We are pleased to announce the 38th edition of the International Conference on Foreign / Second Language Acquisition (ICFSLA), to be held in Szczyrk, Poland, in May 2027. Organised annually by the Institute of Linguistics at the University of Silesia, ICFSLA has, for nearly four decades, served as a vibrant forum for scholars from around the world to engage in discussions on current developments in second language acquisition, foreign language teaching and learning, applied linguistics and language pedagogy.

Reflecting the evolving landscape of language learning, the theme of the 2027 conference is SLA in the Wild: Informal Learning, Incidental Acquisition, and Digital Ecologies. At the heart of this theme lies a simple observation: language learning increasingly happens through experiences that extend beyond formal instruction. Second language acquisition has escaped the classroom. Languages are learned “in the wild” – through conversations, media, travel, gaming and countless interactions that no curriculum can fully anticipate. Social media, streaming platforms, virtual exchanges, AI-driven tools and other forms of authentic communication enable learners to engage with languages in informal and incidental ways. These experiences blur the rigid boundaries between instruction and everyday engagement and shape learners’ motivation, attitudes, identities and emotional connections to the language. They also challenge traditional understandings of what it means to learn a language and raise questions about learner autonomy, digital literacy, the role of technology and many other aspects of second language acquisition.

The 2027 conference turns its attention to the many places, spaces and encounters where languages are learned beyond traditional educational settings. It explores how social, cultural and digital environments influence second language development and how learners build multilingual identities, form relationships with languages and participate in the vibrant multilingual communities that define today's interconnected world.

Possible topics for presentations include, but are not limited to, the following: 

- Informal/out-of-class language learning

- Incidental language acquisition

- Naturalistic exposure

- Digital ecologies of language learning

- Social media, gaming and streaming as learning environments

- Mobile and AI-supported language learning

- Virtual exchanges and online communities

- AI-mediated communication

- The relationship between formal and informal language learning

- Digital literacy and multilingual communication

- Learner autonomy, motivation and attitudes towards language learning

- Multilingual identity and language learner identity

However, we also warmly welcome proposals on any other topic related to Second Language Acquisition, including those that fall outside the main conference theme. In other words, please do not hesitate to consider submitting your proposal even if it does not fit the main theme of the conference. We welcome contributions on all topics related to SLA and look forward to a diverse range of perspectives and research.

As in previous years, the conference will feature plenary talks by internationally recognised experts, thematic sessions, and opportunities for networking and collaboration in the stunning mountain setting of Szczyrk.

We are pleased to announce that the following scholars have accepted our invitation to deliver plenary talks during our conference:

Henriette L. Arndt (Lund University, Sweden)

Rodney Jones (University of Reading, UK)

Anna Mystkowska-Wiertelak (University of Wrocław, Poland)

Geoffrey Sockett (Université Paris Cité, France)

Pia Sundqvist (University of Oslo, Norway)

Liss Kerstin Sylvén (University of Gothenburg, Sweden)