Embracing change

This is the final issue of the Annual Review of Applied Linguistics (ARAL) published under my tenure as Editor-in-Chief. Over the past decade, the journal has undergone a period of dynamic transformation and significant expansion in both the scope of its content and its authorship. Working in collaboration with the editorial board, one of my key priorities as Editor was to broaden ARAL’s methodological horizons – moving beyond traditional review articles to include a wider variety of article types. ARAL now publishes reviews, position pieces, empirical studies featuring new data, methodologically focused contributions, and meta-analyses/syntheses, as well as both shorter and longer submissions. This range allows the journal to serve as a platform for a broader array of scholarly voices and perspectives, better reflecting the multifaceted nature of applied linguistics today.

Recognizing the importance of supporting a broad range of scholars, we also introduced dedicated slots for junior researchers. This initiative has provided promising early-career academics with valuable, career-enhancing opportunities to share their innovative ideas, critical perspectives, and findings with a global readership. Contributions have covered a wide spectrum, from empirical studies to critical and timely explorations of topics such as the relationship between identity and language learning, and the practical implications of educational technology for L2 acquisition.

Over the last decade, ARAL volumes have centered on the following themes:

• • Identity in applied linguistics

• • Tasks in applied linguistics

• • Younger second language learners

• • International language learning

• • Educational technology

• • Looking back and moving ahead

• • Language aptitude

• • Social justice in applied linguistics

• • L2 anxiety

• • Research methodology (current volume)

Each of these issues has brought in groundbreaking work and fostered rich scholarly dialogue. The resulting articles have advanced our field while also achieving significant reach – measured not only in citations and downloads but in their impact on practitioners and nonacademic audiences.

One of the most visible early changes we implemented was a redesign of the journal in partnership with Cambridge University Press. Ten years ago, the updated cover, size, and format gave ARAL a fresh, contemporary appearance, enhancing both readability and professional appeal. This redesign marked ARAL’s ongoing commitment to accessibility and relevance in an increasingly digital scholarly landscape. In recent years, with fewer print issues and more articles released on FirstView, we’ve also introduced a rotating suite of open-access articles. ARAL was also one of the earliest adopters of the practice of uploading instruments to open-access databases.

Sustaining excellence: ARAL’s rankings

While acknowledging that many aspects of journal metrics are open to debate, it is worthwhile mentioning that ARAL has consistently maintained its status as a top-tier journal since the early 2010s, reflecting its ongoing commitment to high-quality, impactful research. Over the past 5 years, it has consistently ranked near the top among approximately 800 linguistics journals – reaching a pinnacle in 2018, when it was ranked No. 1. This success is a testament to the dedication of our authors, editorial teams, and the many generous reviewers who have contributed their time and expertise.

Gratitude and acknowledgements

I am delighted to hand over the editorship now to Andrea Révész and I do so with complete confidence that she will lead ARAL to the greatest heights yet. I also want to express thanks to the previous Editors-in-Chief – Robert Kaplan, Bill Grabe, Mary McGroarty, and Charlene Polio. Bob Kaplan, the journal’s founder and first Editor-in-Chief, laid the foundation for what ARAL is today. ARAL’s editors at Cambridge University Press, currently Amy Laurent, have been ideal and supportive partners in every way. The ongoing success of the journal over the last 10 years was really made possible by the exceptional Editorial Board members, who rotate every 2–3 years and are listed in every issue. Their insight and support have been critical. ARAL is wholly owned by Cambridge University Press and serves as an official journal of the American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL). I am very grateful to AAAL’s leadership over this time for its continued support – particularly in promoting ARAL to its membership and appointing two rotating Editorial Board members.

While I owe a debt of gratitude to every board member I’ve worked with, I would like to especially acknowledge Anne Charity-Hudley, Kendall King, Luke Plonsky, and Bryan Smith. Their contributions – ranging from extensively reviewing and commenting on proposals for themes to providing feedback and reviews – have been consistently generous and deeply appreciated. I would also like to thank the many talented editorial assistants over the years, each of whom is credited in the issues they supported. I want to end by acknowledging Erin Fell, who served for many years as lead editorial assistant. Her partnership, leadership of the team, and attention to every single aspect of the publication process were invaluable.

Looking ahead

As my chapter with ARAL comes to a close, I’m excited to see how the journal will continue to evolve and maintain its role as a leading voice in applied linguistics. My deepest thanks go to all our readers. It has been an honor to be part of this journey. I look forward to watching the next era of innovation and excellence unfold.