“AUTONOMY”: AN ANATOMY AND A FRAMEW

“AUTONOMY”: AN ANATOMY AND A FRAMEWORK
WILLIAM LITTLEWOOD
Depurtment of English, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Horn, Kowloon.
Hong Kong
This article examines the components that make up autonomy in language
learning. At the core of the notion of autonomy are the learners’ ability and
willingness to make choices independently. In foreign language learning contexts,
we are concerned mainly with helping learners to make and carry out
choices in three domains: communication, learning and (by processes of transfer)
their personal life. In this article, these components and domains of autonomy
serve as the basis of a conceptual framework for coordinating our strategies
for helping learners to develop autonomy. Since the goal of language teaching
(and indeed all education) is to develop independent capacities in relevant
domains, this framework can also be seen as underlying our overall teaching
methodology. Copyright 0 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd







This article deals with implementing project work in the teaching of English as a foreign language in Greek state primary schools. Theoretical foundations for project-based learning are presented and applied in the classroom, difficulties encountered are discussed, and benefits resulting from student participation in project work are suggested. The article purports to be pragmatic in focus, linking theory with practice, and providing practitioners with a tool for effectively implementing project-based learning in foreign language contexts.

Keywords: Project-based learning, English as foreign language in Greece