ABSTRACT This study aims to look at the application of Multiple Intelligences MI Theory in teaching EFL to high school students in order to examine the relationship between MI-based teac
Trang 1MI-BASED TEACHING AND ITS EFFECT ON EFL HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS’ AUTONOMY
BY DUONG THI THANH
A thesis submitted to Vinh University in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Art
Vinh University, 2017
Trang 2ABSTRACT
This study aims to look at the application of Multiple Intelligences (MI) Theory
in teaching EFL to high school students in order to examine the relationship between MI-based teaching and EFL high school students‟ English proficiency and learning autonomy An experiment was carried out among sixty high school students, who were divided into two groups (control and treatment) Both of the groups did a general English test and the pre-treatment autonomy test before the experiment and a general English test and post-treatment autonomy test after the experiment The tests were designed to assess the participants‟ English proficiency and learning autonomy During the experiment, only the treatment group was taught with the MI-based approach The data indicated that the treatment group obtained better results in English proficiency and learning autonomy than the control group Based on the research findings, implications for English language teachers and students were also proposed
Trang 3ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to express my deep gratitude to my supervisor, Dr Tran Thi Ngoc Yen, who I believe is the most wonderful supervisor, for her valuable directions, precious orientation, warm stimulation, and continuous support throughout this project Her enthusiasm and positive attitudes were sparkling in such a way that it helped to make my research a serious yet fun task to fulfil
I am grateful to Nguyen Thi Nga, an English teacher at Thanh Chuong 3 high school in Thanh Chuong district, Nghe An province, for helping me teach MI-based lessons at her classes as well as gather the data for the research; and Phan Thi Hoa, for copying the documents, materials for my experiments quickly
I would also like to thank the administrators, teachers, and students at Thanh Chuong 3 high school in Thanh Chuong district, Nghe An province for their cooperation and support
Finally, I would like to delicate this work to my parents and family, particularly
my husband, all of whom have been always supporting me with love and sympathy
Trang 4TABLE CONTENTS
ABSTRACT i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ii
TABLE CONTENTS iii
LIST OF TABLES v
LIST OF CHARTS vi
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Rationale 1
1.2 Aims of the study 2
1.3 Research questions 2
1.4 Scope of the study 2
1.5 Thesis design……… 3
1.6 Methodology……… 3
CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 4
2.1 Multiple Intelligences 4
2.1.1 Definitions 8
2.1.2 MI quizzes 9
2.1.3 MI in education 13
2.1.4 MI in teaching and learning English 15
2.2 Autonomy 18
2.2.1 Definitions 20
2.2.2 The role of autonomy in learning 22
2.2.3 Principles of autonomy 24
2.2.4 Accessing autonomy 27
2.2.5 Developing learner autonomy 28
2.3 MI and learner autonomy 35
CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY 37
3.1 Research questions 37
3.2 Participants 37
3.3 Instruments 38
3.4 Procedures 40
CHAPTER 4 FINDING AND DISCUSSION 43
Trang 54.1 Results 43
4.1.1 Pre-test 43
4.1.2 Pre-treatment autonomy test 48
4.1.3 Post-test 52
4.1.4 Post-treatment autonomy test 57
4.2 Discussions 62
4.3 Summary 63
CHAPTER 5 IMPLICATIONS AND CONCLUSION 65
5.1 Conclusions 65
5.2 Implications 66
5.3 Limitations of the study 67
5.4 Suggestions for the study 67
REFERENCES 69
APPENDIX A 72
APPENDIX B 80
APPENDIX C 88
APPENDIX D 92
APPENDIX E 96
APPENDIX F 101
APPENDIX G 106
APPENDIX H 111
APPENDIX I 112
APPENDIX J 113
APPENDIX K 114
APPENDIX L 115
APPENDIX M 116
Trang 6LIST OF TABLES
Table 3.1 The list of lesson plans 40 Table 3.2 The lesson plan‟s time division 41 Table 4.1 The control and experimental group‟s score in the pre-test 44 Table 4.2 The average total scores and standard deviations for both groups………44 Table 4.3 The experimental and control group‟s score in the pre-treatment autonomy 48 Table 4.4 The average total scores and standard deviations of the pre-treatment autonomy test for both groups 49 Table 4.5 The experimental and control group‟s score in the post-test (See Appendix J) 113 Table 4.6 The average total scores and standard deviations of the post-test in the control group and experimental group 53 Table 4.7 Initial scores (IS), final scores (FS) and increases (I) in the pre-test and post-test of two groups 56 Table 4.8 The experimental and control group‟s score in the post-treatment autonomy test (see appendix K) 114 Table 4.9 The average total scores and standard deviations of the post-treatment autonomy test in the control group and experimental group 51 Table 4.10 Initial scores (IS), final scores (FS) and increases (I) in the pre-treatment autonomy test and post-treatment autonomy test of two groups 55
Trang 7LIST OF CHARTS
Chart 4.1 The percentage of different scores on the pre-test in the control group 45 Chart 4.2 The percentage of different scores on the pre-test in the treatment group 46 Chart 4.3 The mark distribution on the pre-test in both groups .47 Chart 4.4 The percentage of different scores on the pre-test in the control group 50 Chart 4.5 The percentage of different scores on the pre-test in the treatment group 51 Chart 4.6 The mark distribution on the pre-treatment autonomy test in both groups 52 Chart 4.7 The percentage of different scores on the post-test in the control group 54 Chart 4.8 The percentage of different scores on the post-test in the treatment group .54 Chart 4.9 The mark distribution on the post-test in both groups 55 Chart 4.10 The percentage of different scores on the post-treatment autonomy test
in the control group 58 Chart 4.11 The percentage of different scores on the post-treatment autonomy test
in the treatment group 59 Chart 4.12 The mark distribution on the post-treatment autonomy test in both groups 60
Trang 8of teaching to help students reach their potential However, there has not any research in using MI in order to stimulate the learner‟s autonomy MI is still relatively new in Vietnam although this concept has been studied since 1983 in
Frame of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences Because of its newborn
appearance even though it shows striking compatibility with traditional Vietnamese education models The application of this model in English language teaching to develop students‟ autonomy has been studied This research was written with the purpose of determine whether MI-based teaching has any effects on learner autonomy and students‟ English proficiency
There have been many researchers who notice the importance of MI-based teaching in stimulating students to learn better as well as fostering learner
autonomy Richard and Rodgers (2001: 120) stated “The MI classroom is one
designed to support development of the „whole person‟, and the environment and its activities are intended to enable students to become more well-rounded individuals and more successful learners in general Learners are encouraged
to see their goals in these broader terms.” In addition, Christison (1997:9)
also emphasized MI‟s vital role to learner autonomy, he claimed “The more
awareness students have of their own intelligences and how they work, the more they will know how to use that intelligence to access the necessary information and knowledge for a lesson”
Trang 9There is much evidence that influence schools influenced by MI theory are effective (Gardner, 2006: 83) and with understanding of theory teachers can better understand learners They can allow students to safely discover their strengths, learn in many ways and they can help their students to be in control
of their own learning (Guignon, 1998, March 12) Nevertheless, nowadays, students have not almost had full awareness about the importance of autonomy Most of them learn because they are forced to learn Besides, the traditional teaching method always focuses on grammar, vocabulary, reading and ignores important parts such as listening, speaking and pronunciations As a result, the lesson is really boring Particularly, this teaching method focuses on teachers or centered-teacher teaching, or other words, teachers are the center of teaching and learning process, students only listen so students are extremely passive in learning From these above reasons, I wonder whether IM-based teaching can help students develop learner autonomy and English proficiency This is the reason why I choose this major to study and make experiments In this study, I really hope to make a minor contribution to improve the students‟ autonomy
1.2 Aims of the study
The aim of this study was explore different perspectives of MI-based teaching method on high school students‟ learner autonomy It was set out to examine the impacts of MI teaching on learners‟ autonomy and EFL high school students‟ English proficiency
1.3 Research questions
The study was conducted to seek the answers for the following questions
- Will MI-based teaching help to develop EFL high school students' autonomy?
