What is learner autonomy?

Learner autonomy means giving learners independence to take responsibility of their own learning. Learners need to be independent in the classroom. They are the centres of attention in the learning process a in the classroom. In traditional teaching methods, the teacher takes the authority in learning, and students only follow them, However, in communicative practices, students have independence to choose their learning goals. They are guided by the teacher a to become independent so that they understand and create learning opportunities for themselves.

There are many ways in which learners can be given autonomy. Teacher a can give learners opportunities to actively participate in classroom activities, For example, learners can be asked to create small projects in groups. Then, they can present their work in front of the class. Later, they can write a reflection on their experiences. This will give them opportunities to understand their own learning style, Next, learners can be given chances to choose the topic for the claas, When they are interested in the topic, they will participate in discussion. They should be given opportunities to interact with their Classmates as much as possible, Another way of promoting learner autonomy is to engage learners in the evaluation process. Learners can self-assess a their work as well as give feedback on their peers’ work, This will make them confident and more responsible of their own learning.