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Answerability in computer-assisted language learning: a critical examination of social justice research from a decolonial perspective

  • Gilbert Dizon ORCID logo EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: September 15, 2023
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Abstract

In this conceptual article, the author introduces decolonization as an alternative to social justice frameworks. As stakeholders in second language (L2) teaching, the author stresses decolonization as a means for L2 researchers to work against colonial practices in educational research, which negatively impact historically disenfranchised communities. Specifically, Patel’s (Patel, Leigh. 2016. Decolonizing educational research: From ownership to answerability. New York: Routledge) answerability framework is introduced as a practical method to support decolonization in L2 research. The article is made up of four main sections. The first section explains the concept of settler colonialism and highlights how it is ingrained in educational research. In the second section, the author defines decolonization and distinguishes it from the more popular social justice movement. In the third section, the author summarizes four computer-assisted language learning (CALL) papers which were featured in a recent special issue on the topic of social justice. The author then provides a critical analysis of the reviewed studies from a decolonial perspective in the fourth and final section, while also suggesting ways in which researchers and educators can re-orient their work towards decolonization.


Corresponding author: Gilbert Dizon, Himeji Dokkyo University, Himeji, Japan, E-mail:

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Dr. Carmen Medina for her insightful feedback on an early draft of this work.

  1. Research funding: None declared.

  2. Author contributions: The author has accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

  3. Competing interests: The author states no conflict of interest.

  4. Informed consent: Not applicable.

  5. Ethical approval: Not applicable.

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Received: 2023-03-17
Accepted: 2023-08-31
Published Online: 2023-09-15
Published in Print: 2023-12-15

© 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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