Learning Language Beyond the Classroom: Reading English Newspapers in University Dormitories and Developing English Language Skills

Learning English as a foreign language (EFL) beyond the classroom is challenging in non-native English-speaking developing countries with limited resources. However, learning English beyond the classroom occurs in an informal way to support language learning for many autonomous or independent adult learners. This paper explores the habit of reading English newspapers among residential students at a university as an autonomous English language learning process outside of the classroom. Adopting a sequential explanatory mixed-method approach, data was collected from 150 residential students at the University of Dhaka who participated in the survey, followed by interviews with 15 students. The findings show that most of the participants read English newspapers as autonomous learners, considering the material value of English. They considered developing English skills through the habit of reading English newspapers likely to help them in the future, particularly in career preparation and getting the desired job and academic excellence. This reading habit and English language learning have been interpreted through the theoretical lens of learning autonomy, Bourdieu’s habitus, and cultural capital. The study also identified some challenges in developing the habits of reading English newspapers for residential learners and suggestions for overcoming the obstacles and enabling their reading habits as an autonomous learning process for university learners.