research-practice-gap
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- PaperTESOL Quarterly19 Jul 2026
Collaborative Development of a Research Agenda to Claim Language Teaching as a Site of Knowledge Production
Yoshiyuki Nakata, Xuesong (Andy) Gao
Proposes a collaborative, multi-step process for developing research agendas in TESOL that involve both researchers and practitioners. Argues that redefining research agendas as inclusive and practice-oriented strengthens the link between research and teaching, positioning language teaching as a site of knowledge production. Outlines six steps from understanding contextual needs to publishing in aligned forums.
Original abstract
The development of research agendas is a crucial component of the process of reclaiming teaching as a site of knowledge production in language education research. However, in the TESOL field, the research agenda (RA) has traditionally been defined in relation to a gap between research and practice. Researchers often justify their work by highlighting significant disciplinary knowledge gaps. Therefore, when developing an RA, we must ask ourselves: (1) Whose interests does the RA serve? (2) Who should be involved in setting the RA? And (3) how can the RA be created and promoted? Engaging proactively with these questions encourages collaboration with practitioners and strengthens the link between research and practice. This approach helps us establish inclusive research agendas that benefit knowledge producers, including teachers, students, policymakers, and researchers. An RA should emerge from a collaborative and consultative process involving both researchers and teachers as practice researchers. Collaborative RA development involves several steps: (1) understanding the needs of the educational context; (2) formulating a preliminary research design and questions that incorporate practitioners' perspectives; (3) conducting a literature review to help researchers and teachers as knowledge producers understand the research's significance; (4) selecting methods aligning with the research design and questions, ensuring consistency with the RA; (5) providing readers with detailed information about the RA to offer context; and (6) publishing in a medium and forum aligned with the RA. This article discusses these steps in detail, outlines strategies for their implementation, illustrating the collaborative process for developing research agendas in TESOL. From a practical perspective, this paper argues for the agentic involvement of both researchers and practitioners in developing RAs, highlighting the connections between their roles in the research process and raising researchers' awareness of research practices that foster a virtuous circle between research and practice.
- PaperLanguage Teaching26 Mar 2026
Research into practice: Collaborative writing in L2 contexts
Yao Zheng, Zhenhao Cao, Shulin Yu
Collaborative writing research and practice in L2 contexts are examined through three relationships: well-applied areas (activity types, computer-mediated collaborative writing, impact on performance), insufficiently applied areas (student interactions, emotional experiences, long-term effects), and under-researched but practical areas (feedback, individual development, pre-writing training). Implications for teachers and researchers are provided to bridge gaps.
Original abstract
To shed light on the dynamic interplay between collaborative writing research and its application in L2 contexts, this paper discusses three critical relationships. The first relationship focuses on research findings that have been reasonably well applied in practice, highlighting areas such as activity types and grouping strategies in collaborative writing, computer-mediated collaborative writing, and the impact of collaborative writing activities on student writing performance. The second relationship examines areas where research findings have not been sufficiently applied in practice, including the quality of student interactions, the emotional experiences of students during collaborative writing, and the long-term effects of collaborative writing on individual writing development. The last relationship identifies issues that are under-represented in research but are crucial in practice, such as feedback and evaluation practices, individual learner development, and pre-writing training in collaborative writing. For the second and third relationships, marked by mismatches between research and practice, implications are drawn to help teachers apply research insights and encourage researchers to address practical priorities. In conclusion, the paper provides suggestions to address each of the relationships to strengthen the research-practice link.