FIRST CALL FOR PAPERS PLL6 

“Positive Vis-à-Vis Negative and Beyond”

The 6th Psychology of Language Learning Conference, PLL6

May 22nd–24th, 2026

(Pre-conference events, May 21st, 2026)

Shantou, Guangdong, China

We are pleased to announce that The Psychology of Language Learning Conference, PLL6 is calling for proposals. It will be held at Shantou University, China, from May 21st to 24th, 2026. 

PLL6 seeks to convene scholars from around the world, providing a platform to share insights and research on the pivotal role of psychology in language learning and teaching. 

The conference theme is “Positive Vis-à-Vis Negative and Beyond”, which highlights the growing scholarly interest in unpacking various dichotomies (e.g., positive versus negative, proactive versus reactive, and teaching versus learning) in the field of psychology of language learning. A noticeable preference for dialectical perspectives over dichotomous ones facilitates a deeper exploration into the complexity of relationships between variables and the constant flux of their interconnections. This is particularly reflected in the Complex Dynamic Systems Theory (CDST; Larsen-Freeman & Camero, 2008), which has served as an important theoretical lens for unveiling the dynamic configurations of learner psychology and their impact on language learning and communication.

We welcome proposals that address a wide range of issues in language learning and teaching psychology, including but not limited to the following:  

•  Language learner psychology (e.g., cognition, emotion, motivation, personality, behavior, and well-being);
•  Language teacher psychology (e.g., cognition, emotion, motivation, personality, behavior, and well-being);
•  Positive language education;
•  The dynamic individual-context interactions;
•  Positive institutions in language learning and teaching;
•  Technology-enhanced language learning and teaching and the effects on teacher and/or learner psychology;
•  Innovative research methodologies for teacher and learner psychology;
•  Approaches bridging theory, research, and practice.

Jean-Marc Dewaele	Chengchen Li	Shaofeng Li	Peter D. MacIntyre
Sarah Mercer	Mirosław Pawlak Adam	Jian-E Peng	Lawrence Jun Zhang

Julia Goetze                   

Shaofeng Li                   

Nicola Morea                  

We welcome proposals from researchers and educators working in all contexts. We particularly encourage submissions from graduate students, early career researchers, and educators.  

• The website will ask for the following information:

  • Title of presentation: no longer than 20 words
    

  • Proposal: about 300 words 
    
  • Bio statement of presenter(s): between 70 and 100 words
    
  • Types of presentations:
    
  • Paper presentation (20 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A): report on recent research or best practice 
    
  • Poster presentation (50 minutes): display work in progress or completed research results on a notice board with Q&A 
    
  • Colloquium (100 minutes): 3-5 presentations that address one conference strand (e.g. Technology enhanced ELT) 
    
  • Workshop: (50 minutes): demonstrate new approaches and provide opportunities for engagement in best practices for teaching and researching

URL for Submissions: https://easychair.org/conferences?conf=pll6

Important Dates:

• Deadline for proposal submission: April 30th, 2025
• Notification of acceptance:  June 30th, 2025
• Early bird registration deadline: December 31st, 2025
• Notification of conference program: May 1st, 2026

• Working language of the conference: English 
  
• For inquiries about the conference, please contact pll6@stu.edu.cn
• IAPLL Website: https://iapll.com
• Shantou University Website: https://www.stu.edu.cn/index.htm

You can download the call for papers here.