Scope and Focus

The Journal of African Language Teachers’ Association (JALTA) invites original, unpublished manuscripts that advance the theory and practice of African language teaching and learning, as well as scholarship on African language use, policy, and related sociocultural practices. We welcome empirical, theoretical, or pedagogical submissions, particularly those addressing the following areas:

• Pedagogical Innovations & Curriculum Design: Novel teaching methods, curriculum development, and assessment strategies for African languages in diverse settings.
• Technology in Language Education: The role and impact of digital tools, AI, and multimedia in African language instruction.
• Learner and Teacher Identities: Research on learner/instructor experiences, motivation, heritage language learning, and teacher development.
• Language in Society: Studies on the intersection of language, culture, and linguistics, including topics on language policy, popular cultures, and sociocultural practices.
• Research Methodologies: Innovative and decolonial approaches to research in African language education, including ethical considerations.
• Program Administration & Advocacy: The administration, sustainability, and advocacy for African language programs and LCTLs.

 

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

JALTA is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. The editorial board is responsible for preventing plagiarism and all forms of publication malpractice. All authors must submit original work and affirm its originality upon submission.

The duties outlined for editors, authors, and reviewers are based on the core principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Code of Conduct and the policies of the Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE).

Duties of Editors

• Publication Decisions: Based on the manuscript's importance, originality, and the outcomes of the peer review process, the editor decides whether to accept, reject, or request modifications to a manuscript.
• Review of Manuscripts: Each manuscript is first evaluated by an editor for originality and suitability. Qualifying manuscripts are then sent for double-blind peer review. The final decision is based on the reviewers' recommendations.
• Fair Review: Editors must evaluate manuscripts based on their intellectual and academic merit, regardless of the author's race, gender, religion, nationality, or institutional affiliation.
• Confidentiality: All manuscript information and author identities are confidential and must be protected by the editors and editorial staff.
• Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Editors are prohibited from using information from an unpublished manuscript for personal benefit or in their own research without the author's explicit written consent.

 

Duties of Authors

• Authorship: Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study. All listed authors must have approved the final version of the manuscript for submission.
• Originality: Authors must present an entirely original work. Any work or words of others must be appropriately cited and quoted.
• Acknowledgment of Sources: Authors must properly cite all publications that have influenced their work and acknowledge all sources of data.
• Concurrent Publication: Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently constitutes unethical publishing behavior and is unacceptable.
• Data Access: Authors may be asked to provide the raw data in connection with a paper for editorial review and should be prepared to make the data accessible.
• Fundamental Errors in Published Works: If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their own published work, it is their obligation to promptly notify the journal editor and cooperate to retract or correct the paper.

 

Duties of Reviewers

• Confidentiality: Reviewers must treat manuscripts received for review as confidential documents.
• Objectivity: Reviews should be conducted objectively. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate. Reviewers should express their views clearly with supporting, constructive arguments.
• Promptness: If a selected reviewer feels unqualified to review the research or knows that a timely review will be impossible, they should notify the editor promptly so that another reviewer can be contacted.