- How does MI-based teaching affect EFL high school students‟ English proficiency?
1.4 Scope of the study
With the aim of discovering the effect of MI-based teaching on EFL learners‟ autonomy, a survey was conducted to collect the needed data from the learners Sixty students of a high school in Nghe An province were involved in this study
Trang 101.5 Thesis design
The thesis consists of five chapters
Chapter 1 is the introduction, which provides a brief introduction, rationale and an overview of the thesis
Chapter 2 is the literature review, in which previous research about MI quizzes, MI in education, MI in teaching and learning was presented In addition, autonomy‟s role and principles as well as accessing and developing autonomy will be discussed carefully
Chapter 3 introduces the research methodology of the study It provides information about the materials, participants, instrument for data collection, research procedures and data analysis
Chapter 4 presents the detailed results and discussions developed after the impacts analyzed
Chapter 5 contains the implications and conclusions This chapter summarizes the main issues touched upon in the research, the limitations of the research and some suggestions for further studies Following the chapters are the references and appendices
1.6 Methodology
The main methodology used in the project was experimental Groups of high school students, the control group and the treatment group in Thanh Chuong were involved in the study
The study is intended to measure students‟ autonomy as well as to see benefits
of MI-based lessons with learners‟ autonomy Using MI-based lessons to improve learners‟ autonomy is effective or not
Trang 11CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW
This chapter presents a brief review of the literature on the topics that are generally related to the research in this thesis Previous studies on the MI quizzes, MI in education, MI in teaching and learning In addition, autonomy‟s role and principles as well as accessing and developing autonomy will be discussed
2.1 Multiple Intelligences
Gardner and Armstrong set the stage for exploring the many ways MI theory which is applied in educational settings around the world Numerous great people, researchers, educators, and teachers around the world are working seriously to apply MI theory, MI-based activities in the lessons as well as educational activities in order to improve the education and make the learning periods become more interesting, particularly make learners more interested in the lessons
The theory about MI has important implications for teaching in general and for language learning in particular (Armstrong 2007; Azar 2006; Buchen 2006; Campbell & Dickinson 2004; Christian 2004; Fogarty & Stoehr 2007; Tracy & Richery 2007; Viens & Kallenback 2004; Barrington 2004; Chan 2006; Christion & Kennedy 2004; Hall 2004)
Gardner defines intelligence as “the ability to process information that is
activated in a cultural contest for problem solving or creating products which are worthy in a culture” (Gardner 1999, p 33) According to him, MI has
been influential in language teaching circles Teachers who recognize the multiple intelligences of their students acknowledge that students bring with them specific and unique strengths, which are often taken into account in classroom situations
Gardner claims that all human beings have multiple intelligences in varying
Trang 12amounts Each person has a different intellectual profile These intelligences are located in different parts of the brain and can either work independently or together These intelligences can be nurtured and strengthened, or ignored and weakened According to Gardner, we can improve education by addressing the multiple intelligences of our students Gardner (1999) identifies not two, but nine different intelligences: linguistic, logical mathematical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalist, and existential Gardner defined the first seven intelligences in Frames of Mind (1983) He added the last two in Intelligence Reframed (1999)
The nine Kinds of Intelligences proposed by Gardner are as follows
1) Linguistics (called Word Smart): The capacity of using a word effectively
whether orally or in writing and language to express and appreciate complex meanings This intelligence includes the ability to manipulate the syntax or structure of a language, the semantic or meaning of a language, and the pragmatic or practical use of a language There are some characteristics about this intelligence for example the ability of learning other languages; enjoying reading, writing and discussing; remembering what have been said or read; speaking and writing effectively Linguistic intelligence is the most widely shared human competence and is evident in poets, novelists, journalists, and effective public speakers Young adults with this kind of intelligence enjoy writing, reading, telling stories or doing crossword puzzles Their suitable occupations are poets, novelists, journalists, and effective public speakers, lawyers, linguistics, PR and media consultants, teachers, translators TV and
radio presenters, voice-over artists, writer
2) Logical-Mathematical (called Number/Reasoning Smart): The capacity of using numbers effectively as well as calculating, quantifying, considering propositions and hypothesizing, and carrying out complete mathematical operations This intelligence includes sensitivity to logic patterns and relationship Logical-Mathematical intelligence is usually well developed in mathematicians, scientists, and detectives It is familiar with the concepts of
Trang 13quantity, time, and cause and effect Abstract symbols are used to represent concrete objects and concepts Liking math and using technology to solve complex problems The people whose logical intelligence are interested in patterns, categories, and relationships and their favorite careers are analysts, arbitrators, bankers, certified public accountants, computer programmers accountants, engineers, insurance brokers negotiators, researchers, scientists, statistician and traders
3) Spatial (called Picture Smart): The ability to perceive the visual-spatial
word accurately This intelligence involves sensitive to color, line, shape, form, space, and the relationship that exist between these elements It seems to learn by seeing and observing such as objects, faces, details and scenes as well
as use visual images as an aid to recall information Major capacities include mental imagery, spatial reasoning, image manipulation, graphic and artistic skills, and an active imagination Some careers such as sailors, pilots, sculptors, painters, and architects, architects, artists, cartographers, city-planners, engineers, graphic designers, landscape architects, photographers, sculptors all exhibit spatial intelligence People with this kind of intelligence seem to be fascinated with mazes or jigsaw puzzles, or spend available time drawing or daydreaming
4) Bodily-Kinesthetic (called Body Smart): Expertise in using one‟s whole
body to express idea and feeling and facility in using one‟s hands to produce
or transform things It is the capacity of manipulating objects and using a variety of physical skills such as being good at concrete learning experiences such as field trips, model building, or participating in role play, games, assembling objects, or physical exercise as well as the ability of demonstrating skills in acting, athletics, dancing, sewing, carving or keyboarding Some careers such as athletes, biologists, dancers, geologists, instrumentalists, nurses, physical education teachers, physical therapists, physicians, actors, sign-language interpreters exhibit this kind of intelligence
Trang 145) Musical (called Musical Smart): The capacity to perceive, transform, and
express musical forms Expressing interest to a variety of sounds including the human voice, environmental sounds, and music, and organizes such sounds into meaningful patterns Being eager to be around and learn from music and musicians Learners seem to learn most effectively when they use sounds or music to do the exercises or homework Moreover, they have the special ability of music such as composing the songs, singing the songs On the other words, musical intelligence is the special capacity to discern pitch, rhythm, timbre, and tone This intelligence enables us to understand, recognize, create, reproduce, and reflect on music and rhythm The appropriate occupations for the young adults whose musical intelligences are composers, conductors, musicians, vocalist, judges‟ musical competitions and sensitive listeners, DJs, entertainers, environment and noise analysts, music producers, musical instrument repair specialists, musical performers, singers, voice coaches
6) Interpersonal (called People Smart): The ability to perceive and make
