37.2686, Books: Fandom Language Learning: Kiaer and Lo (2026)

[The LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-37-2686. Mon Aug 17 2026. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 37.2686, Books: Fandom Language Learning: Kiaer and Lo (2026)

Moderator: Steven Moran (linguist at linguistlist.org)
Managing Editor: Valeriia Vyshnevetska
Team: Helen Aristar-Dry, Daniel Swanson
Jobs: jobs at linguistlist.org | Conferences: callconf at linguistlist.org | Pubs: pubs at linguistlist.org

Homepage: http://linguistlist.org

Editor for this issue: Daniel Swanson <daniel at linguistlist.org>

================================================================


Date: 17-Aug-2026
From: Lucy Trotter [lucy.trotter at bloomsbury.com]
Subject: Fandom Language Learning: Kiaer and Lo (2026)


Title: Fandom Language Learning
Subtitle: A Digital Transformation of Language Education in the AI Age
Publication Year: 2026

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
           http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/
Book URL:
https://www.bloomsbury.com/fandom-language-learning-9781350355446/

Author(s): Jieun Kiaer and Alfred W. T. Lo

Paperback, 9781350355446, £28.99

Abstract:

Standing at the intersection of fan culture, digital technology, and
language learning, this book advocates for a transformative shift in
language education in the AI age. Introducing the concept of fandom
language learning, it illustrates how enthusiasm for specific
interests motivates fans to learn languages, resulting in immersive
and personalised learning experiences. Tracing the evolution of
digital platforms shows how this has become possible thanks to their
pivotal role in transforming language learning from a solitary,
traditional endeavour into a vibrant, community-driven practice.
The authors examine the psychological underpinnings of fandom language
learning and how emotional engagement and cultural immersion can help
to foster motivation. They also weigh the impact of social media and
AI on language learning, emphasising the potential for these
technologies to smooth the way for more interactive, engaging, and
effective language education. Through a translanguaging approach, they
also give new perspectives on the ways in which digital platforms
enable learners to transcend linguistic boundaries and how fandom
learners can harness creative expression and multilingual engagement.
Building on these ideas, Fandom Language Learning also sets out
practical guidance for educators on how to use fandom culture to
motivate foreign language learning and increase students' Foreign
Language Enjoyment (FLE), envisioning a future where language
education is not only more aligned with learners' passions but also
more responsive to the demands of a digital, multilingual world.

Linguistic Field(s): Applied Linguistics
                     General Linguistics




------------------------------------------------------------------------------

********************** LINGUIST List Support ***********************
Please consider donating to the Linguist List, a U.S. 501(c)(3) not for profit organization:

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=87C2AXTVC4PP8

LINGUIST List is supported by the following publishers:

Australian Linguistics Society https://als.asn.au/Home

Bloomsbury Publishing http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/

Cambridge University Press http://www.cambridge.org/linguistics

Cascadilla Press http://www.cascadilla.com/

De Gruyter Brill https://www.degruyterbrill.com/?changeLang=en

Edinburgh University Press http://www.edinburghuniversitypress.com

European Language Resources Association (ELRA) http://www.elra.info

John Benjamins http://www.benjamins.com/

Language Science Press http://langsci-press.org

Lincom GmbH https://lincom-shop.eu/

MDPI Languages https://www.mdpi.com/journal/languages

MIT Press http://mitpress.mit.edu/

Multilingual Matters http://www.multilingual-matters.com/

Narr Francke Attempto Verlag GmbH + Co. KG http://www.narr.de/

Netherlands Graduate School of Linguistics / Landelijke (LOT) http://www.lotpublications.nl/

Peter Lang AG http://www.peterlang.com

SIL International Publications http://www.sil.org/resources/publications


----------------------------------------------------------
LINGUIST List: Vol-37-2686
----------------------------------------------------------