Learners have to work within and beyond the class room to develop their language skills. In particular, it addresses language learner autonomy, both as a theoretical construct and in relation to areas of application such as the common european framework of reference cefr, the european language portfolio elp, teacher training, content and language integrated learning clil, and minority language provision. Introduction the concept of learner autonomy has been a key area of research in foreign language fl teaching in recent years. Learner autonomy in foreign language teaching and learning has been a favourite topic for a long time. 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. The notion of learner independence or learner autonomy moves into an. Learner autonomy is a widely researched concept and is considered to be an essential attribute for learners of any second foreign language because of its positive correlation with language. Apr 08, 2016 learner autonomy is an important concept in educational fields, including language learning ones such as eap. Learner autonomy is not a language skill, but an inspiration assumed to enhance esl skills.
For an excellent overview of these traditions and an account of how they have shaped language education, see kohonen 1992. Pdf developing learner independence has an important role in the theory and practice of language teaching. New approaches on learner autonomy in language learning. This study employed both quantitative and qualitative method by giving questionnaires to english education department students at tidar university and interviewing some of. These principles are intended to ensure the learning method used benefits the learner. Useful websites, blogs and books on learner autonomy will be suggested. How an elearning platform encourages learner autonomy.
There has been a remarkable growth of interest in the theory and practice of autonomy in language teaching and learning in recent years. The expectation that language learners can be independent, underlies much of the writing on learner autonomy. This case study research investigated the extent to which vietnamese teachers understood the concept of learner autonomy and how their beliefs about this concept were applied in their teaching practices. The notion of learner independence or learner autonomy moves into an area where. This article reports on the application of three principles used to measure learner autonomy. It is concluded that learnerproduced learning materials can be a successful and an effective tool to promote learner autonomy in efl english as a foreign language classes. Learner autonomy is an important concept in educational fields, including language learning ones such as eap. 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. 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. What is learner autonomy and how can it be fostered. The three basic pedagogical principles which underlines autonomy in language learning is learner. Nov 25, 2008 approaches to learner autonomy in language learning erin lowry senior english language fellow centro colombo americano armenia november 25, 2008 slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising.
Successful lifelong learning, in turn, requires learner autonomy. An example of application of the principles of learner autonomy is the council of europe european language portfolio, which is intended to help support autonomous learning on a wide scale. According to little 1991 and dam 1995, language learning is significantly enhanced when students are allowed to select the content and control the goals of the course. Teacherlearner autonomy in second language acquisition. The consequences for the design of learner centred materials and methods is discussed, together with an exploration of the practical ways of implementing autonomy and independence in language teaching and learning. They should be involved in decisions concerning setting objectives for learning, determining ways and means of learning, and reflecting on and evaluating what they have learned. Learner autonomy and constructivist theories of language learning holecs use. Learner autonomy is by no means a new concept, but its promotion in the field of language learning through systematic learner development most commonly referred to as learner training is a relatively recent phenomenon. Students awareness of their own learning styles is encouraged. An autonomous learner will take more responsibility for learning and is likely to be more effective than a learner who is reliant on the teacher. Recently, the concepts of learner autonomy and independence have become important concepts in the field of education. Approaches to learner autonomy in language learning.
New zealand studies in applied linguistics, 2012, 18 1 50 65 learner autonomy in language learning. Mobileassisted language learning and language learner. Obviously, the notion of language learner autonomy is not confined to learning that takes place in a self access centre. Moreover, autonomy also improves students responsibility for their own learning and become more selfreliance and independence little, 2003. 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. The page also looks at how learner autonomy can be developed, as well as considering the cultural aspects of learner. Autonomy in language teaching and learning language. Learner autonomy refers to the principle that learners should take a maximum amount of responsibility for what they learn and how they learn it.
Developing learner autonomy in the foreign language classroom. How to measure it rigorously le thi cam nguyen victoria university of wellington le. Approaches to learner autonomy in language learning erin lowry senior english language fellow centro colombo americano armenia november 25, 2008 slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Pdf learner autonomy and secondforeign language learning. Pdf learner autonomy in language learning dolaan mingad. 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. The second part reports on experiences of working with learners and with teachers to promote learner autonomy. Previously, terms referring more directly to practical interventions or situations of learning were more favoured within elt. Learner autonomy has been a key theme in the field of foreign language learning for over 30 years.