distinctions in the moods, intentions, motivations, and feeling of other people
It also is the capacity of understanding, communicating and interacting effectively with other Working and cooperating with other partners effectively are the great strengths from the interpersonal intelligences and they seem to be easy to become leaders among their peers, are good at communicating, and seem to understand others‟ feelings and motives The people whose interpersonal intelligence would like to work with various people in groups, teams or pairs Expressing an interest in interpersonally-oriented careers such
as teachers, social workers, consultant, managers or politicians, advertising professionals , care givers, coaches and mentors, counselors, educators, health providers, HR professional mediators, psychologists, sales-people, therapists, trainers
7) Intrapersonal (called Self Smart): Self-knowledge and the ability to act adaptively on the basic of that knowledge This intelligence includes having
an accurate picture of oneself, awareness of inner mood, intentions,
Trang 15motivations, temperament and desires as well as use this knowledge in planning one‟s life The people whose interpersonal intelligences seem to work on their own rather than with others and obviously, they are easy to get better results when doing individually in comparison with cooperating with other partners Psychologist, spiritual leaders, and philosophers may be really appropriate for the people‟s intrapersonal intelligence
8) Naturalist (called Nature Smart): having ability of recognizing and classify
of the numerous species of an individual‟s environment (Armstrong, 2008, pp 6-7) as well as having an interest in and good knowledge of how the body works and keeps abreast of health issues The more special thing is the ability
of “read” weather signs Moreover, having an understanding of, and interest in are the main global environmental issues It is the human ability to discriminate among living things such as plants and animals as well as sensitivity to other natural features of the natural world for example clouds and rock configurations
9) Existential Intelligence
Existential intelligence is sensitivity and capacity to tackle deep questions about human existence, such as the meaning of life, why do we die, and how did we get here
2.1.1 The definitions
Up to now, there have been various definitions about MI, for learners MI are abilities to do something effectively, especially in learning English as second
language Discussing about the vital role of MI, Gardner (1983) states as “the
ability to solve problems or to create products that are valued within one or more cultural settings”
MI-based teaching usually concentrates on students‟ unique abilities, which is reported by Richard & Rodgers (2001: 123) that MI approach has been grown
in the increasing popularity to characterizing the ways which learners are unique and to developing instruction to respond to this uniqueness Moreover
Trang 16MI is considered one of a set of such perspectives dealing with learner differences and borrows heavily form these in its recommendations and designs for lesson planning
Having discussions about MI theory Barrington (2004); Kornhaber, Fierros, and Veenema (2004); Cohen & Weaver (2004); Curtin (2005); Mitchel & Myles (2006); Oxford, Cho, Leung, & Kim (2004); Oxford & lee (2008) stated that MI theory can be a new and effective method for presenting different strategies of teaching and can help students achievements ameliorated
Gardner describes intelligence as “the ability to process information that is
activated in a cultural contest for problem solving or creating products which are worthy in a culture” (Gardner 1999, p 33) Richard and Rodgers (2001)
define MI theory as a way that not only has been attended to in public instruction but also in teaching English and its application in teaching English
is recent and new (p 117)
According to Gardner (1999a), intelligence is the ability to create an effective product or offer a service that is valued in a culture, is a set of skills that make
it possible for a person to solve problems in life, and is the potential for finding
or creating solutions for problems, which involves gathering new knowledge
MI theory can be a new and effective method for presenting different strategies
of teaching and learning as well as can help students get achievements (Barrington 2004; Kornhaber, Fierros, and Veenema 2004; Cohen & Weaver 2004; Curtin 2005; Mitchel & Myles 2006; Oxford, Cho, Leung, & Kim 2004; Oxford & lee 2008)
2.1.2 MI quizzes
The Multiple Intelligence quizzes‟ aim is to measure the learners‟ intelligences including verbal (linguistic), visual logical, musical, kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal and naturalistic intelligences With each intelligence, there are
Trang 17different activities and quizzes to measure learners‟ intelligences
In order to examine the Linguistic Intelligence, numerous activities are conducted including writing a set of instructions; speaking on a subject; editing
a written piece or work; writing my own story, a speech, a passage, a essay or even an article; commentating on an event; applying positive or negative 'spin'
to a story as well as being able to learn other languages; even composing a poem Moreover, spending great time on reading books, newspapers and playing word games or crosswords
According to Gardner (1983), Logical-Mathematical Intelligence provides us the ability to use the numbers as well as to understand the principles of a logical system This intelligence is presented in performing a mental arithmetic calculation; creating a process to measure something difficult; analyzing how a machine works; devising a strategy to achieve an aim; assessing the value of a business or a proposition; expressing in careers such as accounting, computer, technology and law as well as using abstract symbols to represent concrete subjects and concept Armstrong (1999: 99) recommends several tactics used in
solving problem “find analogies; separate various part of a problem; propose
the possible solution and then work backward”
Musical Intelligence is the ability perceives and appreciates the rhythm, pitch and melody This intelligence is shown in listening and responding with the interest to a variety of sounds including the human voice, environmental sounds, and music, and organizes such sounds into meaningful patterns; performing a musical piece; singing a song; reviewing a musical work; developing the ability to sing or play the musical instruments; specifying mood music for telephone systems and receptions Up to now several researchers have studied about the effects of music in classroom such as Rauscher, Shaw and Ky (1997), Benenzon (1995) It can be seen that development of musical intelligence in the classroom can help students concentrate more, stimulate the creative process and foster the relaxation
Trang 18Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence refers to the ability to use the body to express yourself for example; gestures are movements of to communicate an idea, intention or feeling Other activities are involved including role plays, drama, games, project work, model building or physical exercises This intelligence is performed in demonstrating skill in acting, athletics, dancing, and sewing, carving or keyboarding Phenix (1964:165) explains about the importance of
movement in every human activity “To be alive is able to respond to be moved
and to move All perceptions of surrounding world are accompanied by motor reactions No instrument is as elaborative, sensitive and responsive as the human body” Kellerrnan (1992) proposed the use of video-recorded
interactions in order to improve listening comprehension skill
The Spatial-Visual Intelligence is the ability to perceive all of the elements including shape, size, form, color, line and space which are very necessary to create metal images of something This ability is learned through seeing and observing as well as visual images are used to a aid in recalling information Many activities are proposed for the Spatial-Visual Intelligence, for instance designing a costume; interpreting a painting; creating a room layout , a corporate logo; designing a building; packing a suitcase or the boot of a car and reproducing objects in visual form The view of Tomlinson (1998) about the relationship between reading comprehension and metal images was that when metal images are used systematically they will become a remarkably useful strategy, because the visualizing while trying to understand a context is really important for meaning making
