SAALT Newsletter: November Edition

From Chalkboards to Chatbots: SAALT’s November Highlights

Dear SAALT Members and Language Teaching Community,

As we enter the last months of the year, the South African Association for Language Teaching wishes to share a few exciting updates and extend our warmest wishes to all of you. In this letter we announce our theme and some other information for our conference for 2025.

We would also like to share some information regarding a new publication by John Linnegar & Ken McGillivray, Academic writing & editing: towards clear, concise and coherent texts. SAALT members are able to order this book at a discounted price on or before 7 December 2024.

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Save the date: SAALT 2025 Conference

We are thrilled to announce the upcoming 2025 SAALT Conference!

Our 2025 conference promises to be a vibrant meeting of minds on a theme that resonates deeply within the language education community. We’ll explore how language education has evolved from traditional methods to the integration of AI, digital tools, and beyond. Academics, researchers, and language practitioners are invited to submit their abstracts, addressing this broad theme through diverse subtopics such as technology in language classrooms, AI in language assessment, historical reflections, and future trends.

More details and the official call for papers will be released soon. Please look out for more information on our website at saalt.org.za

We eagerly await your proposals and abstract submissions and look forward to showcase groundbreaking research and innovative teaching practices at our conference.

Academic writing & editing: towards clear, concise and coherent texts

John Linnegar & Ken McGillivray

‘This book has made a very timely appearance on the market as it is common knowledge that many students are ill-prepared for writing up their research reports, for a number of reasons. It covers the essence of scholarly writing and … could serve not only as a reliable reference book but also a textbook. One of its most valuable contributions is that it has been written by two experienced academic copy-editors …, which takes this book’s usefulness to a whole new level.’ Dr Catherine Robertson, Managing Editor, JOVACET (IPSS, UWC), Research Associate (US)

‘Easy to navigate and to the point. There are so many practical aspects that can be applied by students and supervisors alike.’ Dr Frelét de Villiers Academic Head/Senior Lecturer, UFS

Pre-publication offer exclusive to SAALT members

A pre-publication price of R400 for the print edition will apply to orders received from SAALT members by 7 December 2024 (add R100 for PostNet delivery). The pre-publication price for the ebook is R300.

To order directly, email Ken McGillivray at kenimcgill@gmail.com and quote SAALT/AWE.

Size: 152,4 × 228,5 mm; page extent approximately 412 pages.
Retail prices: print edition R580 + R100 PostNet delivery; ebook R420

FIPLV Newsletter

We are proudly affiliated with FIPLV and would like to share their Autumn 2024 issue of their newsletter with you.

All issues of the Newsletter are available online in both PDF format and as a flipbook. You can access them by visiting:

Season’s Greetings

As the year draws to a close, we want to extend our gratitude to each one of you for your dedication and contributions to language teaching and learning across South Africa, but also globally. May this festive season bring you peace, joy, and a well-deserved break to recharge for the new year. We look forward to a 2025 filled with continued collaboration, learning, and growth.

Warmest regards,
The SAALT Executive Committee