A Survey Of Efl Learner Autonomy Of College Arts And Sports Majors And Countermeasures

In recent years, scholars and educators have come to realize the importance of fostering learner autonomy in accordance with the notion of "learner-centeredness" and "life-education". They acknowledge that learners themselves should take more responsibility in the process of learning in order to improve learning efficiency. According to McDevitt (1977), the end product of education is an independent learner. Autonomous language learning, based on theories such as constructivism and humanism, has been an unquestionable goal and essential part of language learning methodologies throughout the world.The concept of learner autonomy has attracted the attention of researchers and language teachers since it was introduced into China. A large number of research studies have been conducted on how to improve learner autonomy because, as a goal of language education, it is both desirable and achievable. Besides, the newly implemented College English Curriculum Requirements (2007:1) clearly states that "one of the objectives for college English teaching is to develop students' autonomous learning ability", and that "the important symbols for successful teaching reform are the formation of students' individualized learning methods and the development of students' autonomous learning ability ".However, not only at home but abroad, research on learner autonomy has mainly focused on English and ordinary non-English majors. The English study of music, sports and arts majors has not attracted due attention from neither the students nor the educators. Against this background, this thesis is intended to investigate the general state of affairs of arts and sports majors' English autonomous learning based on the data obtained from questionnaires in order to seek some effective teaching countermeasures and solutions.This study is descriptive in nature. Quantitative data was obtained through questionnaires to serve the research purpose. More specifically, the author attempted in the first place to find out the status quo of arts and sports majors' (124 in number) autonomous learning at the present stage as they are direct beneficiaries in the nationwide reform aiming at improving the quality of college English teaching.Findings indicate that the overall degree of learner autonomy among the arts and sports majors in their English language learning stays at a low level. They are unwilling to adopt cooperative learning model or to look for opportunities to practice English in or out of class. They are not quite confident of their ability in managing their own English learning. Their motivation intensity falls within medium range, but a little lower than previous findings in other researchers studies. And their learning strategy use frequency is a little low.It can thus be hoped that this study may provide some empirical evidence for a better understanding of arts and sports majors' current autonomous learning situation. Considering the findings in this study, the author argues that more attention should be given to arts and sports majors' English learning and teaching...