Interpersonal Intelligence is the ability to understand other people‟s perspectives, to harmonize with others, to work cooperatively and communicate effectively as well as to convince others in order to achieve personal purposes Hymes (1971) and Canale and Swain (1980) supposed that language learning is a social process which has a main goal of development communicative competence Vygotsky (1978) emphasized that learning is
Trang 19shaped and influenced by social interactions Casal (2002), who had a total agreement about application in the classroom, proposed that cooperative learning is a good method which helps to develop this intelligence in language classroom Some activities are used to examine this intelligence such as interpreting moods from facial expressions; demonstrating feelings through body language; affecting the feelings of others in a planned way; coaching or counseling another person; forming and maintaining the social relationship Besides it is the ability of co-operate and co-work with other people with several other activities for instance working in groups, teams or pairs
Intrapersonal Intelligence gives us the capacity to understand the internal aspects of the self and to practice the self-discipline Understanding your capacity and limitation to optimize personal performance is one of tremendous opportunities of learning style research applied to language learning (Christison, 1999; Reid, 1995, 1998) Language learning tasks for this ability including asking learners to think the color, size and texture which express their feeling or reading activities where students to develop their attitude towards a problem (Robles, 2002) There are numerous activities relating to Intrapersonal Intelligence, for instance, considering and deciding one's own aims and personal changes required to achieve them (not necessarily reveal this
to others); and deciding options for development; considering and decide one's own position in relation to the Emotional Intelligence model (being aware of a wide range of emotion); identifying and pursuing one‟s goals
Naturalist Intelligence is the ability to discriminate among a variety flora and fauna, enjoyment the natural world and ecological sensitivity (Arnold and Fonseca: 2004) Several activities are used to measure this ability such as recognizing and name many kinds of the trees, flowers and animals; describing the process of recycling or tasks involving direct field observation and classification of vegetables and animals; having an interest in and good knowledge of how the body works and keeps health issues; being conscious of
Trang 20tracks, nests, and wildlife even on a walk and can “read” weather signs; having
an interest in the main global environmental issues
2.1.3 MI in education
Obviously, MIs play a crucial part in education, for all of the subjects, especially in learning English as the second language Recently MI theory has been considered in language teaching Teachers started recognizing the remarkable benefits of using MI theory to enhance learner‟s abilities individual needs According to Snider (2001) MI theory-related materials have the strong potential to improve foreign language (FL) instruction because theory engage learner‟s innate abilities (p 6)
As Armstrong clarifies (2009), each person has different capacities in various intelligences which are outlined above (2.1); however, they function together in different ways that are unique to each It is really interesting to define that intelligences can be associated and related to the key competences in a rather direct way As an example, mathematical competence has the relationship to the use of logical-mathematical intelligence, knowledge of interaction with the physical world can be linked to visual spatial and also naturalistic intelligences, competence in social skills and citizenship is associated with interpersonal intelligence, autonomy and personal initiative in addition to learning to learn competence can be related to the use of intrapersonal intelligence, and cultural and artistic competence-to musical intelligence (Curso, 2012) Varied tasks which require different intelligences an actually trigger the enhancement of the key competences As a result, MI-based activities, in theory, could actually bring to EFL classroom double advantage, both allowing students to use their personal strengths and private intelligences and also develop new ones, alongside improving their proficiency in English As Rubado (2002) proposes,
if using of strong points in the process of learning would be made, students could more easily realize that they are all smart and intelligent in many ways as well as they explore their own potentials, which would also help them to become more motivated and enjoy themselves in classes
Trang 21According to Sam and Lunenburg (2004), by using the multiple intelligences approach in your classroom, the teacher will provide opportunities for authentic learning based on his/her students‟ needs, interests, and talents The multiple intelligences classroom acts like the “real” world For example, the author and the illustrator of a book or the actor and the set builder in a play are equally valuable creators Students become more active, involved learners Teachers and students come to view intellectual ability more broadly Drawing a picture, composing or listening to music, sculpting an object, watching a performance, writing a poem, passage about the lesson, participating role play-these activities can be vital learning experiences These activities will provide students with opportunities to show all of their strengths as well as their full potentials Moreover, the lessons seem to be more fascinating, interesting and exciting, avoid boredom There are many ways to apply multiple intelligences theory in the classroom
Silver, Strong and Perini (1997: 24) insist that exploiting MI in classroom minimizes potential limitations and stimulate students‟ abilities, therefore, enhance productivity as a result of increasing motivation Pokey (2003), suggest that using MI stands for a positive change not only as far as students are concerned, but also for teachers
Discussing about applying MI theory in education, Armstrong (2009) states that MI theory opens the door to a wide range of teaching strategies that can be easily implemented in the classroom In many cases, they are strategies that have been used for decades by good teachers In other cases, the theory of multiple intelligences offers teachers an opportunity to develop innovative teaching strategies that are relatively new to the educational scene MI theory suggests that no one set of teaching strategies will work best for all students at all times All children have different proclivities in the eight intelligences, so any particular strategy is likely to be highly successful with one group of students and less successful with other groups For example, teachers who use
Trang 22the Rhythms, Songs, Raps, and Chants strategy discussed in this chapter as a pedagogical tool will probably find that musically inclined students respond while nonmusical students remain unmoved Similarly, the use of pictures and images in teaching will reach students who are more spatially oriented but perhaps have a different effect on those who are more physically or verbally inclined
There have been numerous previous researchers who have investigated the effect of MI on learning language with more studies for explaining the application of MI theory in improving language learning particularly in higher education According to Armstrong, Fugarti & Stoehr (2007), usage of MI theory as an instructional plan is one of the most effective solutions to eliminate decrease of language learning (Chan, 2008) as well as being lack of interest and motivation and difficulty of students
Sam and Lunenburg (2004) claim that at all levels of education, teachers explore more effective methods of assessment which encourage their students
to demonstrate understanding through multiple intelligences Elementary students compose and perform songs about grammar concepts Middle school students create multimedia presentations combining animations, compositions, and writing to accommodate interdisciplinary units High school students demonstrate mastery of self-developed research questions through art, writing portfolios, and delivering presentations to education stakeholders During a writing unit, cooperative learning groups help edit other students‟ essays
2.1.4 MI in teaching and learning English
There is numerous evidence that students and schools that are influenced by Multiple Intelligence theory effectively (Garner 2006:83) If teachers have good understanding of the theory, they, of course, understand better about their learners Therefore, they can allow the learners to safely explore their own strengths and teachers can help their learners to be in control of their own learning (Guignon, 1998)
