Learner autonomy in foreign language teaching and learning has been a favourite topic for a long time. Autonomy in language learning, learning and life gerflint. It contributes to the understanding of online learner as an agent in highly heterogeneous language learning contexts and the link between online learning and learner autonomy. Learner autonomy is not a language skill, but an inspiration assumed to enhance esl skills. Learner autonomy is widely recognised as a desirable goal in tertiary education as it is found to comply with learner centred approaches and enable students to pursue lifelong learning sinclair. Approaches to learner autonomy in language learning 1. This book discusses the importance of autonomy, agency, and identity in teaching and learning english as a foreign language, all of which are central themes in the educational domain. The three principles involved offer a clear definition of learner autonomy, investigating it from different perspectives and validating research tools. It has transformed old practices in the language classroom and has given origin to self access language learning centers around the world such as the salc at kanda university of international studies in japan, the asllc at the education university. Pdf primary school teacher as mediator of learners. However, there is a need to investigate the culture of learning in which elt student teachers are educated because learner autonomy does not develop spontaneously within the learner, but rather. Teachers beliefs nguyen thanh nga submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of doctor of philosophy faculty of education queensland university of technology april, 2014. Language learning is a lifelong endeavour, not one.
Part one briefly outlines the emergence and development of autonomy as a pedagogical construct and examines theories, concepts. This volume offers a comprehensive account of autonomy in language learning and the educational practices associated with the concept. Pdf learner autonomy in language learning dolaan mingad. Promoting learner autonomy through cooperative learning. The paper investigates the teachers role as a mediator of learners autonomy in english language teaching elt classroom at primary level in the remote rural setting of khyber pakhtoon khwa pakistan.
On the basis of expounding upon the different definitions concerning the research on learner autonomy in language teaching and learning, this study was to explore how cooperative group learning helps to improve learner autonomy. Against this tendency, the present paper argues for an understanding of language learner autonomy in which the development of learner autonomy and the growth of target language proficiency are. Holec defined learner autonomy in terms of learner selfdirection and control of the learning process. Learner autonomy in language learning research papers. The researcher, therefore, was interested in developing the indicators for developing the characteristics of learner s autonomy in english language of primary 6 students in the northeast of thailand. Learner autonomy in language teaching professor jack c. This article reports on the application of three principles used to measure learner autonomy. Jun 14, 2015 learner autonomy in language learning. The concept of language learner autonomy the concept of learner autonomy in l2 education was first elaborated by henri holec in autonomy and foreign language learning, a report published by the council of europe in 1979 cited here as holec 1981.
Learner autonomy has been a popular concept in foreign language education in the past decades, especially in relation to lifelong learning skills. This paper reports on a largescale study on learner autonomy in language learning carried out with students and english teachers at the hong kong polytechnic university in hong kong. Autonomy in language learning 0 download 4 pages 947 words add in library click this icon and make it bookmark in your library to refer it later. Since the beginning of the millennium year, there have been lots of studies to promote learner autonomy in different levels of foreign language education at different schools and at different universities. They can do this by incorporating into their teaching a set of learning process goals to sit alongside language content goals. Autonomy has become a keyword of language policy in education systems around the world, as the importance of independent learning and new technologies has grown. What is the role of learner autonomy in language teaching. Download paginated pdf version abstract every autonomous learning process should entail an evaluation of the learner s competencies for autonomy. Autonomy can also be described as a capacity to take charge of, or take. Now in a fully revised and updated second edition, teaching and researching autonomy provides an accessible and comprehensive critical acc. There are many different ways to think about our goals as teachers. New approaches on learner autonomy in language learning ozlem yagcioglua a dokuz eylul university, school of foreign languages, izmir 35160, turkey abstract learner autonomy in foreign language teaching and learning has been a favourite topic for a long time.
Learner autonomy is a widely researched concept and is considered to be an essential attribute for learners of any secondforeign language because of its positive correlation with language. Introduction english for specific purposes esp is a movement based on the proposition that all language teaching programs should. This position has been quite accepted by europe language teachers. Philosophically, learner centredness and autonomy are rooted. English language teachers beliefs and practices simon borg, school of education, university of leeds saleh albusaidi, the language centre, sultan qaboos university. Holecs 1981 definition as cited in nunan, 1997 which states that learner autonomy is an ability to take charge of ones own learning p. This article summarises the main points of my talk. Despite a shift in the field of learner autonomy towards a consideration of the role of the teacher and ways in which learner autonomy is bound up not only with the learners but also the teachers own learning and teaching experiences and. Pdf an analysis of learner autonomy and autonomous. Teachers who are committed to concepts of learner centredness and autonomy, must therefore help their learners to develop this knowledge and skills. Learner autonomy refers to the principle that learners should take a maximum amount of responsibility for what they learn and how they learn it. Pdf developing learner independence has an important role in the theory and practice of language teaching. Learner autonomy in japanese university english classrooms. Pdf learner autonomy in language learning researchgate.
The second part reports on experiences of working with learners and with teachers to promote learner autonomy. Developing learner independence has an important role in the theory and practice of language teaching. Autonomy is not presented as a radical alternative to classroombased learning. Previously, terms referring more directly to practical interventions or situations of learning were more favoured within elt. Approaches to learner autonomy in language learning. Learner autonomy is an increasingly important aspect of higher education because it meets the. Now in a fully revised and updated second edition, teaching and researching autonomy provides an accessible and comprehensive critical account of the theory and practice of autonomy. May 16, 2014 data were collected through two phases of the study and revealed that teachers generally lacked understanding about learner autonomy.
