Douglas i BC TEAL Journal Volume 1 Number 1 (2016): i-ii Editorial A Journal for Teaching English as an Additional Language in British Columbia Scott Roy Douglas University of British Columbia (Okanagan Campus) It is with a huge sense of accomplishment that the inaugural issue of the BC TEAL Journal is presented to the public. The journal is the official peer-reviewed scholarly publication of the association of British Columbia Teachers of English as an Additional Language (BC TEAL), a professional organization devoted to the advancement of English as an additional language (EAL) teaching and learning to support the goals of English language learners in British Columbia. The launching of this journal aligns with BC TEAL’s commitment to creating a space for its members “to share their knowledge and experience, challenge theories and assumptions, and engage with others who share similar goals” (BC TEAL, 2016a). It further aligns with BC TEAL’s mission statement and commitment to support research and encourage professional development throughout the province (BC TEAL 2016b). The goal of the journal is to include articles that explicitly reflect and relate to the varying contexts and settings of the BC TEAL membership. Furthermore, the journal is committed to providing open access to scholarly work, and it is freely available to both the BC TEAL membership as well as anyone interested in EAL teaching and learning in British Columbia. The BC TEAL Journal thus joins the growing ranks of other regional open access journals related to EAL teaching and learning such as: CATESOL Journal: http://www.catesoljournal.org/ GATESOL in Action Journal: http://georgiatesoljournal.org/ INTESOL Journal: https://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/intesol MINNETESOL Journal: http://minnetesoljournal.org/ NYS TESOL Journal: http://journal.nystesol.org/ ORTESOL Journal: http://ortesol.org/publications.html Sunshine State TESOL Journal: http://sstesol.org/?page_id=468 TESL Ontario Contact: http://www.teslontario.net/publication/research-symposium The first issue of the BC TEAL Journal includes six articles. The issue starts with an examination of the rhetorical features of successful Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) conference abstracts, with the goal of helping teachers write their own successful conference proposals. In particular, the article provides guidance and makes connections for members of local TESOL International Association affiliates, such as BC TEAL. The next article reports the findings of a group of British Columbian researchers who examined the relationship between canine assisted therapy, stress, and English language development for international students from linguistically diverse backgrounds. They found that canine therapy in university settings has the potential to lower stress, increase a sense of belonging, and increase opportunities to practice the target language. The third article focuses on gathering feedback from students with EAL backgrounds at a writing centre at a university in British Columbia. The feedback reflected a wide range of findings, with valuable information for student academic http://www.catesoljournal.org/ http://georgiatesoljournal.org/ https://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/intesol http://minnetesoljournal.org/ http://journal.nystesol.org/ http://ortesol.org/publications.html http://sstesol.org/?page_id=468 http://www.teslontario.net/publication/research-symposium Douglas ii BC TEAL Journal Volume 1 Number 1 (2016): i-ii support services seeking to enhance their needs-based programming. Also in a university setting in British Columbia, the fourth article takes a look at the concept of metanoia, sudden moments of learning and realization, and how it relates to learning English for academic purposes (EAP). Participants enrolled in EAP courses reported experiencing growth in their confidence, language learning, academic skills, and organization. The final two articles both relate to theoretical analysis and classroom practice. In the fifth article, the author explores academic language in K- 12 settings to try and understand what it is, how it is learned, and how it can be measured. Illustrative writing samples are provided and suggestions are made for policy reform, curriculum development, and assessment approaches with a focus on Alberta and British Columbia. The last article in this issue turns to supporting adult English language learners with refugee experiences, with a recognition of the BC TEAL Refugee Project. Suggestions are make for understanding refugee experiences along with ideas for lesson planning and instructional strategies. The first issue of the BC TEAL Journal is the work of many hands. In particular, the editorial team consists an editor, copy editor, BC TEAL Journal Advisory Board, and BC TEAL Journal Reviewers, listed here: http://ejournals.ok.ubc.ca/index.php/BCTJ/about/editorialTeam. The journal is a volunteer effort, and sincere thanks go to everyone involved. Further thanks go to the scholarly communication librarian at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus and to the University of British Columbia for hosting the journal. As we move into 2017, the editorial team is looking forward to new article submissions, and BC TEAL’s membership are encouraged to contribute to the success of their very own scholarly journal. References BC TEAL. (2016a). What is BC TEAL? Retrieved from http://www.bcteal.org/about/ BC TEAL. (2016b). Mission Statement. Retrieved from http://www.bcteal.org/about/mission- statement/ The BC TEAL Journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Copyright rests with the authors. http://ejournals.ok.ubc.ca/index.php/BCTJ/about/editorialTeam http://www.bcteal.org/about/ http://www.bcteal.org/about/mission-statement/ http://www.bcteal.org/about/mission-statement/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/