Trang 23The main goal of MI in teaching is to encourage students to deeply understand the matter and strengthen solving-problem ability Classroom activities often activate more than one of the Multiple Intelligences For example, consider the following classroom activities:
Writing passage, report, journal or essay is one of the best ways to activates Linguistic Intelligence Armstrong (2009) suggested writing a poem about the next summer holiday which is contributed by a group and each person writes a line Moreover, reading passages or stories and discussing about any problems
to find out the solutions relate to the Linguistic Intelligence In these exercises, students can express their use of language and knowledge of linguistics
Different studies carried out by Simeon (1995) and Mettetal, Jordan & Harper (1997) prove that students, teachers and parents tend to show a very positive attitude towards the idea of implementing MI-based activities in classroom with the aim of improving students‟ English proficiency Broderick and Allen (2000) offer a model for practical application of MI-based tasks to teaching in general
Composing a song is an active activity to not only promote Musical but also Linguistic Intelligences This activity makes a great contribution for students to create most effectively In addition, musical melodies will definitely brings learners lessons more interesting and fully exciting A suggestion for Armstrong (2009) is that making a rap or a song about summer
Group discussion has been growing in the enormous popularity in order to
activate linguistic and interpersonal intelligences “Having a group discussion
about what you think make a great summer and collect a spokesperson to summarize your conclusion in font of class”, another suggestion from
Armstrong (2009)
Trang 24Making a video is combination many Intelligences such as Mathematical, Musical, Linguistic, Interpersonal, and Spatial Intelligences Putting on a play also enhances several Intelligences including Musical, Linguistic, Interpersonal and Spatial Role play is another activity which requires numerous Intelligences such as Kinesthetic, Linguistic, interpersonal Within language teaching, it is fair to say that role play is used to relatively little and where it is used it is essentially considered for a fun activity which brings psychological and tactical benefits (Skelton, Hammond, Wiskin, Fritzmaurice)
Logical-Making graphs, constructing timelines and designing poster activates mathematical and spatial intelligences Stating about the importance of posters, Osa and Musser (2004) believe that posters are colorful, attractive learning media which can enhance the learning environment, create a active and effective learning atmosphere for students This paper describes the value of posters in the educational setting, offers suggestions on selecting posters for learning, and includes examples of various types of learning posters Moreover, posters give students opportunity to interact information to be learned in diverse ways as well as encourage active engagement in learning and self-motivation
logical-There is much evidence that schools influenced by Multiple Intelligence theory are effective (Gardner 2006:83) and with an understanding of theory teachers can better understand the learner They can allow students to safely discover their strengths and their full potentials as well as learn in many ways and they can help their students to be in control of their own learning (Guignon 1998, March 12)
It is very common that schools have been emphasizing the reading skill, writing skill and grammar in learning teaching Multiple Intelligence theory opens the door to the variety of teaching strategies which can easily be applied
in the language classroom It gives teachers opportunities to wide modern teaching strategies by using various assignments and activities (Armstrong
Trang 252000:51) These new strategies brought students many ways to acquire knowledge subconsciously and effectively It means students were not aware that they were learning, their learning lessons seemed to have been relaxing and less stressful
Teachers have to use many different strategies and activities to meet all needs
of students and stimulate their full potentials The theory can be used in different ways in entire school systems This method offers opportunities for students to use and to develop all of the intelligences It also offers different learning styles and methods as well as various activities Each of intelligence is prospective in every learner and it is the part of the teacher‟s job to look after and help children to develop their own intelligences (Nolan 2003: 119)
Armstrong (2000:51) states that as long as teachers use a range of different intelligences There are 8 Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom a number of ways of introducing the model or of following up your five minute introduction with reinforcing activities and supplementary experiences
It is interesting to find that many different methods have the close the relationship with Multiple Intelligences such as Silent Way, Total Physical Response or The Communicative Approach For example the Silent Way emphasizes the development of students‟ inner thinking (Intrapersonal Intelligence) Total Physical Response improves learning through physical actions (Body-Kinesthetic Intelligence) The Communicative Approach and cooperative stress the the necessarily relationships among people (Interpersonal Intelligence) (Lin 2005 March 12)
2.2 Autonomy
In theory, we may define autonomy as the freedom and ability to manage one‟s own affairs, which entails the right to make decisions as well (Scharle and Szabó: 2000) To get any achievements, the autonomy plays an important role
in successful progress Having discussed about this issue, Scharle and Szabó
Trang 26(2000) state that some degree of autonomy is also essential to successful language learning No matter how much students learn through the lessons, there is always plenty more they will need to learn by practice, on their own Also the changing needs of learners will require them to go back to learning several times in their lives: then again, they will need to be able to study on their own The best way for them to prepare this task is to help them become more autonomous
There have existed a large literature on autonomy in language learning until
to now, with Holec (1981) commonly cited as a seminal contribution to the field Benson (2011) provides a comprehensive analysis of key issues in learner autonomy, while there have also been a number of edited collections dedicated to the topic (Barfield & Brown, 2007; Benson, 2007b; Benson & Voller, 1997; Lamb & Reinders, 2008; Little, Ridley, & Ushioda, 2003; Palfreyman & Smith, 2003; Pemberton, Li, Or, & Pierson, 1996; Pemberton, Toogood, & Barfield, 2009; Sinclair, McGrath, & Lamb, 2000; Vieira, 2009)
Learner autonomy was first defined by Holec (1979) He describes an autonomous learner in various aspects An autonomous learner is capable of determining the objectives; defining the contents and progressions; selecting methods and techniques to be used; monitoring the procedure of acquisition properly speaking (rhythm, time place, etc) and evaluating what has been acquired (p 3)
Studying about this issue but Sinclair (2000) suggests 13 other characteristics
of learner autonomy which appear to have been recognized and broadly accepted by the language teaching profession including autonomy is a construct
of capacity; autonomy involves a willingness on the part of the learner to take responsibility for their own learning; the capacity and willingness of learners to take such responsibility is not necessarily innate; complete autonomy is an idealistic goal; there are degrees of autonomy; the degrees of autonomy are
Trang 27unstable and variable; autonomy is not simply a matter of placing learners in situations where they have to be independent; developing autonomy requires conscious awareness of the learning process for instance, conscious reflection and decision-making; promoting autonomy is not simply a matter of teaching strategies; autonomy can take place both inside and outside the classroom; autonomy has a social as well as an individual dimension; the promotion of autonomy has a political as well as psychological dimension; autonomy is interpreted differently by different cultures
2.2.1 Definitions
One of the earliest definitions by Holec (1981) characterizes autonomy as “the
ability to take charge of one‟s own learning” (p.3) As Benson (2006) notes,
variants on this definition appear in the literature, with „ability‟ sometimes replaced with „capacity‟ (for example, in Little, 1991) and „take responsibility for‟ or „take control of‟ substituting for „take charge of‟ Some definitions (e.g Dam, 1995) also include the notion of „willingness‟ to stress the point that irrespective of their capacity, learners will not develop autonomy unless they are willing to take responsibility for their learning These broad understandings
