Helping students become autonomous learners outside of study abroad
Even if you decide not to pursue study abroad, you still have an important role to play in helping students become autonomous language learners.
As an example, for many European learners of English, the problem of lack of exposure to additional languages has been replaced with “the problem of plenty” and the need to make “informed choices” among the plethora of online language learning resources available (Illés, 2012, p. 506). In other words, since students now have unlimited access to resources and opportunities to practise English online, the question is not how to find language-learning materials but, rather, how to choose the appropriate ones.
As a language teacher, you can play an important role in showing students how to become autonomous learners, by involving them in processes such as:
- Helping students choose appropriate topics, materials, and online sources
- Giving students the tools to self-assess their language-learning progress
- Showing students how to give and receive peer feedback