A Model for Autonomy in Language Learning

Chia, Christian Shyh Chiuan. Promoting independent learning through language learning and the use of IT.

In this article the author describes an interesting program in Singapore that stresses learner autonomy to learn English. The students, many from the People’s Republic of China, traditionally are not accustomed to much autonomy in regard to their education. The students are required to work in the self-access centre (SAC) for 1 hour each week. While there they use the school’s web environment to access different materials.

When I read something like this, I think, “This is how education is supposed to be.” Implementing a program like this often seems impossible for several reasons. It goes against the basic infrastructure and so many of the norms of our school systems. We are used to thinking that the student can’t make these decisions for themselves.

I was glad to see that the SAC program described in this article address many of the potential problems that people would so quickly point out. Students are trained about the many different ways they may use their time. Students are held accountable for their time by having to create a plan (which they can change at any time). They are also held accountable by posting weekly reports telling how they spent their time.

I don’t think I would be received well if I told the administration at my school that for one day every week, I would set up a wide variety of language activities for my students that are not necessarily related to the other content we are looking at in class or even designed specifically for students at their level, and that I would let the students spend the time however they choose. I, however, can see great value in feeding that curiosity and sense of exploration and independence in my students. Often I hear my students saying that we aren’t getting to what they wanted to learn yet. Why not give them the opportunity to go right for what they personally want to know. When those questions are answered, they’ll have more questions. As long as they are learning, does it matter if I am guiding their journey every moment?