of what learner autonomy is, then, seem to be well-established in the literature (but see also Benson, 1996 for an analysis of the complexities involved in defining what learner autonomy means); additionally, following Little (1991)
some accounts of learner autonomy start by defining what it is not
Learner autonomy has been a central topic of many discussions for a long time Therefore, definitions of learner autonomy have of course varied The author will give a summary of typical definitions
Thansoulas (2000) cited from Holec (1982) about the autonomy‟s qualification that someone qualifies as an autonomous learner when he independently chooses aims and purposes and sets goals; chooses materials, methods and tasks; exercises choice and purpose in organizing and carrying out the chosen tasks; and chooses criteria for evaluation In general, autonomous learners are
Trang 28regularly active in choosing their own appropriate strategies and scheduling the detailed learning plan
Having discussed about typical characteristics of autonomy, Little (1991) claims that autonomous learners have the capacity to determine realistic and reachable goals, select appropriate methods and techniques to be used, monitor their own learning process, and evaluate the progress of their own learning
(Deci & Ryan, 1985; Bandura, 1989; Doyal & Gough, 1991) give out their perspectives about autonomous learners is that autonomous people are intrinsically motivated, perceived themselves to be in control of their decision-making, take responsibility for the outcomes of their actions and have confidence in themselves Autonomous learners seems to be interested in their own learning process, in improving their knowledge as well as they regularly inspire themselves to learn better
One of the most well-known definitions of autonomy was reported by Holec (1981:3), who considers autonomy to be “the ability to take charge of one‟s own learning” Another key contribution to autonomy, inspired by the work of
Holec (1981), was reported by Little (1991), who claims that “autonomy is a
capacity for detachment, critical reflection, decision making, and independent action.” For Little (1991), this capacity includes the planning, monitoring, and
evaluating of learning activities and involves both the content and process of learning
Several other works, for instance, those from Dickinson (1987), Little (1991), Pennycook (1997), Benson & Voller (1997), Benson (2001), Nicolaides & Fernandes (2002), and Littlewood (1996) have also contributed to the discussions about autonomy Dickinson‟s work (1987: 27), for example
approaches autonomy as “a mode of learning- one in which the individual is
responsible for all the decisions connected with her learning, and undertakes the implementation of these decisions”
Trang 29The assumptions presented by Holec (1981), Little (1991), and Dickinson (1987) represent the highest degree of autonomy, which enables the learner to choose what, how, and when to learn, with no external constraints, such as those of formal education This idea is discussed by Crabbe‟s (1993) ideological argument:
“The individual has the right to be free to exercise his or her own choices as in other areas, and not become a victim (even if an unwitting one) of choices made by social institutions” (p 443)
This definition matches explanation of autonomy with expression -“the ability
to act and make decisions without being controlled by anyone else” printed in
the Oxford advanced learner‟s Dictionary (AS Horn by 8th edition)
Freire (1997) considers autonomy as the learner‟s capacity and freedom to construct and reconstruct the knowledge taught Although the concept of freedom remains as a core issue, Freire does not disregard the importance of the teachers whose role, in his view, is not to transmit knowledge, but to create new realms of possibility for students to produce and construct knowledge
2.2.2 The role of autonomy in learning
Obviously, autonomy has had a great contribution to learning process, therefore, it there have been a variety of educators and researchers who studies about the relationship between autonomy and learning
Some degree of autonomy is also essential to successful language learning No matter how much students learn through the lessons, there is always plenty more they will need to learn by practice, on their own Also the changing needs
of learners will require them to go back to learning several times in their lives: then again, they will need to be able to study on their own The best way for
Trang 30them to prepare this task is to help them become more autonomous.(Scharle & Szabó : 2000)
In Borg and Al-Busaidi‟ ELT Reearch Paper about Learner Autonomy: English Language Teachers‟ Beliefs and Practices, the result of the questionnaire, 93.4 per cent of the teachers agreed that learner autonomy has a positive effect on success as a language learner, while 85.2 per cent agreed that learner autonomy allows language learners to learn more effectively than they otherwise would Overall, then, the teachers expressed strong positive views about the contribution of learner autonomy to language learning In the interviews some people asked the teachers to elaborate on these positive views and they suggested a number of relationships between learner autonomy and successful language learning These are listed below with a supporting quote after each
First of all, autonomous learners are more motivated effectively It not only is very important but also has a huge effect on motivation Moreover, the more autonomous the learners are, the more motivated they are More particularly, learner autonomy affects their ability to learn the language as well as to learn numerous other things in their life
Secondly, normally autonomous learners are more committed In traditional lessons, teachers give students the information and necessary explanations, which are useful for learning process However, involving the students into the lessons meant that they are more committed to it when they could identify with what they are doing because they have decided it Instead of listening negatively, participating the lesson actively makes students be more responsible for their learning process as well as the autonomy is remarkable stimulated It is the actively learning participation that helps students learn more effectively and stimulate the autonomy more
In addition, autonomous learners are happier When the learners are in charge they know what they are doing and on a day-to-day basis, or task-by-task basis
Trang 31understand why they are doing something, why it is important to them, then they are going to be happier learners and they‟re going to be more motivated, and more willing to do what is necessary to reach their goals
Moreover, autonomous learners benefit from learning opportunities outside the classroom It is commonly known that classroom time is not enough, therefore, using some additional opportunities outside the classroom like watching TV, reading books, reading the website, and just communicating with people, just involving themselves in different activities, so just working autonomously, it will have more positive effects on them as a language learner, so definitely it will bring students to a successful career as a language learner
Last but not least, autonomous learners take more risks Students would decide
to do things that maybe the teacher would never dream that they could do, maybe it is not perfect; however, it shows that in the long run they seem to develop a much more sophisticated use of the language
A number of the benefits of learner autonomy noted here have been discussed
in the literature; the link between learner autonomy and motivation is one in particular that has been the focus of much discussion Benson‟s (2001: 86)
review of this issue concludes that “the link between autonomy and motivation
is well-established at a theoretical level”, although the precise nature of this
link is a focus of continuing empirical activity (see Ushioda, 2011 for a more recent discussion)
2.2.3 Principles of autonomy
According to Little (1991), principles may be suggested to express the characterization of an autonomous learner in language classroom 1 learner empowerment, 2 reflectivity, and 3 appropriate target language use
The first principle Little (1991) defined is principle of learner empowerment It entails that teachers bring their learners to accept responsibility for their own
Trang 32learning A truly dialogic process entails joint exploration: teacher‟s understanding should grow along with that of their learners If it does not, that
