Fostering Learner Autonomy With The Help Of Teacher-as-Mediator

It　is　well　known　that　language　teachers　are　one　of　the　most　important　factors　in　learning　.They　have　very　powerful　influences　on　their　students　,and　there　is　no　exception　in　the　situation　of　foreign　language　learning　.However,　researches　on　the　methods　of　teaching　emphasize　the　input　of　knowledge　and　neglect　the　process　of　learners　autonomous　learning.　Researches　on　the　process　of　　learning　stress　the　actions　of　learners,　but　ignore　the　role　of　teachers　in　classrooms.　　　Psychologist　Feuerstein's　theory　of　mediation　suggests　that　right　from　birth　a　child's　learning　is　shaped　by　the　intervention　of　significant　adults.　He　refers　to　these　important　figures　in　the　child's　learning　as　mediators.　These　adults,　at　first　parents,　but　later　teachers,　select　and　organize　stimuli　that　they　consider　most　appropriate　for　learners　and　present　them　in　the　ways　considered　most　suitable　to　promote　learning.　They　also　intervene　the　learners'　responses　by　explaining　to　them　and　encouraging　them.　　　　Social　constructivist　theory　stresses　the　education　of　the　whole　person.　It　is　believed　that　learners　bring　their　own　learning　experiences　to　the　learning　process　and　they　are　active　meaning-constructers　and　problem-solvers.　Mediation　Theory　does　not　deny　the　constructive　process　of　learners　as　the　center　in　the　language　classroom　and　shows　the　teachers'　important　role　as　mediators.　　　As　mediators,　teachers　are　supposed　to　help　learners　to　react　properly　to　meaningful　language　input,　facilitate　them　in　grasping　learning　strategies　and　controlling　their　own.　This　article　discusses　how　teachers'　beliefs　affect　learner　autonomy.　Moreover,　some　conducive　suggestions　are　put　forward　as　to　how　teachers　should　realize　their　role　of　mediators　and　how　students　can　be　helped　to　develop　their　autonomy.