An Investigation into Chinese College English Teachers' Beliefs of Students' Web-based Informal Language Learning

Literature Review

As defined by Benson (2001), Web-based Informal English Learning (WIEL) is a certain sub-group of language learning out of class, which focuses specifically on the informal and web-based components of out-of-class language learning. It is closely related with “self-regulated out-of-class language learning with technology” (Lai & Gu 2011: 317). Another distinctive feature of WIEL is its incidental rather than deliberate nature, that is, the purpose of learners’ learning activities is primarily for entertainment, getting information, etc. in addition to language acquisition (Toffoli & Sockett, 2010), whereas learners’ out-of class language learning has deliberate intentions to improve their English (Benson, 2006; Larsen & Cameron, 2007). Meanwhile, learners’ learning activities undoubtedly influence their acquisition of the target language. (Krashen & Terrell, 1983)

Toffoli and Sockett’s (2010) made a survey of 222 French non-English majors practicing informal learning of English. They found that the most prevailing learning activities among these students’ are listening to English music accompanied by lyrics and watching American series. What’s more, these students have more English listening practice than reading practice and they are actively involved in interactive online writing, such as participating in forum discussions, sending English instant messages or e-mails and so on.