Call for Papers - INTESOL International Conference 2026

Call for Papers - INTESOL International Conference 2026

Toward English as a Second Language in Vietnam: Pedagogical, Policy, and Practice Perspectives

Conference Date: August 7, 2026
Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Timezone: Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh
Conference Fee: FREE (No registration fee)
Organizers: HUFLIT & INTESOL Vietnam

Conference Overview

Vietnam is entering a critical stage in its language education development, with English increasingly positioned not merely as a foreign language, but as a second language for education, employment, and international engagement.

INTESOL Conference 2026 provides an academic and professional forum to examine what it truly means to move from English as a Foreign Language (EFL) to English as a Second Language (ESL) in the Vietnamese context.

This transition raises fundamental questions about curriculum design, teaching methodology, assessment practices, teacher education, learner identity, language policy, and classroom realities across educational levels.

The conference welcomes researchers, teacher educators, practitioners, policymakers, and graduate students to critically explore how English can be taught, learned, assessed, and lived as a second language in Vietnam and comparable ESL-emerging contexts.

Participation in the conference is free of charge, supporting inclusive and nationwide academic exchange.

Theme:

Toward English as a Second Language in Vietnam: Pedagogical, Policy, and Practice Perspectives

We are pleased to announce that the Call for Abstracts is now open for the HUFLIT INTESOL International Conference 2026.

This conference brings together researchers, teacher educators, practitioners, policymakers, and graduate students to critically examine Vietnam’s transition from English as a Foreign Language (EFL) toward English as a Second Language (ESL)—and what this shift means for policy, curriculum, teaching, assessment, teacher development, and classroom realities.

Conference Strands / Topics

From EFL to ESL: Policy and Educational Implications

• English as a Second Language in Vietnam: visions, challenges, and realities
• Language-in-education policy and planning
• English for national development, mobility, and employability
• Comparative perspectives: Vietnam and other ESL-emerging contexts

Teaching English as a Second Language in Vietnam

• Pedagogical shifts from EFL-oriented to ESL-oriented classrooms
• Creating English-rich learning environments beyond the classroom
• Teaching speaking, listening, pronunciation, and interaction for real-life use
• EMI, EAP, and ESP as pathways toward ESL competence

Curriculum, Materials, and Assessment

• Designing ESL-aligned curricula and syllabi
• Materials development for local ESL contexts
• Assessment of communicative competence and real-world language use
• Classroom-based and alternative assessment approaches

Teachers and Teacher Education

• Re-defining the role of English teachers in an ESL-oriented system
• Pre-service and in-service teacher education for ESL contexts
• Teacher beliefs, identity, and professional agency
• Practitioner research and reflective teaching

Learners, Identity, and Language Use

• Learner motivation and attitudes toward English as a second language
• English use inside and outside school
• Multilingualism, translanguaging, and local language ecologies
• Equity, inclusion, and access in ESL education

Technology and Digital Support for ESL Development

• Technology and AI as support tools in ESL learning (not as ends in themselves)
• Digital literacies for ESL learners and teachers
• Ethical, responsible, and context-sensitive use of educational technologies

SubmissionTypeLength

Full Research Papers: 4,000–6,000 words

Short Papers / Work-in-Progress Reports: 2,000–3,500 words

Practical Workshops / Teaching Demonstrations: 1,000-word proposal

Poster Presentations: 300–500-word abstract

All submissions should clearly relate to the transition toward ESL in Vietnam or comparable contexts and provide theoretical insight, empirical evidence, or pedagogical innovation.

Submission Guidelines

• All submissions must be written in English
• Formatting must follow APA 7th Edition
• File format: Word (.docx)
• All submissions undergo peer review
• Selected papers will be published in Conference Proceedings with ISBN (PDF)

Important Dates

• Abstract Submission: 05 April 2026
• Abstract Acceptance: 05 May 2026
• Full Paper Deadline: 05 June 2026
• Full Paper Acceptance: 05 July 2026
• Registration deadline: July 15, 2026
• Conference Date: 07 August 2026
• Proceedings Publication: 30 September 2026