Informal Language Learning

This insightful book explores the impact of internet-based technologies on second language acquisition, focusing on informal learning. It traces the evolution of informal learning, emphasizing the crucial role of input, interaction, and output in acquiring English as a second language. The book analyzes diverse out-of-school practices, such as watching TV, gaming, and social media engagement, and their impact on L2 development. Additionally, it delves into various intervening variables—age, gender, proficiency, engagement, and affective variables—highlighting the personalized nature of L2 acquisition. It also addresses the challenges encountered by L2 teachers, advocating innovative teaching methods to bridge the gap between classroom teaching and the real world. This book is an invaluable resource for enthusiasts interested in the intersection of language acquisition, teaching methodologies, and modern technologies.

Marian Amengual-Pizarro holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Spain. She is a tenured Senior Lecturer in English in the Spanish, Modern and Classic Philology Department at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB). She has been a visiting professor at several universities and has participated in several funded research projects on testing and second language teaching and learning. Since 2015, she has been the editor of the journal ‘Revista Electrónica de Lingüística Aplicada’ (RAEL) and has contributed extensively to applied linguistics. Rosa Alonso Alonso holds a PhD in English from the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. She has worked in both the Language Centre and the English Department of that university. She has been a senior lecturer at the University of Vigo since 2006 and has been a visiting professor at several universities. She is the author of multiple books on second language acquisition and writing for academic purposes, and since 2003, she has been the editor of the Vigo International Journal of Applied Linguistics. She has also collaborated with the Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics and authored numerous articles.