Author Guidelines

VELES: Voices of English Language Education Society publishes scholarly works in English language education, applied linguistics, EFL/ESL teaching and learning, language assessment, teacher education, educational technology, and related areas. The journal gives particular attention to studies situated in Indonesia, Asia, and the wider Global South, while also welcoming relevant international contributions. Authors are required to prepare manuscripts using the official VELES template. These guidelines explain the expected article structure, formatting, citation style, ethical requirements, and submission preparation standards. Authors should also consult the journal’s Policies and Peer Review pages before submission.

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1. Article Types and Length

VELES accepts several types of manuscripts. Authors should select the article type that best fits the purpose, scope, and design of their work. The word count includes the main text but normally excludes references, tables, figures, and appendices.

  • Research Article: 4,000–7,000 words. This article reports original empirical research using qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods, classroom-based, or other appropriate research designs.
  • Review / Systematic Review: 5,000–8,000 words. This article synthesizes previous studies on a specific topic using a clear review method, search strategy, inclusion criteria, and analytical framework.
  • Practice-Based Report: 2,500–3,500 words. This article presents evidence-informed teaching practices, classroom innovations, program implementation, or pedagogical reflections with clear relevance to English language education.

2. Template and Manuscript Structure

All manuscripts must be prepared using the official VELES DOCX template. Authors should not change the main layout, journal identity, page design, or built-in formatting. Editorial metadata such as volume, issue, DOI, submission history, and license statement will be completed by the editorial team during production.

Download the official template: VELES Template (DOCX).

The manuscript should follow the structure below. Authors may adjust some subheadings, especially in the Method and Results/Findings sections, according to the type of research. However, the main structure should remain clear and consistent.

  1. Title: The title should be clear, specific, and not more than 20 words. Use Cambria 22, center aligned, and capitalize each major word.
  2. Authors and Affiliations: Write full author names without academic titles. Use superscript numbers to connect authors with their affiliations and mark the corresponding author with an asterisk.
  3. Abstract: Write one paragraph of no more than 250 words. The abstract should include background, objective, method, participants or data source, instruments, data analysis, key findings, and implication.
  4. Keywords: Provide 5–7 keywords that represent the main topic, variable, method, context, and field of the study. Separate keywords using commas.
  5. Introduction: Present the research problem, significance, previous studies, research gap, novelty, and objective. Do not use subsections in the Introduction.
  6. Method: Explain the research design, participants or data source, instruments, data collection procedures, and data analysis. Use suitable subheadings based on the research type.
  7. Results / Findings: Present the results clearly and ensure that each finding answers the research questions or objectives stated in the Introduction.
  8. Discussion: Interpret the findings, relate them to previous studies, explain their contribution, and discuss implications. Results and Discussion may be combined when appropriate, but the numbering must remain consistent.
  9. Conclusion: Summarize the main findings, contribution, implications, limitations, and suggestions for future research. Do not introduce new data or new citations.
  10. Acknowledgement: Acknowledge institutions, participants, funders, or individuals who directly supported the study.
  11. Declaration of AI Use: Declare whether artificial intelligence tools were used and explain their purpose and limitation of use.
  12. References: Use APA 7th edition style and include DOI links when available.
  13. Appendix: Optional. Include supplementary materials only when necessary.

3. Formatting Rules

The manuscript must follow the formatting style provided in the VELES template. Consistent formatting helps ensure readability, professional presentation, and smooth editorial processing. Authors should use the template styles rather than manually creating new formats.

  • Paper size: A4.
  • Font: Cambria.
  • Article title: Cambria 22, center aligned, capitalize each major word.
  • Author names: Cambria Bold 12, center aligned.
  • Affiliations: Cambria 10, center aligned.
  • Abstract and keywords: Cambria 10, justified.
  • Main headings: Cambria Bold 12, left aligned.
  • Subheadings: Cambria Italic 12, left aligned.
  • Main text: Cambria 11, justified, with first-line paragraph indentation.
  • Line spacing: Single spacing.
  • Paragraphs: Use first-line indentation and avoid extra blank lines between paragraphs unless required by the template.
  • Page header, footer, DOI, submission history, and license: These are editorial elements and should not be modified unless instructed by the editor.

4. Tables and Figures

Tables and figures should be used only when they make the data easier to understand. They must support the explanation in the text and should not be used as decoration. Every table and figure must be mentioned in the text before it appears.

VELES follows APA 7th edition style for tables and figures. Authors should place tables and figures close to the relevant discussion, usually in the Results/Findings section. Do not place all tables and figures at the end of the manuscript unless requested by the editor.

4.1 Tables

Tables are useful for presenting numerical data, categories, comparisons, themes, or summaries. Tables must be editable, clear, and readable. Avoid using screenshots of tables.

  • Number tables consecutively, such as Table 1, Table 2, and so on.
  • Place the table number and title above the table.
  • Write the table number in bold.
  • Write the table title in italic title case.
  • Use Cambria 10 for table number, title, content, and notes.
  • Avoid vertical lines. Use horizontal lines only when needed.
  • Add a note below the table when abbreviations, symbols, or data sources need explanation.

Example:

Table 1
Students’ Responses to the English-Speaking Self-Efficacy Scale

4.2 Figures

Figures include charts, diagrams, models, images, or visual summaries. A figure should help readers understand the result, process, framework, or relationship among concepts more clearly.

