Informal Learning of English or English Learning Beyond the Classroom? A Systematic and Bibliometric Review (1998-2024).

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Title: Informal Learning of English or English Learning Beyond the Classroom? A Systematic and Bibliometric Review (1998-2024).
Authors: Aiju, Liu1 liuaiju@student.usm.my, Abdullah, Amelia2 amelia@usm.my, Wang Yufeng3 Shirleywang999@163.com
Source: International Journal of Instruction. Apr2025, Vol. 18 Issue 2, p261-284. 24p.
Subject Terms: *Learner autonomy, *Nonformal education, *Research personnel, *Educators, English language
Abstract: As digitization advances, English learning has gained prominence increasingly among language researchers. However, informal learning of English (ILE) or English learning beyond the classroom (ELBC) have struggled with conceptual ambiguity and a lack of systematic bibliometric reviews regarding their evolution in the context of higher education. This study addresses this gap through a comprehensive literature review employing both quantitative and qualitative methods to examine these concepts and identifies emerging trends. This study follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA-2020) framework, and 678 publications were selected between 1998 and 2024. Excels, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace were used to visualize data on publications, research collaboration, authorship, international collaborations and co-occurrence. The findings revealed significant shifts in the focus and scope of ILE/ELBC research, highlighting four phases: Emergence from 1998 to 2009, technology integration from 2010 to 2015, digital trend from 2016 to 2020, and current state 2021-2024. Besides, this study contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive evolution of ILE/ELBC, and identifying four key drivers: learner autonomy, self-regulation, self-direction, and technology. These insights offer valuable implications for educators and researchers interested in the evolving dynamics of ILE/ELBC in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of International Journal of Instruction is the property of International Journal of Instruction and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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DbLabel: Education Research Complete
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Label: Title
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  Data: Informal Learning of English or English Learning Beyond the Classroom? A Systematic and Bibliometric Review (1998-2024).
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Aiju%2C+Liu%22">Aiju, Liu</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> liuaiju@student.usm.my</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Abdullah%2C+Amelia%22">Abdullah, Amelia</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><i> amelia@usm.my</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wang+Yufeng%22">Wang Yufeng</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo><i> Shirleywang999@163.com</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22International+Journal+of+Instruction%22">International Journal of Instruction</searchLink>. Apr2025, Vol. 18 Issue 2, p261-284. 24p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Learner+autonomy%22">Learner autonomy</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nonformal+education%22">Nonformal education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+personnel%22">Research personnel</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educators%22">Educators</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22English+language%22">English language</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: As digitization advances, English learning has gained prominence increasingly among language researchers. However, informal learning of English (ILE) or English learning beyond the classroom (ELBC) have struggled with conceptual ambiguity and a lack of systematic bibliometric reviews regarding their evolution in the context of higher education. This study addresses this gap through a comprehensive literature review employing both quantitative and qualitative methods to examine these concepts and identifies emerging trends. This study follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA-2020) framework, and 678 publications were selected between 1998 and 2024. Excels, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace were used to visualize data on publications, research collaboration, authorship, international collaborations and co-occurrence. The findings revealed significant shifts in the focus and scope of ILE/ELBC research, highlighting four phases: Emergence from 1998 to 2009, technology integration from 2010 to 2015, digital trend from 2016 to 2020, and current state 2021-2024. Besides, this study contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive evolution of ILE/ELBC, and identifying four key drivers: learner autonomy, self-regulation, self-direction, and technology. These insights offer valuable implications for educators and researchers interested in the evolving dynamics of ILE/ELBC in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of International Journal of Instruction is the property of International Journal of Instruction and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.29333/iji.2025.18215a
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 24
        StartPage: 261
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Learner autonomy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Nonformal education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research personnel
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educators
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: English language
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Informal Learning of English or English Learning Beyond the Classroom? A Systematic and Bibliometric Review (1998-2024).
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            NameFull: Abdullah, Amelia
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            – D: 01
              M: 04
              Text: Apr2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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