Selfassessment for autonomous language learners david gardner university of hong kong september 1999 abstract this paper discusses why selfassessment is an important tool in the toolkit of autonomous language learners. Learner autonomy in language teaching professor jack c. It refers to a situation in which learners are responsible for their learning. These include fields of language education research learning strategies and selfregulation, motivation, individual differences and sociocultural approaches, and. Pdf developing learner independence has an important role in the theory and practice of language teaching. The literature on autonomous learning indicates that role is a critical dimension in implementing learner autonomy. The present study also shows that although learner autonomy means a reshaping of the view that the learner is responsible for learning, students and teachers still. The concept of autonomous learning entered the field of language teaching in. Language and communication studies, trinity college, dublin, ireland 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 of proficiency in a second or foreign language. Learner training for autonomous language learning, edith m. The purpose of this ongoing study is to explore how students learn to collaborate and interact in. A learning log is a record of a students experiences using the target language outside the classroom, including the when and the where of language use and why certain experiences were successful and others werent. The second is to make sure that our teaching practices reflect these assumptions by ensuring that they. The proliferation of digital language learning resources and tools is forcing language education into an era of unprecedented change.
Based on the findings, the study examines whether hong kong university students are ready for autonomous learning, and discusses ways to deal with the challenges which might impede implementation of language learner autonomy in hong kong. Pdf autonomy in language teaching and learning process. Eric ed192557 autonomy and foreign language learning. Learner characteristics were seen as individually different, but stable, allowing for a predictable development pattern see discussion in. This study examines the content of the learning contract and the english language learning beliefs reflected from the learning objectives formulated, plus questionnaire results, and determines whether university students in hong kong are ready for autonomous learning or not. Chapter 1 explores the concept of autonomy in language learning, seeking a working definition of the concept in the relevant literature. This paper examines the roles adopted by learners and teachers in language. Learner autonomy as a defensible educational goal in modern. This belief in the value of interdependent learning in classrooms and beyond led leading practitioners to view s to act independently and in cooperation with others, as a the notions of autonomous learning and independent learning are sometimes interlinked and have come to play an increasingly important role in language education.
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. Overall, agreeing with the assertion of the editors this edited collection will serve as a source of inspiration and reflection p. This presentation is authorized by the defense language institute foreign language center and. It contrasts with the traditional teacherled approach in which most decisions are made by the teacher, the use of selfdirected learning in a selfaccess centre. Keywords autonomous learning, learning contract, language learning. Interaction in the concept of autonomous language learning 2. The book will stimulate discussions on how to support language learners. Levels of autonomous learning nunan, 1997 level learner action content process 1 awareness learners are made aware of pedagogical goals and content of the materials they are using learners identify strategy implications of pedagogical tasks and identify their own preferred stylesstrategies 2 involvement learners are involved in selecting. Broady and kenning 1996 link this to a demand for different language skills.
However, autonomous language learning is considered to represent. The beliefs and reported practices regarding learner autonomy of 61 teachers of english at a large university language. Abstract development in learner centered approaches in education has brought with it the significant notion of learner autonomy which refers to the readiness of learners to be responsible for their own learning. Ultimately, of course, the autonomous system must be. 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. A theory of autonomous learning from the environment can be developed and tested initially in either of these contexts, and the theory developed in this book applies to both. Learner training in the classroom encourages autonomy and is an important element of language teaching.
This paper will present the experience of using ipads with a group of 21 students in a saudi university over a period of one semester. From autonomy to autonomous language learning 39 more important than ever before. Because holec distinguished between nonautonomous and autonomous learners, he saw language learning and the development of learner autonomy as two separate processes. Belta journal, volume 1, issue 1, june 2017 autonomous language learning. Autonomous language learning through a mobile application. Richards have compiled an engaging collection of case studies focusing on outofclass activities that facilitate. In recent years, however, selfaccess language learning centres have proliferated to the point where selfaccess language learning is often treated as a synonym for selfdirected or autonomous learning. Thai students respond to autonomous language learning. Autonomous language learning with technology beyond the classroom chun lai. Using language effectively for communication involves negotiation of meaning, rather than mere decoding of linguistic tokens, thus requiring the ability to cope confidently. An investigation of undergraduate students beliefs about. 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. Kerstin dofs, ara institute of canterbury, new zealand moira hobbs, unitec institute of technology, new zealand abstract over the past few decades language educators have experienced an enormous growth in the use of digital technology, both for themselves and for their students.
