Maria Christoforou: PhD Candidate, Special Teaching Staff at Cyprus University of Technology Language Centre

PUBLISHER: Ubiquity Press

TOPICS

We welcome abstracts for 4000-word chapters (including appendices and bibliography), which may focus on, but are not limited to, the following areas:
● Language for Specific Purposes (LSP) and technology
● Pedagogic use of technologies (existing and emerging)
● Task-based teaching / learning
● Communicative teaching
● Multimodal practices
● Online practices
● Blended practices
● 21st century / Transversal skills
● Language and ideology
● Media as a resource towards dynamic language learning
● Course design and material development

TIMELINE

• Abstract submission: February 28, 2023
• Notification of acceptance: March 28, 2023
• 1st draft chapter submission: June 30, 2023
• Final chapter submission: September 18, 2023
• Publication of book volume: End of 2023