Journal of Southeast Asian Language Teaching
Volume 12, No. 2, Fall 2006

Editor's Page

The Fall 2006 issue of JSEALT contains a number of new features.  First of all, in Tech Connect, we have provided links to a few sites that Southeast Asian language teachers may find useful in support of their teaching.  Secondly, in this issue we have begun our JSEALT Forum, a place for discussion among members of teaching ideas; suggestions on specific aspects or practices of language teaching; and discussions on research and teaching issues and related topics.  Finally, we have added a section called Book Notes, with a call for submissions of short evaluative reviews of recent publications.  The intent of including these new sections is first of all to make JSEALT more interactive, with more opportunities for readers to connect with each other and with other professional sites, as well as to put out information, comments and opinions from COTSEAL members quickly about new books in our field.

Our featured article, Mariam Beevi Lam’s “The Cultural Politics of Vietnamese Language Pedagogy,” raises issues that may be of concern and relevance in the teaching of a number of our Southeast Asian languages. Her thoughtful conclusion points to potential areas of action, not only for those interested in Vietnamese language issues in particular, but also for those involved in the administration, planning, development, and implementation of language teaching programs and teacher training programs for Southeast Asian and other world languages.

For the Spring 2007 issue, we are seeking articles contributing to our understanding of the relationship of language, culture and literature to the acquisition of Southeast Asian languages.  Book reviews, book notes, and multimedia reviews related to this theme are also encouraged. The deadline for receipt of materials to be considered for the Spring issue is January 31, 2007.  Articles not related to the announced theme of an issue may also be submitted at any time and are always welcome.

In the Fall 2007 issue, we will focus on creative uses of technology in the fields of Southeast Asian language teaching and applied linguistics.  Articles focusing on the technology theme might include the development of  online courses; teacher and/or student use of email, karaoke, or podcasting to support language learning; the visual enhancement of the teaching of language and culture through the use of videos, LCDs, DVDs or other technology; as well as other ways technology can support language teaching and applied linguistics that have not been mentioned here.  In addition to articles on this theme, multimedia reviews will be especially  appropriate for the technology issue, and we encourage you to contact the editor if you have particular materials in mind for a multimedia review.  The deadline for receipt of materials to be considered for the Fall 2007 issue is August 31.

Each issue of the Journal of Southeast Asian Language Teaching is the result of the dedication, creativity and hard work of many people, not only those working on the current issue, but also those who have supported our publications at various times in the history of the Council of Teachers of Southeast Asian Languages.

At this time we acknowledge and thank those who served JSEALT and COTSEAL for the many years during which our publication was in hard copy:  Elizabeth Riddle of Ball State University, Editor from 1992 to 2000; Thomas John Hudak of Arizona State University, Review Editor during that same period; and the Editorial Board members from those years: Carol Compton, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Thomas Gething, University of Washington; John Okell, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London; Teresita Ramos, University of Hawaii, Manoa; Peansiri Vongvipanond, Chulalongkorn University; and John Wolff, Cornell University.  Their work in support of JSEALT is greatly appreciated.

Carol J. Compton
jsealt@charter.net