Exploring motivation and agency in informal contact with English - An emic investigation of Italian university students

The book delves into the evolving landscape of English language exposure in informal settings, focussing on how Italian university students access English input during their leisure time. Drawing on interviews conducted at a middlesized university in northern Italy, it investigates why students voluntarily immerse themselves in English content outside of educational contexts and the language acquisition factors involved. As digital technologies and streaming platforms make English media more accessible, the opportunities for incidental language learning expand, offering promising potential for enhancing proficiency. The book emphasises the significant role of individual motivation – both intrinsic and extrinsic – and personal agency in shaping how students navigate these opportunities. Grounded in Second Language Acquisition (SLA) research, Self- Determination Theory (SDT), and Bandura’s social cognitive framework, the work explores variability among learners, demonstrating that not all benefit equally from informal contact with English, especially when dealing with complex spoken input. The analysis, supported by case studies and interviews, uncovers both common and individualised patterns of behaviour. Exploring Motivation and Agency in Informal Contact with English offers valuable insights for educators, researchers, and students, shedding light on how fostering awareness of motivation and agency can help learners make the most of the rich opportunities provided by informal English exposure.