Submissions

Author Guidelines

SUBMISSSION CATEGORIES

Research Articles

Research articles submitted must be based on recent empirical studies in language-related disciplines specified in ABOUT US. The articles should be between 5,000 and 7,000 words in length, including notes, tables, figures, and appendices. Only 30 references are allowed. An abstract of no longer than 200 words must precede each article.

Academic Articles

Academic articles submitted should present a thorough review of any current topic in language-related disciplines. The articles should also provide discussions and debates on all issues related to the disciplines specified in ABOUT US. The length of a manuscript with references should range from 1,500 and 4,000 words with an abstract of about 200 words. 

Book Reviews

Critical reviews of recent books in the fields of language studies are welcomed. A manuscript, including references, should not exceed 1,500 words.

 

AUTHOR AND SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

As part of the submission process, authors are required to ensure that their submission complies with all of the following guidelines. Submissions that do not adhere to these items may be returned to authors or automatically rejected.

          1. Manuscripts, written in English only, must be typewritten in Microsoft Document format (.docx). Authors are asked to refer to the style sheet template provided. In other words, manuscripts should be typed into the style sheet template.

             TEMPLATE GUIDELINES

             LEARN Journal Style Sheet Template

             LEARN Journal Book Review Style Sheet Template

          2. All manuscripts should conform to the requirements of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7^th Edition). Authors may use reference-management software such as EndNote, Zotero, Mendeley, or similar tools while preparing their manuscripts. However, manuscripts submitted to the journal must not contain active field codes, embedded citation fields, or other automated reference-management links.

Before submission, authors should convert all citations and references to plain, editable text and ensure that they conform to the journal's required referencing style.

Authors should also avoid using footnotes or endnotes for bibliographical references. References should normally be cited directly in the text and listed in full in the reference list.

          3. Authors must include a brief biographical statement (maximum 50 words), an email address, and an affiliation.

          4. Manuscripts must not have been published previously or be under consideration for publication elsewhere in any form.

          5. Manuscripts submitted will be carefully screened for plagiarism.

          6. Manuscripts will be assessed for language accuracy. Thorough editing and proofreading are necessary before submission to ensure the high language quality of the manuscripts in compliance with standard academic English.

          7. Authors are required to submit two documents, i.e.,  a full manuscript with authors' details and an anonymized manuscript without authors' details.

          8. LEARN Journal: Language Education and Acquisition Research Network reserves the right to make editorial changes in any manuscript accepted for publication to enhance clarity or style. If substantial changes are required, the author will be informed or his/her advice will be sought.

 

PEER REVIEW PROCESS

Step 1: Initial Screening

The editor or editorial assistant will check a received manuscript to determine whether it conforms to the journal’s scope. Manuscripts out of the journal’s scope will be rejected. Articles published fully or partly in other publications/websites will not be reviewed or accepted.

Step 2: Plagiarism Check

All submitted manuscripts will be checked for plagiarism. Manuscripts containing plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, and dishonesty will be rejected.

Step 3: Peer Review

LEARN Journal: Language Education and Acquisition Research Network uses a rigorous double-blind system for peer-review. Both reviewers’ and authors’ identities remain anonymous. The submitted paper will be peer-reviewed by at least two experts in the fields relevant to the paper content.

Step 4: Acceptance/Rejection Decision

The decision to accept an article is based on the average score given by reviewers. The author(s) may be asked to revise the manuscript based on the reviewers’ comments or suggestions and resubmit to the journal for another round of consideration. Manuscripts not following the journal author and submission guidelines, as well as the reviewers’ comments without any acceptable justification, may be rejected.

 

POLICY ON GENERATIVE AI AND AI-ASSISTED TECHNOLOGIES

1. Introduction

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies have been rapidly adopted across research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits for research productivity while presenting important considerations for research integrity and transparency. This policy establishes clear standards and guidelines for the responsible and ethical use of AI tools in manuscript preparation and the peer review process.

The journal is committed to maintaining the highest standards of research integrity while acknowledging the legitimate role AI tools can play in supporting scholarly work. This policy applies to all authors, reviewers, and editorial staff involved with manuscripts submitted to this journal.

