On Strategies Promoting Learner Autonomy In English Learning And Teaching

More and more people have involved in and will involve in foreign language learning for meeting the demands of the development of the society. In China, there are more than 100 million people learning English in or out schools. But the learning effects are not so satisfactory, even though most English teachers work very hard and devote themselves to English teaching. How to teach English effectively and how to help learners learn English in effective ways become hot issues which have a bearing on those English learners' personal development and the development of our nation. Facts and the development of language pedagogic philosophy proved that the main emphasis of English learning lies in learners' learning while teachers just work as directors, organizers or promoters whose work is completely based on learners learning and facilitates learners learning. The developing view of the relation between language learning and teaching shows that the key to successful English learning is learner autonomy. Lots of studies in SLA field show that successful learners are always good at using learning strategies to monitor and take charge of their own learning. In the light of this situation, the author has found out, through study and research, that the proper use of effective learning strategies is one of the key factors to promote learner autonomy. In order to promote learner autonomy and finally improveEnglish learning efficiency, the author does some theoretical research on some aspects of learning strategies, such as definition, classification, strategy training and its validity; then the author explains the relations between learning strategies and individual differences on the basis of the theoretical research, and explains the influence of learners' age, personality, motivation and cognitive style on the formation and use of English learning strategies. Although learning strategy plays a key part in autonomous learning, the important role the teacher plays in English learning cannot be neglected. The author believes that the teachers' teaching experience, teaching methods and teaching activities may influence learners' formation and use of learning strategies directly or indirectly. Furthermore, the proper and successful use of teaching strategies may enhance learners' initiative of learning greatly, thus promoting learner autonomy and helping learners attain a better learning effects. Based on this assumption, the author studies language teaching strategies deliberately and classifies them from different angles and dimensions, such as teaching strategies as procedures, teaching strategies as principles, teaching strategies as techniques and teaching strategies as categories of instruction.Finally, the author describes some universally applicable teaching strategies and principles, such as managing strategies, motivating strategies, questioning strategies, evaluating strategies, planning teachingstrategies and strategy training strategies, for classroom English teaching and learning and lists some strategic English teaching activities could be used by teachers in vocabulary, reading, listening and speaking, writing and grammar teaching. These teaching principles, strategies and strategic teaching activities are expected to offer valuable implications to those who want to involve in English teaching and learning.