Littles 1991 book on learner autonomy, for example, emphasized the psycho logical attributes of autonomous learners and prioritized interdependence over. The answer is learner autonomy, issues in language teaching and learning. In a study in the elt department, gazi university, a questionnaire developed by camilleri 1997 was. Nov 25, 2008 approaches to learner autonomy in language learning 1. Human movement science university of nevada, las vegas. Autonomy in language teaching and learning language. Autonomy, agency, and identity in teaching and learning.
There has been a debate on the definitions of learner autonomy in language learning with different perspectives. Improving learner autonomy in language learning through dramabased project presenters. In working with learners, the focus is on language learning strategies and how strategic learning might be developed through strategy training, materials design, reflection and counselling. Learner autonomy in japanese university english classrooms adrian wagner abstract this essay attempts to explore concepts of learner autonomy and their relevance to the japanese university english classroom. Teachers beliefs and practices in asian contexts iii contributors roger barnard is an associate professor in applied linguistics at the university of waikato. Theories of language learning have been bandied about since about as far back as one would care to look.
At the same time, it is important for the teacher to provide the students with. The role of metacognition is discussed from the dual perspective of knowledge of self, and. Pdf language learning strategies and learner autonomy in. Learner autonomy is a central theme in foreign language learning fll research and is encouraged by the common european framework of reference for languages. Indicators of characteristics of learners autonomy in. Now in a fully revised and updated second edition, teaching and researching autonomy provides an. A framework of independent language learning skills hayo reinders middlesex university abstract. He does this by determining his own objectives, defining the contents to be learned and the progression of the course, selecting methods and techniques to be used, monitoring this procedure, and evaluating what he has acquired. So, learner autonomy may be useful for students of all ages although its application may be. In recent years there has been a growing recognition of the importance of learner autonomy and the role of individual learners in directing their own learning process, both inside and.
Autonomy and independence in language learning applied. It may be surprising to know that the problems that philosophers in ancient greece and 16th century france were concerned about are largely still relevant today. Autonomy supportive versus controlling language may also have affective consequences that, in turn, may have differential effects on learning. View learner autonomy in language learning research papers on academia. Growth in learner autonomy although these students had limited exposure to learner autonomy, the results showed a remarkable ability and interest in learner autonomy among the sample population chan, 2001, p.
In norway, the national curriculum for foreign languages also emphasises the importance of taking charge of ones own learning. Data were collected through two phases of the study and revealed that teachers generally lacked understanding about learner autonomy. Pdf this paper aims to investigate student teachers beliefs about learner autonomy in the turkish educational context. There has been a remarkable growth of interest in the theory and practice of autonomy in language teaching and learning in recent years. Autonomy in learning is about people taking more control over their learning in classrooms and outside them and autonomy in language learning about people taking more control over the purposes for which they learn languages and the ways in which they learn them. Autonomy feeling free and volitional in ones actions deci, 1995, p. Procedia social and behavioral sciences 70 20 1238 1242 akdeniz language studies conference 2012. The three basic pedagogical principles which underlines autonomy in language learning is learner involvement engaging learners to share responsibility for the learning process, learner reflection helping learners to think critically when they plan, monitor and evaluate their learning and appropriate use of target language using the target. Language learning is a lifelong endeavour, not one that begins and ends in a language class room. An english language teacher introduces a variety of learning activities in the classroom with an aim to expand students language skills and to test their competence. Before taking up his present post in new zealand in 1995, he worked in england, europe, and the middle east as.
Philosophically, learner centredness and autonomy are rooted in humanism and experiential psychology. Promoting learner autonomy is relevant in the field of applied linguistics due to the multiple benefits it brings to the process of learning a new language. The autonomous language learner takes responsibility for the totality of his learning situation. Given that exercising control seems to be inherently rewarding e. This paper aims to investigate student teachers beliefs about learner autonomy in the turkish educational context. Recognition that learner autonomy rarely involves learners learning in isolation led to its exploration via sociocultural frameworks, as a dynamic, situated construct, which is operationalized in.
Autonomous learning and metacognitive strategies essentials. The topics of autonomy and independence play an increasingly important role in language education. The idea of learner autonomy is not new, but it has been widely referred to in the field of elt only over the last decade. By linking theory with practice to appeal to researchers as well as classroom practitioners, it provides an overview of the.
Learner autonomy in language learning sciencedirect. It focuses on the teachers views of their roles and responsibilities, their assessment of their students decisionmaking abilities and the autonomous language. Autonomy is not only confined to learning in selfaccess centres, it can be promoted in the classroom through taskbased and learner centred activities. New zealand studies in applied linguistics, 2012, 18 1 50 65 learner autonomy in language learning. Pdf effects of learner autonomy on teaching practices. Teaching and researching autonomy in language learning. The dynamic model of learner autonomy described in this paper. New approaches on learner autonomy in language learning. Identity, motivation, and autonomy in language learning. Autonomy, cognition, metacognition, product, process, esp, goaloriented, course design 1. Learner autonomy has a pragmatic function in helping students meet their linguistic needs and external goals. We can talk about learning objectives for each lesson, about curriculum targets, or we can talk about grades. In its early days, the theory and practice of autonomy in language learning also enjoyed an uneasy association with ideas of individualisation in language instruction.