How non-specialist students of English practice informal learning using web 2.0 tools

Abstract

As Internet technologies evolve, learners of English have more informal opportunities to listen to spoken English and interact with English speakers. This article reports on a study carried out at the University of Strasbourg into the informal contacts students have with English on the Internet. The participants in the study are not English majors, but take some English classes as the language requirement of their degrees in other fields. The results of the study show that a great deal of English is listened to in the form of peer-to-peer downloads of English language films and television series. Interaction with other users of English also takes place, primarily on social networking websites, but also in other web 2.0 interfaces. The report concludes with suggestions of pedagogical applications of these new experiences for language learners.