Opinions of EFL students regarding autonomous learning in language teaching

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to reveal the opinions of the Sivas Cumhuriyet University students, majoring at English Language Teaching Department in the 2017-2018 academic year, about the autonomous learning process to acquire English speaking proficiency. This study, which aims to reveal the sources that affect the students' autonomous learning activities and speaking skills in English language learning, has been conducted with qualitative study methods and is in descriptive survey model. Interviewing method was chosen as the data collection tool of the study. A semi-structured interview form was prepared and conducted in order to reveal the students' opinions about the language learning process, the activities they do individually in order to improve their English speaking proficiency, the sources affecting their speaking skills, and their recommendations for students who want to improve their speaking skills. Qualitative data were analyzed by descriptive analysis, and the data obtained according to the framework formed were interpreted and supported by direct quotations when necessary. Studies on the effects of autonomous learning activities on development of English speaking competence report that auto autonomous learning activities are: making foreign friends, watching foreign movies and listening to foreign music, playing video games, attending drama courses and situations emerging out of individual and environmental circumstances.

Learner’s experience on the use of mobile device for autonomous listening: A narrative inquiry

“…Mobile devices, especially smartphones and laptops, become effective media facilitating her to promote her autonomous learning, the ability to be responsible for her own learning. Benson and Voler in Mehdiyev (2020) stated that learner autonomy can be defined as learners who take responsibility of their own learning. For learning English listening, these devices have thousands of apps that are easy to use and provide many insights for her language development.…”

“…Autonomous listening, the term used for explaining the responsibility to learn listening skill, becomes important to develop since it provides long term strategies for their current and future learning. Benson and Vellor in Mehdiyev (2020) stated that being autonomous can be an indicator for foreseeing the students' academic performance. In addition, the study conducted by Yi-bo (2015) found that autonomous English listening is very helpful to both English teaching and learning.…”

Students’ cognitive engagement during emergency remote teaching: Evidence from the Indonesian EFL milieu

“…This awareness reflected that she possessed good self-regulated" learning since she was able to evaluate her learning competencies and performances. More technically, this is the representation of her academic identity concerning her learning engagement and personal goals (Hood, Littlejohn & Milligan, 2015;Wong, Baars, Davis, van Der Zee, Houben & Paas, 2019;Mehdiyev, 2020).…”

Custom Practices of English Education at the Rural Primary Schools in Bangladesh

“…b. Use of autonomous learning activities: Playing games and watching English movies are independent learning options (Mehdiyev, 2020) to learn vocabulary. Students can play different games with cards, such as 'memory' with pictures and words, or even flashcards.…”