La autonomía del alumno en el aprendizaje y la enseñanza de lenguas extranjeras

Abstract

Learner autonomy is a pedagogical approach of increasing popularity when foreign languages are taught and learnt. In this article we will first discuss some origins of learner autonomy, how conceptions of autonomy have developed, how they can be defined, and what the implications are for the learning and teaching of foreign languages. The implications are translated into pedagogical principles. Then, we will give a “state of the art” of applications of these pedagogical principles and of research into different aspects of learner autonomy put into practice. We end the article with a discussion of the role of the teacher and of the consequences for initial and in-service training of (future) foreign language teachers.