Proposal submission system is now available.
The deadline for proposal submission is March 15, 2026.
Please read all the information below carefully before submitting your proposal.
In keeping with the founding spirit of SSLW, which was to bring people together to share insights and discuss issues related to second language writing, SSLW2023 will offer in-person experience only. If you propose a session, please plan on attending the conference in person to share your work and to engage in conversations with colleagues from around the world.
Kyoto in October is a popular tourist destination. If you are planning to attend SSLW2026, we suggest booking the hotels (with free cancellation) as soon as possible.
Call for Proposals
The 22nd Symposium on Second Language Writing (SSLW2026) will be held October 23-25, 2026 at Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. The Symposium Organizing Committee seeks proposals for presentations that address various topics within the field of second language writing—broadly defined.
Any topic related to second language writing theory, research, or teaching is welcome; we especially encourage proposals that seek to challenge the status quo in the field by introducing new topics as well as new theoretical and methodological approaches. As with all previous meetings of the Symposium, we are interested in writing issues in any additional language (second or foreign language) for any age group in personal, academic, professional, and civic contexts. We particularly welcome proposals related to this year’s theme: The Humanity of Writing Teachers in the Age of AI.
Each proposal must include both a 50-word summary (to be included in the program) and a 500-word abstract (to be used by reviewers for adjudication). (Proposal writing tips are shared below.)
Proposals must be received by 23:59:59 on March 15, 2026 (Japan Time; GMT/UTC+0900).
Proposals will be peer reviewed by a panel of experts.
For more information about SSLW, please visit our website at: https://sslw.pmatsuda.net
We look forward to receiving your proposal!
Paul Kei Matsuda, Founding Chair
Session Format Options
All sessions will be in-person. Possible session formats include:
- A paper is a 30-minute session including the time for a 20-minute presentation and question and answer time.
- A colloquium is a 1.5-hour session including three or more presenters addressing different aspects of the same topic or representing different perspectives on an issue.
- A roundtable is a 30-minute session including the time for a 15- to 20-minute presentation and time for informal conversation. It provides opportunities for intensive discussion of the presenter’s work. It is also appropriate for work-in-progress or preliminary discussion of a project.
- A discussion is a 30-minute session starting with a brief statement of an issue relevant to the field followed by a discussion.
- A workshop is a 30-minute professional development session related to teaching, research, administration or other aspects of L2 writing-related work.
- An open meeting is appropriate for a business or planning meeting that are relevant to SSLW participants in general (e.g., Consortium on Graduate Communication).
- A closed meeting is appropriate for L2 writing-related business for a specific group (e.g., editorial board meeting).
Submission Guidelines
- To include as many presenters on the program as possible, the same person cannot be listed as the first author for more than one proposal. (Invited speaker role does not count against this rule.)
- Multiple submissions are allowed only if each proposal includes a unique co-presenter—i.e., not listed as the sole registered co-author in other proposals.
- If you wish to propose a colloquium consisting of more than three presenters, submit a single proposal and include a brief summary of each presentation in the 500-word abstract.
- Some of the paper proposals may be scheduled as roundtable sessions, which provide more intensive opportunities for interaction and feedback.
- Please do not ask to include additional presenters after the proposal has been accepted.
Proposal Writing Tips
A strong proposal typically includes the following elements:
- a statement of the overall purpose of the presentation;
- a succinct description of the method and/or conceptual/analytical framework;
- a summary of the key arguments and/or findings (or expected findings, if the project is still in progress); and
- a brief discussion of the implication or significance of the work to be presented.
It is appropriate to cite key sources, but keep citations to the minimum. A list of references is not required. If a source is likely to be unknown to reviewers, leave it out or provide some context in the abstract.
Proposal Formatting Guidelines
Please adhere to these guidelines as you format the proposal. If you do not follow these guidelines, the text may be edited incorrectly or, in some cases, included in the program as is.
Presentation Title. The title should use sentence-case capitalization (e.g., “On the future of second language writing: Post-COVID19 developments.”)
First/Given Name. The author first/given name should include first and middle names (and any other names that is not part of your last/family name). Please do not include titles such as “Dr.” or “Professor.” Do not use ALL CAPS or all lowercase.
Last/Family Name. The last/family name will be used for alphabetizing the names. Do not add degrees (e.g., “PhD”). Do not use ALL CAPS or all lowercase.
Organization. As much as possible, please only list the name of the institution (not sub-units such as college, division, institute, or department). Do not abbreviate or add definite articles unless it is part of the official institutional branding strategy (e.g., “Penn State University,” “The Ohio State University.”)
Proposal Submission Form
Click the button below to access the online submission form: