Our Understanding of Learner Autonomy
At the Centre for Independent Language Learning we see our task in promoting learner and teacher autonomy.
We understand learner autonomy as the capacity and the opportunity to
- make decisions about our own learning (What would I like to learn? How would I like to learn?) and implement them
- nurture our motivation and follow our own interests, preferences and creativity
- learn in social interaction with others
- reflect and evaluate our learning
- become aware of constraints and opportunities in our learning and social environment
- think critically
- develop our own identity as self-determined and social acting individuals.
We understand teacher autonomy as:
“the competence to develop as a self-determined, socially responsible and critically aware participant in (and beyond) educational environments, within a vision of education as (inter)personal empowerment and social transformation.” (Jiménez Raya, M., Lamb, T. & Vieira, F. (2017). Mapping autonomy in language education. A framework for learner and teacher development. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang: 17)
Autonomy means to us: self-initiative – responsibility – self-determination – new roles for learners and teachers
Keywords
- Autonomy
- Learner autonomy