Examining the Interplay Among Indonesian EFL Students’ Digital Literacy, Self-Regulated Learning, and Informal Digital Learning of English

Atin Kurniawati, Arief Eko Priyo Atmojo, Nilam Febrina Swastika, Salma Ayu Lutfiana

Abstract

In today’s digital world, informal digital learning of English (IDLE) has revolutionized English as a foreign language (EFL) learning outside formal classrooms. While numerous studies have increasingly examined potential factors affecting IDLE, associations among digital literacy (DL), self-regulated learning (SRL), and IDLE have been underexamined. The present study seeks to uncover Indonesian EFL students’ levels of DL, SRL, and IDLE, along with the hypothesized relationships among DL, SRL, and IDLE. Drawing on a quota sampling, 391 students responded to DL, SRL, and IDLE questionnaires after providing their informed consent and demographic information. The results demonstrate that Indonesian EFL students enjoy moderate levels of DL, SRL, and IDLE. The results also reveal that DL and SRL, respectively, possess significantly positive relationships with IDLE. Simultaneously, both DL and SRL significantly predict IDLE, explaining 56% of the total variance of IDLE. Ultimately, theoretical and practical implications, as well as future research directions, have been offered.

Keywords

correlational research, digital literacy, EFL students, informal digital learning of English, self-regulated learning

References

An, F., Xi, L., & Yu, J. (2024). The relationship between technology acceptance and self-regulated learning: The mediation roles of intrinsic motivation and learning engagement. Education and Information Technologies, 29(3), 2605–2623. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-11959-3

Anthonysamy, L., Koo, A. C., & Hew, S. H. (2020). Self-regulated learning strategies in higher education: Fostering digital literacy for sustainable lifelong learning. Education and Information Technologies, 25(4), 2393–2414. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-020-10201-8

Barkati, M., Kiyanfar, Z., Azari Noughabi, M., & Ershadi, F. (2025). Contributions of self‐efficacy, L2 grit, and digital literacy to informal digital learning of English: A structural equation modelling approach. British Journal of Educational Technology, 56(5), 2183–2201. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.13547

Boateng, G. O., Neilands, T. B., Frongillo, E. A., Melgar-Quiñonez, H. R., & Young, S. L. (2018). Best practices for developing and validating scales for health, social, and behavioral research: A primer. Frontiers in Public Health, 6, 149. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2018.00149

Chen, F. (2025). The relationship between digital literacy and college students’ academic achievement: The chain mediating role of learning adaptation and online self-regulated learning. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1590649. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1590649

Cuttler, C., Jhangiani, R. S., & Leighton, D. (2019). Research methods in psychology (4th ed.). Kwantlen Polytechnic University. https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/75

Dashtestani, R., & Hojatpanah, S. (2022). Digital literacy of EFL students in a junior high school in Iran: Voices of teachers, students, and ministry directors. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 35(4), 635–665. https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2020.1744664

Fauziah, F., & Diana, N. (2023). Exploring students’ informal digital learning of English (IDLE) and self-regulated language learning from a sociocultural perspective. Indonesian TESOL Journal, 5(2), 197–214. https://doi.org/10.24256/itj.v5i2.4225

Guan, L., Li, S., & Gu, M. M. (2024). AI in informal digital English learning: A meta-analysis of its effectiveness on proficiency, motivation, and self-regulation. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 7, 100323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2024.100323

Hindradjat, J., Hambali, I., Atmoko, A., & Livana, P. H. (2022). The effect of achievement motivation and self-regulated learning on student learning behavior in the time of online learning in Indonesia. Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences, 10(A), 262–272. https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2022.8279

Lai, C., Zhu, W., & Gong, G. (2015). Understanding the quality of out-of-class English learning. TESOL Quarterly, 49(2), 278–308. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesq.171

Lan, M., Liu, H., & Pan, Q. (2025). Unpacking the digital literacy–self-regulated learning nexus: A systematic review and a three-level meta-analysis. Educational Research Review, 48, 100713. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2025.100713

Lee, J. S. (2019). Informal digital learning of English and second language vocabulary outcomes: Can quantity conquer quality?. British Journal of Educational Technology, 50(2), 767–778. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.12599

Lee, J.S. (2019). Quantity and diversity of informal digital learning of English. Language Learning and Technology, 23(1), 114–126. https://doi.org/10.64152/10125/44675

Lee, J. S. (2021). Informal digital learning of English: Research to practice (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003043454

Lee, J. S., & Drajati, N. A. (2019). Affective variables and informal digital learning of English: Keys to willingness to communicate in a second language. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 35(5), 168–182. https://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.5177

Lee, J. S., & Dressman, M. (2018). When IDLE hands make an English workshop: Informal digital learning of English and language proficiency. TESOL Quarterly, 52(2), 435–445. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesq.422

