Communication strategies for developing the learner’s autonomy

Learner autonomy

Autonomy means self-governing and it comes from the Greek word “autonomia” itself derived from “autonomos” (where “auto” means “self” and “nomos” means “law”). The term autonomy is imported originally from the field of politics and philosophy.
Learner Autonomy is a term that might be confused with self-instruction. The word autonomy carries a meaning of freedom and independence, in a general sense, and it is the ability to manage one’s affaires as opposed to a situation of dependence in which one is subjected to decisions and control from others.
Holec was the first who uses the term learner autonomy and defines it as: “... the ability to take charge of one’s own learning”, he then specifies as:”to have, and to hold the responsibility for all the decisions concerning all aspects of this learning” (Holec, 1981, p. 3). Here he includes:

• 
  Determining the objectives;
  
• 
  Defining the contents and progressions;
  
• 
  Selecting methods and techniques to be used;
  
• 
  Monitoring the procedure of acquisition;
  
• 
  Evaluating what has been acquired.
  

Little. D (1991) refers to autonomy in terms that are more concrete:

• 
  Autonomy is not a synonym for self-instruction, in other words it is not limited to learning without a teacher;
  
• 
  In the classroom context, autonomy does not entail an abdication of the responsibility on the part of the teacher;
  
• 
  Autonomy is not something that teachers do to the learners, it is not another teaching method;
  
• 
  Autonomy is not a single, easily described behavior; • Autonomy is not a steady state achieved by learners.
  

There are still instances in which learner autonomy is synonymous with self-access and especially with technology-based learning. The learner’s capacity of taking charge of his own learning is not innate. It must be learned and developed over a long period. The teachers’ role is to help their students to become more autonomous in their language learning.
During the English seminars, I tell my students to make their own choices about what they want to achieve, and to be ready to express themselves freely. The students are encouraged to bring their own materials, and to generate their own tasks. As teachers, we should support our students to use the effective learning strategies that transform them in autonomous learners, able to both take control over their own learning, and ready to accept suggestions and guidance from their teachers.

6.