Abstract

As technology has advanced, so have opportunities for language socialization and practice. This reciprocal relationship has resulted in the emergence of a subfield of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL): Informal Digital Learning of English (IDLE). IDLE has manifested in various forms, including the more notable extramural and extracurricular varieties. Given the recent attention given to IDLE by Applied Linguists and language educators, this scoping review provides a roadmap for future research and explores the potential of IDLE to support English language teaching and learning in informal digital contexts. A Web of Science core eight database search for relevant research published between 1980 and 2019 using 35 IDLE-related key terms resulted in 38 studies of which 30 aligned with the inclusion criteria. Results showed the studies were conducted mostly under a mixed-method and qualitative paradigm and were published between 2017 and 2019. Only two studies used longitudinal data collection methods. Topics investigated included the linguistic dimension of CALL, the affective and cultural dimension of CALL, and the agency and digital literacies dimension of CALL. The small, yet salient, body of emergent IDLE literature points towards three trends: a growing relevance of langua-technocultural competence, the importance of digital literacies to communicative competence, and the importance of non-professional translation and interpreting to digital language learning.

摘要

随着技术的进步，语言社会化和实践的机会也越来越多。这种相互关系导致了计算机辅助语言学习 (CALL) 的一个子领域的出现：英语的非正式数字学习 (IDLE)。IDLE 以各种形式表现出来，包括更引人注目的校外和课外形式。鉴于应用语言学家和语言教育工作者最近对 IDLE 的关注，本范围审查为未来的研究提供了路线图，并探索了 IDLE 在非正式数字环境中支持英语教学和学习的潜力。科学网核心八数据库使用 35 个与 IDLE 相关的关键词搜索 1980 年至 2019 年间发表的相关研究，结果有 38 项研究，其中 30 项符合纳入标准。结果显示，这些研究主要是在混合方法和定性范式下进行的，并于 2017 年至 2019 年间发表。只有两项研究使用了纵向数据收集方法。调查的主题包括 CALL 的语言维度、CALL 的情感和文化维度，以及 CALL 的代理和数字素养维度。新兴的 IDLE 文献数量虽小但很突出，指向三个趋势：语言-技术文化能力的相关性日益增强，数字素养对交际能力的重要性，以及非专业笔译和口译对数字语言学习的重要性。