Lee, J. S., & Lee, K. (2019). Informal digital learning of English and English as an international language: The path less traveled. British Journal of Educational Technology, 50(3), 1447–1461. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.12652

Lee, J. S., & Sylvén, L. K. (2021). The role of informal digital learning of English in Korean and Swedish EFL learners’ communication behaviour. British Journal of Educational Technology, 52(3), 1279–1296. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.13082

Li, X., & Thien, L. M. (2025). Exploring ChatGPT literacy as predictor and moderator in enhancing informal digital learning of English (IDLE): A partial least square analysis. Quality Assurance in Education, 33(2), 336–356. https://doi.org/10.1108/QAE-08-2024-0152

Li, Y. (2025). Exploring digital literacy in informal digital learning of English among Chinese undergraduate students. Higher Education Studies, 15(3), 293–302. https://doi.org/10.5539/hes.v15n3p293

Liu, G. L., Lee, J. S., & Zhao, X. (2025). Critical digital literacies, agentic practices, and AI-mediated informal digital learning of English. System, 134, 103797. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2025.103797

Liu, G., & Ma, C. (2024). Measuring EFL learners’ use of ChatGPT in informal digital learning of English based on the technology acceptance model. Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching, 18(2), 125–138. https://doi.org/10.1080/17501229.2023.2240316

Mahmud, Y. S., & German, E. (2021). Online self-regulated learning strategies amid a global pandemic: Insights from Indonesian university students. Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction, 18(2), 45–68. https://doi.org/10.32890/mjli2021.18.2.2

Maimaiti, G., & Hew, K. F. (2025). Gamified self-regulated learning improves EFL reading comprehension, motivation, self-regulation skills, and process patterns: Quasi-experiment with process mining. The Internet and Higher Education, 67, 101042. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2025.101042

Moser, C. A. (1952). Quota sampling. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society. Series A (General), 115(3), 411–423. https://doi.org/10.2307/2980740

Nugroho, A., Raharja, B. S., Aligarh, F., Supriyanto, & Al-Amin, N. H. (2023). The role of informal digital learning of English in informatics engineering students’ communication behavior. Proceeding of 3rd International Conference of Bio-Based Economy for Application and Utility, 020203. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0120226

Rezai, A., & Goodarzi, A. (2025). Exploring the nexus of informal digital learning of English and online self-regulated learning in EFL university contexts: Longitudinal insights. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 18, 100666. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbr.2025.100666

Rezai, A., Soyoof, A., & Reynolds, B. L. (2024). Effectiveness of informal digital learning of English on EFL learners’ vocabulary knowledge: A mixed-methods investigation. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2024.2350419

Saregar, A., Kirana, L. J., Asyhari, A., Anugrah, A., Fitri, M. R., & Panse, V. R. (2024). Technology and digital literacy: Interrelationships and the impact of acceptance with self-regulated learning. E3S Web of Conferences, 482, 04006. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202448204006

Soyoof, A., Reynolds, B. L., Vazquez-Calvo, B., & McLay, K. (2023). Informal digital learning of English (IDLE): A scoping review of what has been done and a look towards what is to come. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 36(4), 608–640. https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2021.1936562

Tejada, J. J., & Punzalan, J. R. B. (2012). On the misuse of Slovin’s formula. The Philippine Statistician, 61(1), 129–136.

Tranmer, M., Murphy, J., Elliot, M., & Pampaka, M. (2020). Multiple linear regression (2nd ed.). Cathie Marsh Institute Working Paper. https://hummedia.manchester.ac.uk/institutes/cmist/archive-publications/working-papers/2020/multiple-linear-regression.pdf

Wang, C., Du, Y., & Zou, B. (2025). Learners’ acceptance and use of multimodal artificial intelligence (AI)‐generated content in AI‐mediated informal digital learning of English. International Journal of Applied Linguistics, Early View, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijal.12827

Wardhani, D., Hesti, S., & Dwityas, N. A. (2019). Digital literacy: A survey level digital literacy competence among university students in Jakarta. International Journal of English Literature and Social Sciences, 4(4), 1131–1138. https://doi.org/10.22161/ijels.4434

Yang, M., & Kim, J. (2014). Correlation between digital literacy and self-regulated learning skills of learners in university e-learning environment. ASTL, 71, 80–83. https://doi.org/10.14257/astl.2014.71.19

Zhang, Y., & Liu, G. (2024). Revisiting informal digital learning of English (IDLE): A structural equation modeling approach in a university EFL context. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 37(7), 1904–1936. https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2022.2134424

Zheng, C., Liang, J.-C., Yang, Y.-F., & Tsai, C.-C. (2016). The relationship between Chinese university students’ conceptions of language learning and their online self-regulation. System, 57, 66–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2016.01.005

Zimmerman, B. J. (2002). Becoming a self-regulated learner: An overview. Theory Into Practice, 41(2), 64–70. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15430421tip4102_2

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.