Autonomy and Independence in Language Learning

by Voller; Peter

• ISBN13: 9780582289925
• ISBN10: 0582289920
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 1996-11-19
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

The topics of autonomy and independence play an increasingly important role in language education. They raise issues such as learners' responsibility for their own learning, and their right to determine the direction of their own learning, the skills which can be learned and applied in self-directed learning and capacity for independent learning and the extents to which this can be suppressed by institutional education. This volume offers new insights into the principles of autonomy and independence and the practices associated with them focusing on the area of EFL teaching. The editors' introduction provides the context and outlines the main issues involved in autonomy and independence. Later chapters discuss the social and political implications of autonomy and independence and their effects on educational structures. The consequences for the design of learner-centred materials and methods is discussed, together with an exploration of the practical ways of implementing autonomy and independence in language teaching and learning . Each section of the book opens with an introduction to give structure to the development of ideas and themes, with synopses to highlight salient features in the text and help build upon the material of previous chapters.

Table of Contents

Series List	v	(4)
Contributors	ix	(1)
General Editor's Preface	x
1 Introduction: autonomy and independence in language learning	1	(12)
Phil Benson
Peter Voller
PART I: Philosophy and practice	13	(80)
2 The philosophy and politics of learner autonomy	18	(17)
Phil Benson
3 Cultural alternatives and autonomy	35	(19)
Alastair Pennycook
4 An exploration of the relationship between self-access and independent learning	54	(12)
Susan Sheerin
5 Teaching and language learning in self-access centres: changing roles?	66	(13)
Gill Sturtridge
6 Self-access: why do we want it and what can it do?	79	(14)
William Littlewood
PART II: Roles and relationships	93	(84)
7 Does the teacher have a role in autonomous language learning?	98	(16)
Peter Voller
8 The guru and the conjurer: aspects of counselling for self-access	114	(18)
Philip Riley
9 Shooting arrows at the sun: perspectives on a pedagogy for autonomy	132	(18)
Michael P. Breen
Sarah J. Mann
10 Confidence building for classroom teahers working with self-access resources	150	(14)
Felicity O'Dell
11 Learner training for autonomous language learning	164	(13)
Edith M. Esch
PART III: Methods and materials	177	(72)
12 Self-access work and curriculum ideologies	181	(11)
Andrew Littlejohn
13 Designing and adapting materials to encourage learner autonomy	192	(12)
David Nunan
14 Involving learners in developing learning methods: exploiting text corpora in self-access	204	(11)
Guy Aston
15 Preparing learners for independence: resources beyond the classroom	215	(10)
Stephen M. Ryan
16 Responding authentically texts: a problem for self-access language learning?	225	(12)
David Little
17 Providing computerized self-access opportunities for the development of writing skills	237	(12)
John Milton
References	249	(16)
Index	265