The Investigation And Analysis Of Autonomous Language Learning By First Year Chinese Language Learners

This paper emphasizes learner autonomy as crucial to an effectivelanguage learning experience. Simply put, students need to take charge oftheir learning in order to enhance their autonomy as learners andlanguage users. In the same way, students can be facilitated to develop abasic reflective orientation by working on their experiences, beliefs andassumptions of language and learning. There is no doubt that learningChinese presents a significant challenge for a lot of foreign students thatcome to China to pursue graduate and postgraduate studies. This paperasserts that learners can receive instruction to understanding that learningis a process that can be assessed by the learner himself/herself, thereforehelping learners to become systematic and deliberate in the way that theylearn.Through the use of journaling as a form of self-analysis andself-assessment, I conduct a study to assess and monitor learner’sawareness of their autonomy in Chinese language learning and specificways in which they help themselves to learn. I also used interviews toassess the development in learners’ skills of reflection and analysis whichenable them to plan, monitor and evaluate their learning.This research stems from the assumption that autonomous learners are motivated learners because typically, such learners have acommitment to self-management and have a generally proactive approachto learning.