Research methods for investigating young learners’ engagement with foreign languages outside of school

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that L2 input learners engage with outside the classroom can play an important role in young L2 learners’ language development. This article discusses various methods and instruments to investigate extramural input that have been used with young learners (ages 6 to 12 years). Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches to measure learners’ engagement with the L2 outside the classroom context are considered. The present article looks into similarities and differences between the instruments that have been used in previous studies and briefly touches upon promising methods that have not been used with young learners to date but could prove interesting for future studies. Some guidelines related to collecting data about extramural language activities with young learners are included. The article ends with some suggestions for adapting and/or improving existing instruments.