Promoting University English Majors' Learner Autonomy In The Chinese Context

According to a survey conducted among some local colleges and universities, the author found that the current English teaching in Chinese colleges and universities is mostly "teacher-centered". The "teacher-centered"teaching mode poses problems to students, especially to their learner autonomy. The students may see knowledge as something to be transmitted by the teacher rather than discovered by themselves. They, therefore, are less autonomous, more dependent on authority figure. It reduces the student from an autonomous learner, creative and critical thinker, as they should be, to a mechanical recipient of knowledge. Not only is this result at odds with our country's educational goal, but it will hamper students'improvement in the long run. However, there exists doubt that whether ideas about independent learning are applicable to such contexts which have different educational traditions as the Chinese context. This thesis aims to promote Chinese students'learner autonomy in learning a foreign language from the view of Chinese culture. The influence of Chinese learning culture on Chinese students'learner autonomy is fully examined in the thesis. Meanwhile, through questionnaire of the English language belief and data analysis, data displays that Chinese students strongly desire to take charge of their own language learning. They have firm beliefs in managing their own learning. However, learner autonomy is not innate, it must be nurtured. In other words, to be autonomous in learning a foreign language, learners need special training. Then this thesis also examines how to promote learner autonomy in the Chinese context from four aspects—including preparations of teachers, learners, materials, tool and approach to learner autonomy. After mainly discussing two questions—Is it really true that learner autonomy is not suitable to the Chinese context? How to promote university English majors'learner autonomy in the Chinese context? , the thesis aims to teach students in China how to "fish"and enable them to "eat"for a lifetime.