Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics, Khon Kaen University, Thailand

17/08/2026

25/07/2026

🎓📚 Theory Meets Real-World Language Use! 🌏💬

📍 MA in Applied Linguistics
🏛️ Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Thailand 🇹🇭

In our Theory in Applied Linguistics course, we explored one of the most exciting topics in the field today: English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) 🗣️🌐

✅ Our goal? To bridge the gap between applied linguistic theory and language in real social life — because language doesn’t live in textbooks alone, it lives in people! 👥💡

🔍 Rather than just reading about ELF and sitting through lectures on it, our students applied the theory themselves — analyzing how influencers, TikTokers, and YouTubers 🎥📲 use English to connect with interlocutors from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds! 🌍🤝

📝 Guided by these key questions, students dug deep:

1️⃣ What is the context in which ELF exists? 🌆
2️⃣ Who are the ELF users in the scene? 👤👥
3️⃣ What topics are they communicating about? 💬🎤
4️⃣ What ELF communication strategies do they use? 🛠️🗨️
5️⃣ Did they achieve their communication goals? What’s the evidence — or if not, why not? 🎯📊
6️⃣ What did we learn from analyzing these ELF communication strategies? 🧠✨

🎉 The result? Lively class discussions, sharp critical thinking, and students confidently sharing their own perspectives and interpretations! 🙌💭

🌟 A truly happy classroom — where real-world digital content meets academic theory, and students see firsthand how language theory comes alive in everyday global communication! 🌐❤️

🎓🌏📖

23/07/2026

A day of gratitude and respect. 🙏😄💐
Today, student representatives from our program joined the Teacher Appreciation Ceremony held by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Khon Kaen University. May this tradition continue to remind us of the enduring value of learning, mentorship, and the bonds between teachers and students.

17/07/2026

Wow!🤩

15/07/2026

📢 𝐀𝐁𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐈𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃

The Organising Committee of 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟖𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟖𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐒 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔) would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who submitted an abstract. We are delighted by the enthusiastic response and truly appreciate your interest in sharing your research with the ICELS community.

📩 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭?
The review process is now underway, and 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝟑𝟎 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.

📝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧!

Whether you are 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 or would like to join us as 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐭 (𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫), 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟏 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.

Join us for two inspiring days of keynote and plenary talks, featured and invited speakers, parallel presentations, and networking with researchers and educators from Thailand and around the world.

🌏 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟖𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐒 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
Theme: 𝑴𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒎 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒅𝒔: 𝑹𝒆𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑬𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝑳𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒖𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒔, 𝑬𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉

📅 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬: 28–29 August 2026
📍 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Thailand

✨ 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐒 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔?
✅ Learn from internationally renowned keynote, plenary, featured, and invited speakers.
✅ Explore the latest research and innovations in English language studies and Applied Linguistics.
✅ Exchange ideas with scholars, educators, and postgraduate students from Thailand and abroad.
✅ Expand your academic and professional network.

🔗 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐰:
https://icels.kku.ac.th/

We look forward to welcoming you to 𝐊𝐡𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐚𝐞𝐧 this August!

14/07/2026

📚⏳ 3-Hour Class: English as a Lingua Franca in the Real World

🎥 Explore how YouTubers, TikTokers & influencers use English as ELF users — through real content, not just theory!

🔑 What We’ll Cover:
👥 Who are English users today?
🌐 What is the “third space”?
✨ Characteristics of ELF users
🗣️ Communication strategies ELF users use
🔮 Future directions for ELF + influencer research — and why it matters

📝 What MA Students Studied:
🎬 Real clips from YouTubers, TikTokers & influencers using English
📖 Core ELF concepts & theory (via lecture)
🧩 Communication strategies in authentic digital discourse
🗨️ Case discussions linking observation → theory → phenomenon

🧠 How MA Students Learn Today:
1 👀 Observe first — watch real influencer clips before any theory is introduced
2️ 🤔 Notice & question — spot patterns, oddities, and strategies on their own
3️⃣ 🎓 Learn the lecture — connect what they saw to ELF concepts & frameworks
4️ 🔄 Apply & explain — use theory to make sense of the real-world phenomenon
5️⃣ 💬 Discuss together — compare interpretations & debate implications as a class

14/07/2026

⏰ 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐀𝐁𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍!
𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝟐 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐟𝐭!

The countdown is on! There are 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 to submit your abstract for 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟖𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟖𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐒 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔).

📝 𝐀𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞
📅 𝟏𝟓 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

Don't miss this opportunity to present your research, exchange ideas with leading scholars and educators, and connect with researchers from Thailand and around the world.

🌏 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟖𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐒 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
Theme:
𝑴𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒎 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒅𝒔: 𝑹𝒆𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑬𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝑳𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒖𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒔, 𝑬𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉

📅 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬: 28–29 August 2026
📍 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Thailand

📚 We welcome 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬, including but not limited to:
• Second Language Learning and Teaching
• Language, Society, and Communication
• Language Assessment and Language Policy
• Discourse and Language Analysis
• Technology and Language Education
• Language, Culture, and Texts

✨ 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲

Outstanding conference papers will be selected for consideration for publication in the 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 (𝐓𝐂𝐈 𝐓𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝟐) 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐧𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐞.

🔗 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲:
https://icels.kku.ac.th/

📅 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭?
• 𝟑𝟎 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 – Final notification of abstract acceptance
• 𝟐𝟏 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 – Regular registration deadline
• 𝟐𝟖–𝟐𝟗 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 – Conference dates

⏳ 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐒 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔—𝐰𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧!

08/07/2026

Wow!🤩

Since 1980, the English Language Department, Khon Kaen University has inspired learners in Thailand and beyond. We offer BA English, MA Applied Linguistics (formerly MA English), and PhD Applied Linguistics—shaping future scholars and global citizens.

08/07/2026

Week 3: Where Theory Meets Practice 📚✨

This week marked a shift in our MA in Applied Linguistics journey at HUSO, KKU — more intense, yet beautifully balanced between theory and practice.

What did we teach and learn?

🔍 We explored real advertising — tutorial school billboards — as our text

👁️ Observed the elements at play

❓ Problematised the content and uncovered fallacies

🗣️ Interpreted the language ideologies embedded within

📖 Explained this phenomenon in ELT in Thailand through Applied Linguistics theory — reading it through coloniality: coloniality of being, of knowledge, of power, and of nature

🌱 Discussed pathways to decolonise — toward greater diversity, inclusion, and beyond

Who would’ve thought a single billboard could hold us captive for almost 3 hours of rich discussion? That’s the magic of critical inquiry — the ordinary becomes extraordinary once you know how to look.

Stay tuned for more courses ahead 🔜

Local meets Global 🌏