A Feasibility Study In Learner Autonomy In College English Teaching In China

The present paper is an attempt to investigate the significance and feasibility of learner autonomy and to promote it in college English teaching in China. Issues being investigated in this paper include the conception of'learner autonomy'; the rationale for promoting learner autonomy in the Chinese context; and the possible procedures to promote learner autonomy in China.The term'learner autonomy'was first defined by Holec (1981) to refer to the'ability to take charge of one's own learning'. Although there have been other definitions, this paper will mainly use this one as reference.As for the rationale for promoting learner autonomy in the Chinese context, this paper analyzes from the following three aspects: 1) demand from the reform of college English teaching in China; 2) pressure from popular demand for English-speaking professionals; and 3) challenge from the Internet technology.This paper attempts to prove that learner autonomy may serve as a possible solution to the problems in college English teaching in China and it endeavors to put forward three categories of proposals to promote learner autonomy, respectively directed to three elements in the teaching/learning process, namely, the teacher, the learner and the materials used.It is hoped that this paper will extend the investigation of learner autonomy to a broader scope by offering a new insight into learner autonomy from a pedagogical perspective. It is also hoped that the proposals will offer a new perspective and possibility to teaching members and analysts to make further research in the future.