USM SoLLaT Promotes Innovative Language Learning Through Action Research at ICARLL 2026
The School of Languages, Literacies and Translation (SoLLaT), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), recently organised the International Conference on Action Research in Language Learning (ICARLL) 2026 in Penang, bringing together educators, researchers, students, and institutional representatives from Malaysia and abroad.
Held under the theme “Innovating Language Education Through Action Research,” the two-day conference featured the presentation of 84 academic papers and attracted nearly 170 participants, both local and international.
In her opening address, ICARLL 2026 Chairperson and SoLLaT Deputy Dean (Research, Innovation and Industry-Community Network), Associate Professor Dr. Manjet Kaur Mehar Singh, highlighted that the conference was designed to strengthen collaboration in language education research and promote innovation beyond traditional classroom boundaries.
She noted that the conference aimed to advance language education, address key challenges faced by language educators, and inspire meaningful change across diverse educational contexts. She also emphasised USM’s commitment as a research university to driving innovation, academic excellence, and social impact through collaborative platforms.
The keynote address was delivered by Professor Ann Burns from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia, and Professor Emerita at Aston University. She discussed the role of action research as a driver of innovation in language education, emphasizing teachers as key knowledge contributors in classroom practice and highlighting the importance of understanding the “why, how, and what” of action research to improve teaching and learning outcomes.
Throughout the conference, discussions covered a wide range of themes, including the integration of artificial intelligence in language education, gamification in language teaching, and pedagogical approaches across ESL, EFL, ESP, special education, and remedial learning contexts. Languages featured in the discussions included Bahasa Melayu, English, Arabic, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, and Bangladeshi language contexts.
The conference also recognised outstanding contributions through awards for The Most Creative, The Most Engaging, and The Most Informative presentations.
ICARLL 2026 was co-organised with the Malaysian Ministry of Education (KPM), Majlis Dekan-dekan Bahasa Universiti Awam (MaLDeC), and Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP). Strategic international partners included Sanming University (China), University of Bahrain, Princess of Naradhiwas University (Thailand), and the Malaysian English Language Teaching Association (MELTA), with additional support from the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC).
Distinguished attendees at the opening and closing ceremonies included representatives from MaLDeC, MELTA, Sanming University, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), and Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Northern Region.
