Abstract
SEAMEO Regional Language Centre (RELC) is an educational project of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO). It was set up in 1968 to provide expertise, training and development programs to upgrade the skills of language specialists and educators. For the past 50 years, RELC has provided leadership in the field of language education, especially for English language teachers. The documenting of this expertise and experience is crucial to RELC’s role as a knowledge centre for the region.
The RELC Journal, which was launched in 1970, plays an important part in serving the mission of RELC, especially in the promotion of international cooperation among language professionals. It is commendable that the journal’s International Advisory Panel and Editorial Review Board comprise renowned scholars from all over world, who are dedicated to supporting the publication of high-quality research and scholarship from our region and beyond.
The RELC Journal provides thought leadership on current and emerging topics that are relevant to our region and to the field of English language teaching and teacher education. A key priority of the journal is to feature articles that are academically rigorous but, at the same time, relevant and accessible.
We are delighted to celebrate RELC’s 50th Anniversary with a Special 50th Anniversary Issue of the RELC Journal, guest edited by Professor Jack C. Richards, and featuring state-of the-art articles from eminent scholars on key issues related to language education. On this occasion, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to those who have served as Editors and as International Advisory and Editorial Review Board members. I would also like to thank all contributors and readers for your continued interest in the journal. We hope that the RELC Journal will be able to support you in some way towards reaching your professional goals.