  • Number figures consecutively, such as Figure 1, Figure 2, and so on.
  • Place the figure number and title above the figure.
  • Write the figure number in bold.
  • Write the figure title in italic title case.
  • Use Cambria 10 for figure number, title, and notes.
  • Ensure that all figures are clear, readable, and high resolution.
  • Use figures only when they add value to the explanation.

Example:

Figure 1
A Conceptual Model of IDLE-Supported Practice, Self-Efficacy, and Spoken Production

4.3 Adapted or Reprinted Tables and Figures

If a table or figure is adapted, modified, or reprinted from another source, authors must acknowledge the original source in the note. Permission may be required depending on the copyright status of the source.

  • Use “Adapted from” when the table or figure has been modified.
  • Use “Reprinted from” when the table or figure is copied without modification.
  • Include the original author, year, title, source, and copyright information when required.

Example note: Adapted from “Title of Article,” by A. Author and B. Author, 2022, Journal Name, 10(2), p. 25. Copyright 2022 by Publisher.

5. Citation and References

VELES uses APA 7th edition style for in-text citations and reference lists. Authors should ensure that all cited works are relevant, credible, and directly connected to the research problem. Recent peer-reviewed journal articles are strongly recommended, especially for studies in English language education, applied linguistics, EFL/ESL teaching and learning, and related fields.

The reference list should contain only sources that are cited in the manuscript. Authors must check the consistency between in-text citations and the reference list before submission.

  • Use APA 7th edition style consistently.
  • Arrange references alphabetically by the surname of the first author.
  • Use hanging indentation for each reference entry.
  • Include DOI links when available, using the format https://doi.org/xxxxx.
  • Prioritize recent references from the last 5–10 years, unless older sources are foundational.
  • Avoid unreliable sources, predatory journals, and references that are not directly relevant to the study.
  • Make sure every in-text citation appears in the References section.
  • Make sure every item in the References section is cited in the manuscript.

6. Ethics, Authorship, and Integrity

Authors must ensure that the manuscript follows ethical standards in research, authorship, publication, and academic integrity. Studies involving human participants, especially minors, must follow appropriate ethical procedures, including informed consent, confidentiality, and data protection.

All authors must have made a meaningful contribution to the manuscript. Any use of generative AI tools must be disclosed transparently and must not replace the authors’ intellectual responsibility.

  • Originality: The manuscript must be original, not published previously, and not under review elsewhere. The recommended overall similarity score is not more than 20%.
  • Human participants: Studies involving participants must include appropriate consent procedures. Research involving minors should include consent from parents/guardians and assent from participants when applicable.
  • Confidentiality: Personal data, school names, participant identities, and sensitive information should be protected when required.
  • Authorship: All listed authors must have contributed substantially to the study or manuscript. Individuals who provided limited assistance should be acknowledged instead of listed as authors.
  • Conflict of interest: Authors must declare any potential conflict of interest. If there is none, state that there is no conflict of interest.
  • Funding: Authors must disclose funding support. If there is no funding, state that the study received no external funding.
  • Generative AI: AI tools must not be listed as authors. If used, their purpose and limitation must be declared in the manuscript.
  • Data or materials availability: Authors are encouraged to provide a data or materials availability statement when appropriate.

7. Peer Review and Publishing

VELES applies a peer review process to ensure the quality, relevance, originality, and scholarly contribution of submitted manuscripts. Authors should prepare anonymized manuscripts when required and respond to reviewer comments carefully and professionally.

  • Review model: Manuscripts are reviewed through a double-blind peer review process.
  • Reviewers: Each manuscript is normally reviewed by at least two referees.
  • DOI: Accepted articles receive a DOI under the prefix 10.29408/veles.
  • Publication frequency: VELES publishes issues in April, August, and December.
  • License: Articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
  • Article processing charge: The APC is IDR 1,500,000 for domestic authors. There is no submission fee. The APC is invoiced after acceptance.

8. Submission Preparation Checklist

Before submitting the manuscript, authors should carefully check that the file is complete, correctly formatted, and ready for peer review. The checklist below helps reduce technical problems and avoid delays during editorial screening.

  1. The manuscript uses the official VELES DOCX template.
  2. The title is not more than 20 words and follows the required format.
  3. The abstract is written in one paragraph and does not exceed 250 words.
  4. The manuscript includes 5–7 keywords separated by commas.
  5. The Introduction clearly presents the problem, gap, novelty, and objective.
  6. The Method section explains the design, participants or data source, instruments, data collection, and data analysis.
  7. The Results/Findings section answers the research questions or objectives.
  8. The Discussion interprets the findings and connects them with previous studies.
  9. The Conclusion summarizes the main findings, contribution, implications, limitations, and future research direction.
  10. Tables and figures follow APA 7th edition style and are mentioned in the text before they appear.
  11. References follow APA 7th edition style and include DOI links when available.
  12. All in-text citations appear in the References section, and all references are cited in the manuscript.
  13. Ethics approval, consent, or exemption information is included when applicable.
  14. Funding, conflict of interest, and AI-use declarations are included when applicable.
  15. The manuscript is anonymized if required for double-blind review.
  16. OJS metadata are complete and accurate.