Due to media saturation and linguistic globalisation, Italy is witnessing an unprecedented increase in the presence of English in new and traditional media, in line with the rest of Europe and the world. This evolving scenario has fostered novel modalities of contact with English, allowing L2 users to be immersed in the language and learn it even without moving from their immediate physical surroundings. Drawing on 4,000 questionnaires and lexical tests collected at four universities across the country, the volume presents the results of the first large-scale study in Italy to investigate the impact of emerging language environments on the linguistic habits of university students and their informal learning of English in leisure time. The study adopts an input-centred, spatial perspective on second language acquisition by recognising that informal engagement with English occurs in diverse, often private, spaces - including online platforms, entertainment media and in-person interactions. The research findings provide a detailed view on the multifaceted patterns of use and learning of English 'in the wild'. They shed light on the reasons behind students' choices and illuminate the evolving role of English among young generations. The volume ultimately adds new insights into autonomous, media-driven second language acquisition and its potential to create fair language learning opportunities for all.