2. Policy Overview

The use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies is permitted in manuscript preparation, provided that:

• AI tools are used to support and enhance human work, not to substitute for human critical thinking, expertise, and evaluation
• All AI tool usage is applied with meaningful human oversight and control
• Authors maintain full responsibility and accountability for all content and claims in their manuscript
• Transparency is maintained regarding AI tool usage through mandatory disclosure statements
• Manuscripts meet all originality and integrity standards, including AI detection thresholds

3. Permitted Uses of AI Tools in Manuscript Preparation

Authors may use AI tools to assist with the following tasks:

• Writing assistance and language improvement (grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure)
• Literature searching and organization of research materials
• Development of outlines and organizational structures for manuscripts
• Explanation and clarification of complex concepts and methodologies
• Data analysis suggestions and interpretation support (with human verification)
• Generation of figures, tables, and visual content (with appropriate attribution)
• Proofreading and copyediting support

4. Prohibited Uses of AI Tools

The following uses of AI tools are strictly prohibited:

• Using AI to generate substantial portions of the manuscript without human review and modification
• Submitting AI-generated content as original author work without appropriate disclosure
• Listing or citing AI tools as authors or co-authors (authorship requires human responsibility and accountability)
• Using AI-generated references without verification, as AI may produce inaccurate or fabricated citations
• Fabricating data, results, or evidence using AI tools
• Using AI to bypass plagiarism detection or originality standards

5. Author Responsibilities and Accountability

Authors are solely responsible and accountable for the contents and integrity of their submitted manuscript. Specific responsibilities include:

5.1 Accuracy and Verification

• Thoroughly review and verify all AI-generated content for accuracy, comprehensiveness, and impartiality
• Check all sources, particularly AI-generated references, as these may be incorrect, outdated, or fabricated
• Verify that data, statistics, and citations are accurate and from legitimate sources

5.2 Originality and Authenticity

• Edit and adapt all material thoroughly to ensure the manuscript represents your authentic and original contribution
• Ensure the work reflects your own analysis, interpretation, insights, and ideas
• Avoid submitting substantially AI-generated text that has not been meaningfully revised

5.3 Visual Content and Images

• Ensure the accuracy and appropriateness of any AI-generated images or visual content
• Provide appropriate attribution to AI tools used to generate images. Refer examples on how to cite and provide attribution via this link: https://guides.library.uwa.edu.au/apa/Gen_AI
• Ensure that AI-generated images do not misrepresent data or research findings

5.4 Data Privacy and Intellectual Property

• Ensure the use of AI tools and sources safeguards data privacy, confidentiality, and intellectual property rights
• Review and comply with the terms and conditions of any AI tool used
• Ensure that proprietary data or confidential information is not inputted into public AI systems

6. Mandatory Disclosure of AI Tool Usage

6.1 When Disclosure Is Required

Authors must declare the use of any generative AI or AI-assisted technologies in the manuscript preparation process upon submission. This includes any AI tool used to generate, edit, enhance, or otherwise modify the content of the manuscript beyond basic spelling and grammar checking.

6.2 Disclosure Statement Format

The disclosure statement must be included in a new section titled "Declaration of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in Manuscript Preparation" placed before the References section of the submitted manuscript.

Required format:

"During the preparation of this work, the author(s) used [NAME OF SPECIFIC AI TOOL(S)] in order to [SPECIFIC REASON(S) FOR USE]. After using this/these tool(s), the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the published article."

Example:

"During the preparation of this work, the author(s) used ChatGPT to assist with literature organization and clarification of complex methodological concepts. The author(s) also used Grammarly for language improvement. After using these tools, the author(s) reviewed and edited all content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the published article."

7. AI Detection Threshold and Originality Assessment

All submitted manuscripts will be screened using Turnitin's AI content detection capabilities. The journal maintains a strict threshold of 20% for AI-generated or AI-assisted content in the final manuscript.

Policy Details:

• Manuscripts with AI content detection ≤ 20%: May proceed to editorial review
• Manuscripts with AI content detection > 20% or undisclosed: Will be desk-rejected or retracted if discovered post-publication

8. Peer Review and Editorial Process

8.1 Restrictions on AI Use in Peer Review

To protect intellectual property and maintain confidentiality of unpublished research, peer reviewers and academic editors are strictly prohibited from uploading unpublished manuscript content into public or unvetted generative AI tools.

8.2 Permitted AI Use by Editors and Reviewers

Editors and reviewers may use AI tools in a limited, supportive capacity for:

• Improving structure, clarity, and language in review reports or editorial decision letters

9. Consequences of Non-Compliance

Violations of this policy may result in:

• Desk rejection of the manuscript without peer review
• Retraction of published articles if violations are discovered post-publication
• Possible reporting to institutional research integrity committees or other relevant authorities
• Temporary or permanent banning from submitting manuscripts to the journal

This policy is effective as of November 1^st, 2026, and applies to all manuscripts submitted on or after this date.