English-language exposure in a multilingual digital fandom: the case of Brazilian fans of the Quackity Survival Multiplayer (QSMP)

Abstract

This study investigates how participation in the Quackity Survival Multiplayer (QSMP) fandom creates opportunities for English-language exposure and use among Brazilian fans. Grounded in discussions of informal language learning, incidental learning, participatory culture and virtual communities, the research examines how engagement in a multilingual digital environment may facilitate contact with English beyond formal educational contexts. The study adopts a qualitative-quantitative approach and uses data collected through an online questionnaire answered by Brazilian members of the QSMP fandom. Participants were categorized by level of engagement within the community, ranging from occasional viewers to highly active fans. The analysis indicates that higher levels of participation are associated with increased exposure to English-language content and greater opportunities for interaction in English. Listening was the skill most frequently associated with improvement, reflecting the audiovisual nature of livestream-based content and digital interaction. The findings suggest that participation in multilingual online fandoms can create meaningful opportunities for informal language learning through sustained exposure, interaction and engagement in participatory digital spaces.