Boys like games and girls like movies. Age and gender differences in out-of-school contact with English

Abstract

It is commonly agreed in the field of foreign language (FL) learning that, in the absence of massive amounts of input in the traditional classroom, FL learning is a long and slow process for the majority of students (Muñoz, 2008; Nunan 1991; Pickard, 1995). Recent research has highlighted the key role of the amount and intensity of input in this process, together with its quality (Muñoz, 2012). However, in many contexts nowadays, FL learners are enriching their limited contact with the target language in the classroom with unlimited contact outside the classroom thanks to the easy and immediate availability of the Internet and digital media.