Exploring out-of-class contexts in EFL learning: Romanian high school students’ perspectives and practices
Exploring out-of-class contexts in EFL learning: Romanian high school students’ perspectives and practices
Author(s): Elena Meștereagă, Daniel DejicaSubject(s): Foreign languages learning, Language acquisition, Pragmatics, Sociolinguistics, Theory of Communication, School education, Educational Psychology, Sociology of Education, Pedagogy
Published by: Språk- och litteraturcentrum, Lunds Universitet
Keywords: Out-of-class contexts (OOCCs); English as a Foreign Language (EFL); High school students; Informal language learning; Personal learning ecologies; Communicative language teaching (CLT);
Summary/Abstract: This study explores the role of out-of-class contexts (OOCCs) in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning among Romanian high school students, emphasizing how informal environments complement formal instruction. Data from 125 students across four public schools reveals active engagement with English through media consumption, gaming, and social media, enhancing vocabulary, listening comprehension, and speaking confidence. Informal settings provide low-anxiety opportunities for meaningful communication and experimentation. Motivation plays a pivotal role, with students linking English proficiency to future opportunities. Personal learning ecologies, such as online reading and conversations with others, foster development within supportive spaces. The study advocates integrating OOCCs into formal instruction to bridge theoretical and practical knowledge, creating a holistic learning environment aligned with learners’ interests and real-world needs.
Journal: Swedish Journal of Romanian Studies
- Issue Year: 8/2025
- Issue No: 2
- Page Range: 229-240
- Page Count: 12
- Language: English
