Introduction

Abstract

Welcome to the final issue of SiSAL journal for 2021. The cover picture for this issue was kindly provided by Elizabeth Lavolette and is a festive scene from Kyoto Sangyo University. Decorations and themed events in self-access centres in Japan are popular at this time of year, and on that note, we wish everyone a peaceful holiday and all the best for 2022. We would especially like to thank everyone who contributed articles to SiSAL Journal this year and to all the reviewers and editorial team members, especially the Associate Editor Robert Werner. As we go into the 13th year of the journal, we feel proud that with everyone’s help, we can publish four open-access issues of SiSAL Journal each year. We hope you enjoy the three articles and two reviews in this issue. We were inspired by the innovative research approaches, for example, visual narratives (Howard et al.; Kashiwa), in-depth interviews (Kashiwa; Lavolette & Claflin), and learning space analysis using typologies (Lavolette & Claflin). The authors also highlight the important roles of peers in the learning process (Panmei & Waluyo; Howard et al.; Kashiwa).