Pdf this paper aims to investigate student teachers beliefs about learner autonomy in the turkish educational context. Mobileassisted language learning and language learner autonomy. The enhancement of teacherlearner autonomy in relation to a variety of areas of pedagogical, attitudinal and. Promoting learner autonomy through cooperative learning.
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. Eric ed192557 autonomy and foreign language learning. The autonomous language learner takes responsibility for the totality of his learning situation. The purpose is to facilitate the learning task into a. Mobileassisted language learning and language learner autonomy paul a. Holec defined learner autonomy in terms of learner selfdirection and control of the learning process. Motivation to learn is an intrinsic value, with personal payoff. Later chapters discuss the social and political implications of autonomy and independence and their effects on educational structures. 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. Only limited space in the extensive literature available, though, has been awarded to the study of what learner autonomy means to teachers and this project addressed this gap. The dependence of learner autonomy on teacher autonomy david little centre for language and communication studies, trinity college, dublin this article is concerned with learner autonomy in formal language learning contexts schools, colleges and universities.
Learner autonomy has been a popular concept in foreign language education in the past decades, especially in relation to lifelong learning skills. One sign of the shift to learner autonomy as a preferred term has. Learner autonomy revisited elt journal oxford academic. Learner autonomy and secondforeign language learning llas. Over the last two decades, the concepts of learner autonomy and independence have gained momentum, the former becoming a buzzword within the context of language learning little, 1991.
Index termslearner autonomy, teachers beliefs, autonomous learning, effective learning i. Some researches indicate that the learners attitude is one of the factors in developing autonomous learning. Developing learner independence has an important role in the theory and practice of language teaching. It is concluded that learner produced learning materials can be a successful and an effective tool to promote learner autonomy in efl english as a foreign language classes. The findings of this study will provide teachers and policymakers new insights into learner autonomy against the backdrop. Orientation to learning tends to be problemcentered and contextual. Learner training in the classroom encourages autonomy and is an important element of language teaching. In particular, the design of tasks and materials which effectively promote such learner development has become a current. 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. Pdf new approaches on learner autonomy in language learning. The beliefs and reported practices regarding learner autonomy of. Autonomy and independence in language learning applied. Learners autonomy in language learning morocco world news.
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. Pdf autonomy in language teaching and learning semantic. The enhancement of teacherlearner autonomy in relation to a. 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. Learner characteristics were seen as individually different, but stable, allowing for a predictable development pattern see discussion in dornyei, 2015. Ability is often replaced by capacity a term used by holec elsewhere. Teachers responsibility, students ability to be autonomous. Philosophically, learner centredness and autonomy are rooted in humanism and experiential psychology. Students are encouraged to develop their own learning strategies. The consequences for the design of learnercentred materials and methods is discussed, together with an exploration of the practical ways of implementing autonomy and independence in language teaching and learning. 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. The analysis of a language module where a group of university students had to create a website has demonstrated how the different stages and levels of activity collective, individual, or group can support various aspects of learner autonomy, for example how the formation of a new community of practice can allow learners to exert control over. Students language proficiency has been shown to be influenced by learner autonomy. Autonomy means the ability to take control of ones own learning, independently or in collaboration with others.
An example of the application of the principles of learner autonomy is the council of europes european language portfolio, which is intended to help support autonomous learning on a wide scale. Learner autonomy, second language acquisition, computerassisted language learning. Philosophically, learnercentredness and autonomy are rooted in humanism and experiential psychology. Indeed, this edited book, entitled autonomy in second language learning. Language learning with the idea of learners autonomy is employed primarily to express known meaning rather than to construct unknown meaning. An exploration of the relationship between learner autonomy and. 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. The concept of learner autonomy is often applied to the process and content of language learning but not specifically to its intended outcome, the development. 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.
Attention and interest in language learner autonomy research has been increasing since mid 1970s. This study investigated the relationship between learner. The three principles involved offer a clear definition of learner autonomy, investigating it from different perspectives and validating research tools. Learner and teacher autonomy download ebook pdf, epub. Autonomy in language learning, learning and life gerflint.
Most learners and teachers feel that language learning consumes a. Learner autonomy in language learning sciencedirect. Data were collected through two phases of the study and revealed that teachers generally lacked understanding about learner autonomy. The former has become a buzzword within the context of language. It is a truism that one of the most important spinoffs of more communicatively oriented language learning and teaching has been the premium placed on the. In the modern age of exponential knowledge growth and accelerating technological development, the need to engage in lifelong learning is becoming increasingly urgent. 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.