Exploring community features, language practices, and participation in an online language learning community: A netnographic study

Date

2026-6-22

Author

Nicolosi, Alessandra

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At a time when artificial intelligence can enhance language acquisition online, many English learners still turn to Reddit, an anonymous, volunteer-driven platform, to ask strangers for help with grammar corrections, pronunciation feedback, and cultural explanations. This thesis investigates r/EnglishLearning, a subreddit within Reddit, to understand how a volunteer-driven online community functions as a language learning environment. It analyses the community through four of Susan Herring's (2004) six criteria and explores how its members engage in discussions about the English language and why they participate online. Using a qualitative netnographic approach, the researcher participated as both an observer and an active member in the r/EnglishLearning community for over a 14-month period (January 2023–March 2024), collecting posts, comment threads, and writing field notes. Applying Virginia Braun and Victoria Clarke’s Reflexive Thematic Analysis (2006, 2022), the study addressed three research questions concerning community characteristics, language practices, and participation. The analysis shows that r/EnglishLearning operates through role differentiation: native speakers position themselves as knowledge sources, while non-native learners use politeness strategies to navigate expertise hierarchies. Knowledge is not transmitted but collaboratively constructed, as native speakers build on each other’s explanations and provide supportive feedback. Findings suggest that learners seek not only answers but also validation and language knowledge, while native speakers participate because explaining their language provides satisfaction. Together, these findings argue that r/EnglishLearning offers something irreplaceable in the digital age, not because it is more efficient than AI, but because it is human. These findings also offer practical insights for educators and learners who want to engage in online language learning spaces.

Subject Keywords

Language learning communities, Netnography, Reddit, Human-AI interaction, r/EnglishLearning

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/119474

Collections

Graduate School of Social Sciences, Thesis