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Blog guidelines for contributors

The Languages Gateway hosts discussion about languages across the UK, from pieces about primary school learners to information and reflections on policy interventions. We welcome submissions from across the sector. If you’d like to submit to us, please read the guidelines below.

Submission Guidance

Authors should represent The Languages Gateway or one of its supporting organisations; or be recognised stakeholders or thought leaders in their field; or otherwise demonstrate authority to write on the topic. The Languages Gateway Editorial Group reserves the right to decline publication of submissions.

The Editorial Group welcome submissions that are:

  • thinkpieces
  • experiences as a representative of your sector or area of expertise
  • short reports or summaries of research or activities
  • information on forthcoming activities or initiatives
  • opinion pieces
  • responses to policies

Contributions should:

  • be research informed
  • avoid jargon and dense language
  • not include excessive references
  • address a mainly UK audience, but be accessible to an international audience i.e. not assume readers’ familiarity with specific education systems or wider regional and/or national contexts
  • provide in-text links to sources where possible
  • use inclusive language
  • not include obscene or rude content, or content that belittles or attacks persons or groups
  • not link to profane, obscene, rude, or illegal material or to sites that knowingly violate intellectual property rights.

Word count

Blogs on The Languages Gateway should be between 500 and 1,000 words: the optimal length is 600-800 words. We will only consider blogs over 1,000 words where the extra length is essential to make the point. We sometimes run longer blogs in two parts.

Images

  • Images are welcomed - these should relate to the content of the post and include a caption
  • Prior to submission you must have permission from the copyright holder to reproduce the image on the Languages Gateway
  • If any people are identifiable in the image, you must also seek their consent prior to submission, or the consent of their parent/guardian if they are under 18.
  • Please state clearly that you have the permissions needed and provide credit lines to appear with the image.
  • Note that images generated using artificial intelligence are not necessarily copyright free.

How to submit

  • Submit in a word document by email to Philip.harding.esch@gmail.com and include the following:
    • a short biography (100 words)
    • a headshot photo in jpg or png format
    • any social media handles (e.g. LinkedIn)

Publication

  • Blog posts will be reviewed by members of the Editorial Group and published as quickly as possible on https://www.thelanguagesgateway.uk/blog/
  • The Editorial Group will make every effort to ensure that publications attract as much visibility as possible on The Languages Gateway homepage
  • All authors consent to members of the Editorial Group accessing any data relating to their submission and for The Languages Gateway to share their name, job title, affiliation, photograph, biography and Twitter/X handle (if provided) alongside their piece on the The Languages Gateway website.