The Department of English Language Teaching (DELT), Faculty of Arts, University of Jaffna, proudly presents its third International Conference on Decolonizing English, scheduled to take place from August 3rd to 5th, 2027. This ground-breaking event is designed to foster critical conversations about the role of English in postcolonial societies and to reimagine English Language Teaching (ELT) in ways that embrace local identities, knowledge systems, and cultural contexts.

The conference will feature a three-day international forum, two-day workshop on mentoring to publishing. This multidisciplinary event brings together academics, practitioners, and students from around the world to share insights and strategies for decolonizing English in theory and practice. The conference is  sponsored by the generous funding from the Evan Pugh University Professorship endowment of Prof. Suresh Canagarajah at Pennsylvania State University.

Theme: Decolonizing English

Decolonizing English involves challenging the dominance of English as a global language and addressing the ways it has been used as a tool of colonialism. This process seeks to dismantle linguistic hierarchies, promote multilingualism, and validate Indigenous and marginalized languages that have been suppressed or devalued through colonization. Decolonizing English also includes recognizing the cultural, political, and historical contexts in which English spread and addressing inequalities it creates, both in education and global communication. It advocates for more inclusive and diverse linguistic practices, ensuring that non-English voices are heard and respected.

Decolonization in English Language Teaching (ELT) involves critically examining and reshaping how English is taught, moving away from traditional approaches that often promote colonial power structures. Historically, ELT has featured native-speaker norms and Western-centric ideologies, marginalizing local languages, cultures, and knowledge systems. Decolonizing ELT means incorporating diverse perspectives, valuing multilingualism, and acknowledging the global varieties of English without privileging one over another. It also calls for rethinking curricula, teaching materials, and assessment methods to ensure they empower learners, reflect their cultural contexts, and resist reinforcing colonial legacies. This shift aims to create a more inclusive, equitable, and culturally responsive approach to teaching English.

Sub-themes:

•  Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Learning in ELT
•  Multilingualism, Translanguaging and Language Diversity
•  World Englishes, Global Englishes and Local Contexts
•  Decolonizing ELT Pedagogies for Inclusion and Social Transformation
•  Language, Identity, Power and Ideology
•  Language Teacher Education, Professional Development and Teacher Agency
•  English Language, Literature and Cultural Studies
•  Reimagining the Future of English and ELT

The objectives of the International Conference on “Decolonizing English” are:

• To offer a platform for scholars to present and share their research, contributing to diverse and critical conversations on English and English language teaching from decolonial perspectives.
• To mentor emerging scholars by providing practical guidance on research methodologies, academic writing, and scholarly publishing, fostering the next generation of thought leaders.
• To connect global scholars and facilitate interdisciplinary dialogues, encouraging the exchange of ideas across regions, contexts, and linguistic traditions.
• To engage with innovative research and explore evolving practices that challenge colonial legacies in English studies and ELT, promoting inclusive and transformative pedagogies.
• To showcase the cultural and linguistic heritage of the Jaffna peninsula, offering participants a meaningful local experience that complements the academic discussions.