Learner and Teacher Autonomy: Concepts, realities, and responses

AILA Applied Linguistics #1

by Terry Lamb (Editor), Hayo Reinders (Editor)

This edited volume offers a cohesive account of recent developments across the world in the field of learner and teacher autonomy in languages education. Drawing on the work of eminent researchers of language learning and teaching, it explores at both conceptual and practical levels issues related to current pedagogical developments in a wide range of contexts. Global shifts have led to an increase in autonomous and independent learning both in policy and practice (including self-access and distance learning). The book’s scope and focus will therefore be beneficial to language teachers as well as to students and researchers in applied linguistics and those involved in pre- and in-service teacher education. The book concludes with an overview of the state of research in this field, focusing on the (inter)relationships between the concepts of learner and teacher autonomy.

286 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Terry spent 16 years teaching languages in secondary schools. He has also carried out advisory work, taught English in Poland and Turkey, and has been a consultant to the Ministry of Education in Malaysia on the `Learning how to Learn ́ curriculum development project. He is an official EU Expert on Intercultural Education, and has worked as a consultant to the Ministry of Youth, Education and Sport, Czech Republic, on projects relating to the development of a European dimension in the curriculum and to the development of positive attitudes towards the Roma population.

Terry plays a major role in the development of language policy nationally. He is former President of the Association for Language Learning, was a member of the government’s National Languages Steering Group, and is a governor of CILT, the National Centre for Languages. In 2008 he was appointed Chair of the Languages Diploma Development Partnership by the Secretary of State for Education, Ed Balls. In 2009, Terry was awarded the title Chevalier dans l'ordre des Palmes Académiques by the French prime minister for services to languages and European culture, in particular French.