Research agenda: Language learning beyond the classroom

TLDR

Language‑learning research has traditionally focused on classroom settings, yet success depends on both in‑class and out‑of‑class activities, and the rise of online media and travel has expanded learners’ environments, creating a new field of language learning beyond the classroom. The authors outline future research directions in settings, processes, and teaching for language learning beyond the classroom.

Abstract

Most language learning research is carried out either in classrooms or among classroom learners. As Richards (2015) points out, however, there are two dimensions to successful learning: what happens inside classrooms and what happens outside them. Rapid development of online media, communications technologies and opportunities for travel has also expanded the world beyond the classroom for language learners. Language learning and teaching beyond the classroom (LBC) is, thus, emerging as a field ripe for the development of new research agendas (Benson & Reinders 2011; Nunan & Richards 2015). We propose potentially fruitful avenues for research here under the headings of settings for learning, learning processes and teaching.