Autonomy in language learning might come as a result of an inborn capacity, but I fear that is not the case of most of our language learners. This week's readings have shown us that there is no complete consensus on what autonomy really means. But one thing is clear. We teachers have a great responsibility on creating the optimal conditions to foster autonomy.
Technology can certainly play an important role in fostering autonomy. Let's just think of the potential of the Internet, IPods, cell phones and other types of technologies . The video "A Vision of Students today", which we shared last week was a great example of this.
One site I would like to share with all of you is about Autonomous Technology-Assisted Language Learning (ATALL) http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/ATALL, created by doctor Gary Cziko. You will find two quotes related to autonomy. The first one, a well-known Chinese proverb that is a good illustration of how we can make our students become more autonomous: by helping them discover, construct their knowledge : "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime". Cziko then adapts this proverb when describing the potential of technology for language learning : Give a student a language course, and you teach the student for a semester. Teach a student to become an autonomous technology-assisted language learner, and you teach the student for a lifetime. (Gary Cziko, 2005).
I hope you have some time to read and enjoy his Wikibook.
Cecilia
Autonomous Give a student a language course, and you teach the student for a semester. Teach a student to become an autonomous technology-assisted language learner, and you teach the student for a lifetime. (Gary Cziko, 2005)
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