EFL instructors’ perception and practices on learner autonomy in some Turkish universities

Learner autonomy has become a central ability to develop in learners for a fruitful language learning/teaching process in EFL classes. Particularly, in this world of knowledge, teaching learners how to access resources and how to use them for their learning needs has become increasingly important. Teachers’ perception on learner autonomy is crucial because their beliefs about independent learning either intentionally or unintentionally impede the development of learner autonomy. The aim of this study is to investigate EFL Instructors’ perceptions and practices on learner autonomy at the schools of foreign languages in nine geographically diverse public Turkish universities. The study was conducted with 96 EFL instructors, and the data were collected through a questionnaire and interviews. The findings of this study revealed that the instructors had highly positive views on different aspects of learner autonomy. It was also found out that they did not perceive it as much feasible as they perceived it desirable.

Bazı Türk Üniversitelerindeki İngilizce Okutmanlarının Öğrenen Özerkliğine Yönelik Algı ve Uygulamaları

Bu çalışmanın amacı coğrafi olarak farklı bölgelerdeki dokuz üniversitenin Yabancı Diller Yüksek Okulundaki İngilizce okutmanlarının öğrenen özerkliğine yönelik algı ve uygulamalarını araştırmaktır. Bu çalışmada, karma yöntemli bir yaklaşım benimsenmiştir. Çalışma, 96 İngilizce Okutmanı ile gerçekleştirilmiş ve çalışmaya ait veriler anket ve röportajlar aracılığıyla toplanmıştır. Çalışmadaki anket, ilk bölümü öğrenen özerkliğine ait 10 yapıyı kapsayan 37 maddelik beşli likert ölçeğinden oluşmaktadır. İkinci bölümde öğrencilerin karar aşamalarına katılmaları ve öğrenmeyi öğrenme becerileri konularını öğretmenlerin ne kadar arzu edilir ve gerçekleştirilebilir bulduklarına odaklanılmıştır. Üçüncü bölüm, öğretmenlerin öğrencilerini ne kadar özerk buldukları ve dil öğretiminde özerkliği ne ölçüde destekledikleri konularına ayrılmıştır. Anketin dördüncü bölümünde ise, öğretmenlerin demografik bilgileri toplanmıştır. Beşinci bölümde, öğretmenlere, çalışmanın ikinci aşamasında yer alıp almak istemedikleri sorulmuştur. Son olarak, katılmaya gönüllü olan 17 okutmanla röportajlar gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bu çalışmanın bulguları, okutmanların, öğrenen özerkliğinin farklı açılarına yönelik oldukça olumlu görüşlere sahip olduklarını ortaya çıkarmıştır. Öğrencilerin alınan kararlara katılmaları aracılığıyla öğrenme süreci içerisinde öğrenen özerkliğinin geliştirilmesi gerektiğini ve öğrencilerinde öğrenen özerkliği geliştirdiklerine inandıklarını dile getirmişlerdir. Öğrenen özerkliğinin neredeyse bütün yönleriyle arzu edilebilir olduğu konusunda olumlu olmalarına karşın, onu arzu edilebilir buldukları kadar gerçekleştirilebilir bulmadıkları saptanmıştır.

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