ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by placing IDLE within the context of CALL. Next, it lays a foundation by defining IDLE as autonomous English activities in out-of-school digital settings, performed independently without being evaluated by a teacher. The following subsection describes four characteristics of IDLE: formality (unstructured, no certification), location (out-of-class), pedagogy (naturalistic), and locus of control (self-directed). Next, a statement of the underlying principles of IDLE provides a review of theoretical perspectives associated with IDLE.
