Topic Archive

Learner Autonomy - desirable, possible, or just a waste of time?

As something to aim for, learner autonomy is a concept that few would disagree with. Yet just saying something is, in a general way, desirable, doesn't necessarily mean that it is a good idea. A belief in training students to be autonomous raises a number of questions:

Are the strategies we are offering our students necessarily better than the ones they already have?
	Yes
	No

Can we account for the fact that some students respond well to learner training and others do not?
	Yes
	No

Are the strategies that many teachers offer students too culturally specific?
	Yes
	No

Do we really know how to train students anyway?
	Yes
	No

Is time spent on learner training time which would be better spent on the study of the language itself?
	Yes
	No

 

Why is learner autonomy a good idea? Find out Jeremy Harmer's views on the topic.

How can we promote learner autonomy? Read Jeremy's suggestions and add your own to the Message Board.

Why do some students always turn in homework on time, while others sometimes don't even complete it? Download our Learner Autonomy Development Pack with articles, extracts from published books and tasks to discover more.