Learner Autonomy Across Cultures: Language Education Perspectives - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1403993408 ISBN 13: 9781403993403

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003

Synopsis

What does 'autonomy' mean within language learning? Should it be enhanced within national, institutional or small group culture and, if so, how can that be done? A variety of new theoretical perspectives are here firmly anchored in research data from projects worldwide. By foregrounding cultural issues and thus explicitly addressing the concerns of many educators on the appropriateness and feasibility of developing learner autonomy in practice, this book fills a gap in the literature and offers practical benefits to language teachers.

About this title

About the Author:

NAOKO AOKI Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Letters, Osaka University, Japan PHIL BENSON Assistant Professor at the English Centre, University of Hong Kong ALICE CHIK Teaches English Literature and Language at a secondary school, Hong Kong MARIA DE LOS ANGELES CLEMENTE Lecturer and Tutor, Universidad Autònoma Benito Juàrez de Oaxaca, Mexico E.A. GAMINI FONSEKA Senior Lecturer in English and Chair of Languages, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy, Sri Lanka XUESONG GAO Studying Social and Cultural Anthropology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium ADRIAN HOLLIDAY Reader in Applied Linguistics, Canterbury Christ Church University College, Canterbury, UK HYE-YEON LIM PhD Candidate in Foreign Language Education, University of Texas at Austin, USA BONNY NORTON Associate Professor, Department of Language and Literacy Education, University of British Columbia, Canada REBECCA OXFORD Professor, University of Maryland, USA PHILIP RILEY Professor of Ethnolinguistics, University of Nancy 2, France KLAUS SCHWIENHORST Lecturer in Applied Linguistics, Centre for Language and Communication Studies, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland KELLEEN TOOHEY Professor of Education at Simon Frase University, British Columbia, Canada FLAVIA VIEIRA Assistant Professor at the Institute of Education and Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

Review:

'This is an essential collection for anybody interested in learner autonomy. Drawing on perspectives from different cultural and professional contexts, it offers a fresh view of issues in autonomy. One of its particular strengths lies in the way in which it brings together accounts offering direct engagement with personal experience, capturing a sense of the excitement and discovery inherent in this, and more conceptual papers that challenge common assumptions or invite readers to explore and reflect on their institutional contexts more carefully. It makes for an entertaining and informative mix of papers which is rewarding both practically and intellectually.' - Dr Keith Richards, Director, Language Studies Unit, Aston University, UK

'...the present volume provides not only a rich overview of culturally mediated instances of learner autonomy but also an eminently practical resource guide for current or prospective teachers...In short, for anybody interested in learner autonomy from a cutural perspective, this book has something to offer.' - Claudia Kunschak, Language Awareness

About this edition

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 1403993408
• ISBN 13: 9781403993403
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 304
• Editor: Palfreyman D., Smith R.