Everyday Media, Everyday English: A Diary Study of Informal Exposure to English Input among Italian University Students

Abstract

While diary methods have often been used in second language acquisition (SLA) research as pedagogical tools for second language (L2) learners, their potential as systematic data collection instruments has been explored less frequently. In this work, diary methods are applied to document 19 Italian university students’ informal exposure to English input over a 12-month period. Online logs were used to track participants’ weekly exposure to a range of informal English input, such as audiovisual products, social networks, video games, music and live interactions. Findings reveal individual variation in both quantity and type of media engagement, with social networks, audiovisual content and music emerging as the most frequent sources of L2 input across the sample. These results provide detailed profiles of participants’ informal encounter with English and highlight the relevance of diary methods for documenting media-based exposure beyond the classroom.