About the Journal
GATESOL Journal—the academic peer-reviewed journal of GATESOL—is an engaging, relevant, practitioner-oriented journal meant to support the readership of teachers, teacher educators, researchers, program administrators, and graduate students. The journal strives to support and mentor authors and readers who teach, conduct research, administer programs, and/or study in language teaching contexts. The multifaceted journal articles in GATESOL Journal could focus on theory, research, pedagogy, and educational policy related to the teaching of English to speakers of other languages. GATESOL Journal will address the following multilingual students: U.S.-born bilinguals, Generation 1.5 students, immigrants, refugees, and international students.
Types of Submissions
GATESOL Journal welcomes practical, theoretical, and research-based manuscripts related to all areas of ESOL. Submissions should be clearly written, purposeful, relevant to the journal’s readership, and grounded in scholarship, professional experience, classroom practice, or programmatic insight.
Unless otherwise noted, word counts refer to the main text only and exclude the abstract, references, and appendices.
1. Empirical Research and Literature Reviews
5,000–8,000 words, excluding abstract, references, and appendices
Empirical research articles and literature reviews should address meaningful questions, issues, or problems in ESOL education. Research-based articles should demonstrate rigorous scholarship, clearly describe the study’s context and methods, and explain the significance of the findings for teachers, teacher educators, researchers, administrators, or graduate students. Literature reviews should synthesize relevant scholarship, identify important patterns or gaps, and offer implications for ESOL theory, research, policy, or practice.
2. Practice, Program, and Policy Perspectives
3,000–5,000 words, excluding abstract, references, and appendices
These articles present well-developed discussions of current or emerging issues in TESOL, ESOL teaching, teacher education, curriculum, program administration, or educational policy. Submissions may include analyses of instructional approaches, program models, curricular changes, pilot initiatives, policy issues, or professional perspectives relevant to the journal’s readership. Articles in this category should move beyond summary or description by offering original insights, interpretations, applications, or recommendations.
3. Classroom Activities and Teaching Ideas
1,000–2,500 words, excluding abstract, references, and appendices
These shorter articles describe a specific classroom activity, teaching strategy, assignment, project, or instructional technique that the author has used or developed. Submissions should provide enough context for readers to understand where and why the activity was implemented, including information about the learners, course, setting, or instructional goals. The main purpose of these articles is to offer practical guidance so that other teachers can adapt the activity or idea for their own classrooms. Activities may focus on any area of language teaching and may include technology-enhanced practices.
4. Materials and Media Reviews
750–1,500 words, excluding references
Materials and Media reviews should critically discuss a recent book or other pedagogical resources, such as digital tools, apps, platforms, or media relevant to TESOL, ESOL education, applied linguistics, multilingual education, teacher education, or related fields. Reviews should summarize the resource’s main focus and contribution, contextualize it within the field, evaluate its strengths and limitations, and explain its relevance for GATESOL Journal readers. Submissions should be written in an accessible style and should help readers determine how the book or tool may inform their teaching, research, program administration, or professional development.
Manuscript Form
Manuscripts should follow APA (7th edition) style guidelines. Please be sure to include an abstract. As manuscripts are subject to double-blind review, content should not reveal author identities or affiliations. Full references for all citations should be included.
Submitting a Manuscript
Manuscripts should be typed in Microsoft Word. In a separate cover letter, include the authors' names, affiliations, complete mailing addresses, email addresses, and home and/or work telephone numbers. Specify in the cover letter the type of submission (see categories above), any conflicts of interest, and the corresponding author. Manuscripts will be reviewed by the editors before being sent out for peer review.
The Review Process
Manuscripts undergo a double-blind review process with at least two reviewers from the Editorial Review Board. Acceptance decisions are based on interest and relevance to GATESOL membership, usefulness, clarity, timeliness, and cohesiveness. The overall balance of the journal’s content also influences editors’ selections.