is a sure sign that teachers are standing outside the process, going through the motions rather than engaging with their teaching in the way that they demand their learners should engage with their learning Teacher should guide or give the instruction if students get stuck in challenging situations and then give students time to complete, never correct immediately when students cannot do the tasks
The principle of reflectivity is one of the most important principles for autonomy‟s characteristics It is already implied by the principle of learner empowerment In the autonomous language classroom, reflection begins as a collaborative activity in which teacher and learners seek to make explicit their joint understanding of the process they are engaged in Reflection must be pursued as a routine that retains this meaning because the scope of the learners‟ responsibility is always expanding outwards, which means that the reach of their reflection is always being extended Reflection on the learning process is another key component of learner autonomy By reflecting on the learning process, learners become more aware of how and why they choose the methods and strategies they use in different projects, and for solving different tasks Being aware of the learning process helps makes them autonomous (Turloiu & Stefansdottir, 2011) It is the awareness of the learning process that brings the opportunities for students to “understand” themselves about what materials, what strategies or what schedules which are truly appropriate to them
According to Clark (1997), reflection is unlikely to progress far without the support of writing because of several following reasons: It is by writing things down that we provide ourselves with something to reflect on in the first place;
It is easier for teachers to step back from their own utterances and thoughts when they have been written down; The reflective process itself is greatly facilitated if teachers use written notes to help them work out what they think When reflection is explicitly focused on the learning process, it is likely to take
Trang 33account of motivation and affect; but it should always try to focus on the specific quality of the experience that gave rise to positive or negative feelings For that is how learners gradually become aware that a growing capacity for metacognitive control nurtures intrinsic motivation
The last principle is the principle of appropriate target language use It requires
that from the earlier stages teachers must engage their learners in forms of exploratory dialogue that require them to use the target language to express their own meanings Using target language in communicating with other students by exchanging the daily conversations or academic written forms or using the target language as much as possible is also useful for students‟ learning process and even improve the learners‟ autonomy They must help students to construct and maintain multiple scaffolding in writing and in speech; and they must include in appropriate target language use the activities required by the principle of reflectivity
The three principles of learner empowerment, reflectivity, and target language use do not refer to three discrete aspects of the language teaching-learning process Rather, they offer three closely related perspectives on one holistic phenomenon, the web of pedagogical dialogue that is partly in interaction between the participants in the process and partly in each participant‟s head Their consistent and sustained pursuit produces a learning community in which teaching is learning, learning involves teaching, and language learning is inseparable from language use In an autonomous classroom the starting point
is not the textbook but the learners It should be considered that each member
of the class has interests, and emotional as well as educational and communicative needs It should be considered that learning is not a simple matter of the unidirectional transmission of knowledge, skills, and expertise
On the contrary, it is a bidirectional process, for anything can only be learned
in terms of what we already know Learning is also a messy and indeterminate process, impossible to control except in rather superficial ways Learner autonomy comes into play as learners begin to accept responsibility for their
Trang 34own learning But they can do this only within the limits imposed by what they already know and what they have already become What is called the textbook approach to language teaching involves learning “from the outside in”; the textbook author‟s meanings are first learnt and then gradually adapted to the learners‟ own İnönü University Journal of the Faculty of Education The autonomous approach, by contrast, insists that language is learnt partly “from the inside out”, as learners attempt to express their own meanings for their own learning purposes (Dam, 1995) In the autonomous approach, learning is anchored in the achieved identity of the individual learner and the interactive processes by which learners collaboratively construct their shared learning
space
2.2.4 Accessing autonomy
Accurate assessment of autonomy is necessary to know if this goal is being met, to identify learners who need remediation, and to help plan future instrument Autonomy can be assessed by means of different procedures, however, none of which can be elected as the best process or the most suitable one This is because no procedure is able to encompass all testing purposes (Alderson, 2000: 203) Testers can use many typologies to measure learners‟ autonomy: multiple choice statements, short-answer questions, sentence completion, completing summaries and tables, identifying writer‟s views and attitudes by yes/ no questions, matching lists and matching phrases
In activity based as self-accessing strategy to promote learners‟ autonomy,
Ravi and Xavier (2007) consider that self-access learning promote students‟ skill to study independently, choosing from different sources which are available It closely relates to learner-centered approach, learner autonomy and self-directed learning as all concentrate on students‟ responsibility and active participation on their own pace of learning, particularly students have to pay more attention to set on the self-contained learning environment
Students can also access learner autonomy with various activities including
Trang 35reading, writing, debating, interviewing, role-playing, acting, creating Particularly, the interactivity among students is the key point to successful learning Therefore, interactive environment is very helpful for learners because these sources are available any time when students choose
2.2.5 Developing learner autonomy
Helping students to develop autonomous learning capacities can be approached
in a number of ways These approaches are often given under an umbrella term
of learner training and may consist of awareness raising, scaffolding, strategy training, increased social interaction, and the encouragement of reflection
An autonomous learner has some characteristics as mentioned follow
The focus of much research in learner autonomy is on defining how learners can take charge of their own learning and how teachers can help students to become more autonomous Learner autonomy was first defined by Holec (1979) He describes an autonomous learner in various aspects including determining the objectives, defining the contents and progressions, selecting methods and techniques to be used, monitoring the procedure of acquisition properly speaking (rhythm, time, place, etc) and evaluating what has been acquired
According to Holec (1981) and Little (1991) basically, autonomous learners are those who take charge of their own learning They are aware of their personal and educational needs and can determine the objectives and goals for their own learning Also, they can establish a link between what is to be learned, how to learn, and the resources available In other words, autonomous learners have the ability of showing their responsibility their own learning They are always responsible for their learning process and attempt to improve their own knowledge
Another prerequisite for the promotion of learner autonomy on the part of learner is awareness Language awareness can be defined as explicit theoretical
Trang 36knowledge about Through awareness learners may establish learning goals, plan and practice learning activities, select and use appropriate learning strategies, useful materials, monitor their progress, and actively engage in the learning process (Holec, 1981)
Autonomous learners have the capacity to determine realistic and reachable goals, select appropriate methods and techniques to be used, monitor their own learning process, and evaluate the progress of their own learning (Little :1991) According to Dam (1990), an autonomous learner is an active participant in the social processes of learning and an active interpreter of new information in terms of what she/he already and uniquely knows Autonomous people are intrinsically motivated, perceived themselves to be in control of their decision-making, take responsibility for the outcomes of their actions and have confidence in themselves (Deci & Ryan, 1985; Bandura, 1989; Doyal & Gough, 1991)
