Promoting Autonomous Learning In Senior High Schools Via Learning Plans

Over the last two decades, the concept of autonomous learning has gained momentum. It became a'buzz-word'especially within the context of language learning. As is argued by Rathbone, the autonomous learner is'a self-activated maker of meaning, an active agent in his own learning process.'Therefore,'learning is seen as the result of his own self-initiated interaction with the world.'In other words, autonomous learning sees learners as the center of learning by shifting the locus of responsibility from teachers to learners. This reshaping, so to speak, of teacher and learner roles has been conducive to a radical change in the age-old distribution of power and authority that used to plague the traditional classroom.Increasing interest of EFL teachers in China in autonomous learning in recent years has manifested itself in a proliferation of papers, books and conference presentations. However, most experts focus on autonomous learning at the tertiary level, with only a little attention paid to the development of autonomous learning ability of high school students, or students at even lower levels. Therefore, what permeates this study is the belief that autonomous learning in senior high schools can be promoted through appropriate means, for example, via learning plans.A learning plan, according to Zhao Jiachen and Zhang Chengju (2002), is a plan of learning for students to use in the process of learning, which aims at developing their creativity and learning ability. It can be designed by the students with the guidance of their teachers or by teachers themselves. Moreover, as Fan Zengmin suggests, a teaching plan is the embodiment of teachers'thoughts of teaching, whereas a learning plan should embody and reveal students'thoughts of learning. It is a learning plan through which teaching objectives can be altered into learning objectives. Students will then, to a maximum degree, be involved in the process of learning and will develop autonomous learning ability.Currently in China, some high schools are using learning plans in their English classes. Therefore, in order to improve the existing learning plans as a means of promoting students'autonomous learning, three typical sample learning plans were selected. Participants (college students) reviewed these plans and responded in the form of a questionnaire. This study aimed at finding out the merits and demerits of the existing learning plans from the perspective of the students. Finally, the information obtained from the questionnaire, coupled with modifications to the existing learning plans, was used to design a new style of learning plan.In the last 20 years, China's development has grown at an exponential rate. This development can only be further promoted by equipping today's students with the skills to become autonomous life-long learners. Well designed learning plans that are well...