The basic idea behind learner autonomy, which is the idea of learners taking
responsibility for their own learning, is not a new one in the field of education.
For instance, Benson (2011: 27) mentions the famous quote by Galileo, who said
about teaching and learning that “You cannot teach a man anything; you can
only help him find it within himself”. In addition, Benson (2011: 28) argues that
even though not often quoted in the field of autonomous learning, Rousseau
had similar ideas to the ones found in learner autonomy: