The Study Of Teacher Autonomy In The Net-based College English Autonomous Learning Environment

Autonomous learning has always been one of the hot topics in the field of foreign language teaching and learning in recent years. Since the issue of the latest College English Curriculum Requirements in 2004 by the Chinese Ministry of Education, learner autonomy (LA) has become one of the targets of college English innovation. With the further research of LA, the concept of teacher autonomy (TA) aroused more and more attention of foreign and domestic scholars. In the process of the study of LA, it is of necessity to study TA, which is one of the most important elements that can influence the realization of LA. The research questions of the present study include: (1) to explore the importance of TA in the net-based autonomous college English autonomous learning environments; (2) to find out and analyze real problems teachers and students may come across in the net-based autonomous teaching and learning process; (3) to try to identify whether or not TA can promote LA in net-based autonomous college English learning and teaching environment;(4) to propose some effective measures and suggestions that can help teacher play successful roles in the net-based college English autonomous learning and teaching environments.By utilizing the questionnaire and conducting interviews, the researcher tries to find out: whether there is a need for teachers to be autonomous in the net-based college English autonomous learning and teaching environment from the views of both teachers and students; what difficulties teachers have and what expectations students have on teachers in the net-based autonomous learning center. The researcher then makes some field studies by observing classes in the autonomous learning center to find out the methodological problems and deficiencies in operation, and to further confirm the findings of the questionnaire and interviews.Through the combination of the qualitative and quantitative analysis, the research results show that an autonomous teacher can provide more effective ways to help learners realize their autonomy. Therefore it is of great importance for teachers to be autonomous in the net-based college English autonomous learning environment. And the realization of TA can to a large extent promote the realization of effective LA.The present study has some theoretical and practical significance. Theoretically, it can enrich the further study of autonomous leaning. Practically, it can promote college English teaching innovation in accordance with the latest College English Curriculum Requirements issued by the Chinese Ministry of China; it can improve teachers'own abilities, which include both their teaching ability and autonomous learning ability; it can provide effective ways to solve the existing problems in our net-based autonomous learning center and consequently help students realize their autonomy.