Connecting Extramural English with ELT: Teacher Reports from Austria, Finland, France, and Sweden

Abstract

Today, we globally observe a sharp increase in learners' engagement in extramural (out-of-class) English (EE; Sundqvist 2009). This undoubtedly affords new opportunities for, but also challenges to, English language teaching (ELT) and learning. To our knowledge, this study is the first to explore this topic from a cross-national perspective. Upper secondary English teachers (N = 534) from Austria, France ('dubbing countries'), Finland, and Sweden ('subtitling countries') answered a web-based survey on their students' EE practices and the estimated impact on teaching and learning. Results showed that overall EE use appears lower in the dubbing countries, especially France (p < 0.001). The teachers' estimated effect of EE on different areas of learning overall was also the weakest in France (p ≤. 01). Further, teachers in subtitling countries agreed more strongly with statements about adapting instruction to what is (not) learned extramurally (p < 0.001). As EE use is growing, individual learner needs within a class, such as emerging gaps in learner motivation and/or language knowledge and skills, will increasingly have to be catered to in ELT.