Developing Learner Autonomy In The College Classroom

The aim of this project is to conceptualize, develop and realize an appropriate instructional practice for tertiary-level students in developing autonomy. With the growing demands of the awareness of learner's identity and developing life-long skills, individual difference and learner-centeredness are no longer empty slogans in the mouths of the teachers and students, but rather they are the guidelines in learning how to learn. Autonomous learning, which is a means to foster a learner's ability 'to take charge of one's own learning' and flow of control from teachers to learners, is in fact as being found, active involvement of learners in constructing learning experiences. In an autonomous learning context, learners are made to understand how to learn autonomously and efficiently with the great efforts made by teachers. So, to develop practices which help learners towards autonomous learning, it is important to focus on the needs and characteristics of learners, principles of learner-centeredness, appropriate strategies for effective autonomous learning and how these relate together. This project brings together the theories and research findings. And after examining the findings, some educational implications are put forward so as to bring insights to both language teaching and learning.