English for Specific Purposes

[captain harlock]

That's amazing!

I know that a big deal of RCers ,and modern hobbyists of all sorts of things, learned their English via online communities. You are one good example.

Well, I've been trying along with my academic supervisor to draw a link between RC and learning English "autonomously". I'm going to conduct an auto-ethnographic study on myself using the already existing data in this site since 2005 and until 2012 in an attempt to prove that online interaction with other people from different parts of the world who happen to enjoy the same hobby, improved my written discourse and reading literacy in English. RC is more of English for Technical/ Mechanical Purposes. In other words, the majority of lexis I've accumulated over the years in this forum are technical and mechanical, not to mention the geometric terms we use when adjusting suspension systems and what not.

The problem with auto- ethnographic research, is the lack of objectivity. I might change the methodology from auto- ethongraphy to just ethnography about you, if you don't mind, and see how have your English developed over time in order to prove the efficacy of online communities and most importantly, hobby related ones, since the hobby is a formadible motivation for learning English, in mastering a second or foreign language.

More input is always welcome!