According to Hedge (2000) characterized autonomous learners as the people who know their needs and work productively with the teacher towards the achievement of their objectives Autonomous learners always attempt to get their own targets or aims enthusiastically
Moreover, they also learn everywhere, every time both inside and outside the classroom For autonomous learners, learning is not only going to school but also taking advantage of all available sources and know how to use resources independently which are useful for their learning process
More particularly autonomous learners are people who learn with active thinking Even though the learning process are always challenging, they have optimistic thought and active mindset as well as they are never passive with how to be taught or how to learn, they are always active in their learning process In their mind, the people who give them opportunities to master
Trang 37language are themselves not their teachers This will help them overcome any
of the obstacles which come up in their learning process
In addition, autonomous learners who are willing to take risks, they are interested in finding new strategies in their learning so that they are able to get the highest achievements Therefore, they dare taking risks, experiencing new methods, new materials or new sources in order to find the best ways for them
to self-learn most effectively
Developing learner autonomy may be defined in simple terms as helping learners to become more independent by training them to use language learning strategies effectively in their language learning process, thus taking the responsibility to control, evaluate and monitor their language learning process
There have been two main perspectives about the strategies to promote learner autonomy in English teaching and learning Dickinson (1992, p 330) identifies
six ways “in which the teacher can promote greater learner independence":
The first way is legitimizing independence, he mentions that legitimizing independence in learning is useful in encouraging the students to be more independent When students are more independent in their learning process, they seem to be more active in learning as well as acquiring the amount of new knowledge
Convincing learners‟ ability is the next way to promote greater autonomy This means that students are convinced to be capable of greater independence in learning-give them successful experiences of independent learning Students may be energized more when they suppose that they have ability to do anything Self-confidence about the ability makes remarkable contribution to develop students‟ autonomy
Another crucial way is practicing learners‟ independence Giving learners opportunities to exercise their independence stimulates them to show their
Trang 38independence more effectively It is said that creating chances for students to practice their autonomy is the key point which supports learner autonomy to become greater
Learning strategies plays an important role in encouraging learner autonomy Helping learners develop learning strategies so that they can exercise their independence Appropriate learning methods seem to support the learners to develop their autonomy as well as their independence in the learning process Suitable learning strategies are the key to explore all of the students‟ potentials about the autonomy
Understanding the system of language is remarkably essential to foster learner autonomy Helping learners to become more aware of language as a system so that they can understand many of the learning techniques available and learn sufficient grammar to understand simple reference books
Last but not least, sharing with learners something of what we know about language learning so that they have a greater awareness of what to expect from the language learning task and how they should react to problems that erect barriers to learning Having a modest amount of knowledge about language characteristics helps students know how to master it as well as to avoid errors
In the research ÇAKICI‟s research (2015), he suggests other methods for encouraging learner autonomy
Teaching Learning Strategies is the first thing of the list because of some following reasons Firstly, strategies of teaching and learning make a great contribution so as to foster learner autonomy as they have influences to learners‟ learning process
Secondly, strategies are the tools for active, self-directed involvement needed for developing L2 communicative ability (O'Malley and Chamot, 1990 In
Trang 39addition, Rubin and Wenden view learning strategies as “behaviour learners
engage in to learn and regulate the learning of a second language” (1987,
p.6) In order to learn autonomously, teachers should give students adequate training to prepare them for more independent learning O‟ Malley and Chamot (1990) believe that learning strategies have learning facilitation as a goal and are intentional on the part of learner A series of learning strategies are the key
to learner autonomy, aiming at maximizing learner autonomy Language learners need training in learning strategies in order to increase their potential and contribute to their autonomy Indeed, the teacher should be the model in the use of strategy using
Using Cooperative Learning is another effective way to stimulate learners to learn more effectively It is commonly known that in learning process, cooperative activities in classroom and outside including working in pairs, working in groups and working with project are regularly carried out Learners are taught plan, monitor and evaluate their own learning which is viewed as a compilation of lifelong learning skills Therefore, cooperative learning is a powerful approach for learner autonomy Its aim is to establish a community of learners in which students are able to generate questions and discuss ideas freely with the teacher and each other Johnson (1991) describes the learning process as five elements positive interdependence; face-to-face interaction; individual accountability and personal responsibility; interpersonal and small group skills as well as group processing
Self-Reports are considered as a crucial part to make a huge contribution for learners being more autonomous According to Wenden (1998), a good way of collecting information on how students go about a learning task and helping them become aware of their own strategies is to assign a task and have them report what they are thinking while they are performing it
Diaries and Evaluation Sheets are irreplaceable ways for students who are attempting to achieve autonomy Vygotsky‟s perspective about learning is an
Trang 40internalized form of formerly social activity, and “a learner can realize his
potential interactively through the guidance of supportive other persons such
as parents, teachers, peers” (Wenden, 1998, p 107) The role of diaries and
evaluation sheets, which offer students the possibility to plan, monitor, and evaluate their learning, identify any problems has made a great contribution to learner autonomy
It is a tremendous opportunity for learners to learn more autonomously through Portfolio Creation Portfolio creation leads to more autonomous learning It includes planning yourself and achieving the plan, taking responsibility for your own role, setting goals for yourself, heading toward them and doing what you have to do, and making a decision about something on your own
According to Thomsen (2010), the portfolio helped learners talk about their learning experiences, and assume an active role in their learning Learners could share with their peers their learning experiences by reflecting in writing
on their thoughts and ideas Portfolios are convenient tools for teachers in the process of getting to know the learners closely as individuals and as learners of English Also, it is useful when choosing strategies for individual learners or groups of learners The development of learner autonomy is supported by self-assessment and goal setting Little (2005) notices that learners are expected to record how they progress in the target language and any intercultural experiences they may have during the learning process
Göksu and Genç (2011) investigated the contribution of the European Language Portfolio to autonomy in the reading skills of Turkish learners of English by looking at the learners‟ perceptions of the ELP as part of their learning process
Up to now, teacher roles have never been faded, even they are getting more and more fundamental in motivating and inspiring learner autonomy In Dilek ÇAKICI‟s volume (2015), he emphasized the role of teacher in fostering