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. Pdf an analysis of learner autonomy and autonomous. It needs to be highlighted that both dimensions value learners autonomous engagement with language learning opportunities across settings and contexts. Browse ebooks from the autonomous language learning series to read online or download in epub or pdf format. Insights into learners outofclass autonomous use of technology for language learning are essential to our understanding of outofclass learning and inform educators on how language learners could be better supported to maximize the educational potentials of technology to construct quality outofclass learning experience. Learners have to work within and beyond the class room to develop their language skills. A variety is said to be autonomous if it has an independent cultural status. The autonomous language learner takes responsibility for the totality of his learning situation. Pdf oz the concept of learner autonomy in the field of foreign language learning was clearly articulated in the 1979 report prepared by holec for the.
Approaches to learner autonomy in language learning. Theoretical framework the concept of learner autonomy was first addressed in pedagogics at the beginning of the xxth century within the individual humanistic approach in teaching s. Autonomy in language teaching and learning language. Gender difference was a focus because female students were anecdotally better performers in english language learning redfield et al. Autonomy means the ability to take control of ones own learning, independently or in collaboration with others. Autonomous learning is said to make learning more personal and focused and consequently achieve better learning outcomes since learning is based on learners needs and preferences. This may occur if the variety is structurally different from all others, a situation heinz kloss called abstand. Objectives are specific to the learner, and the learners communicative.
Some such centers also do language advising, which can go considerably beyond the frequent role of administering a language placement exam, to include oneonone counseling on possible approaches and resources appropriate to a students language. More specifically, this study placed an emphasis on gender, learning achievement, and language learning behaviors outside the class. From such a perspective, the author argues that it is the responsibility of every teacher to promote autonomous, critically thinking. Where several closely related varieties are found together, a standard language is autonomous because it has its own.
This book looks beyond the classroom, and focuses on outofclass autonomous use of technology for language learning, discussing the theoretical frameworks, key findings and critical issues. It can be used both as a testing device leading to accreditation and as a device for personal selfmonitoring. It focuses on the teachers views of their roles and responsibilities, their assessment of their students decisionmaking abilities and the autonomous language. Bangladeshi undergraduates attitudes and perceptions iram mehrin lecturer. An analysis of learner autonomy and autonomous learning practices in massive open online language courses article pdf available july 2018 with 5,724 reads how we measure reads. They take charge of their own learning and are actively involved, taking individual decisions according to their necessities or preferences focused on the goals they need to achieve. The starting point for enabling language learning autonomy is for the student to develop effective. First, the seven sac managers completed a detailed questionnaire about their attitudes and approaches to self access learning and learner autonomy. Autonomy in language learning, learning and life gerflint. Selfaccess work and curriculum ideologies, andrew littlejohn. Autonomous language learning with technology beyond the. Learner autonomy in language learning sciencedirect. The role of the teacher in creating autonomous learners. Designing and adapting materials to encourage learner autonomy, david nunan 14.
Learner autonomy in foreign language education and in cultural. Pdf learner autonomy in language learning researchgate. Please read our short guide how to send a book to kindle. Uncovering sac managers attitudes and approaches to. In terms of autonomous use of technology for language learning, bailly 2011 and lai 20 highlight the importance of three. Autonomous language learning is close to and shares some features with active language learning, the communicative approach, individualised teaching, selfaccess materials and selfdirected language learning. Autonomous language learning with technology commentary eric.
The notion of learner independence or learner autonomy moves into an. The first is that language learning is an interpretive process therefore. Autonomy and independence in language learning 1st. Defense language institu te foreign language center arial 32pt blackif possible sclaimer. A study on autonomous use of technology for language. In many institutions, selfaccess centres have been established without any strong. Pdf this study was conducted in order to investigate the perceptions of university students and teachers regarding responsibilities and abilities. Thus language isolates such as basque are necessarily autonomous. Interaction in the concept of autonomous language learning.
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