Chasing the butterfly effect: Informal language learning online as a complex system

Evidence is accumulating that a major shift is underway in the ways that second language (L2) development is taking place. Increasingly, especially among young people, that process is occurring outside of institutional settings, predominately through the use of online networks and media. That phenomenon has been particularly noticed for learners of English, as shown in recent studies of fully autonomous learners in Brazil (Cole & Vanderplank, 2016) and predominantly recreational L2 users in Europe (Kusyk, 2017; Sundqvist & Sylvén, 2016). One of the hallmarks of this kind of language development is the great variety of approaches and materials used (i.e., social media, online participation in affinity spaces, watching videos, listening to music, engaging in online learning communities). The availability of immense quantities of spoken and written content in open (or inexpensively available) online channels, most also accessible on mobile devices, opens up countless opportunities for users to mix and match as never before tools, services, media, and group participation in ways that accommodate individual L2 needs and preferences.

Language Learning & Technology