The Interrelationships Between Learner Autonomy and Teacher Autonomy

In order to foster students’ autonomous language learning, teachers themselves must display a degree of autonomy in their approaches to teaching and learning (Benson, 2011). In recent years, many teachers talk about how important it is for their students to be autonomous in their learning. How could teachers ever know how to promote their students’ autonomy if teachers are not autonomous? Little says “…since learning arises from interaction and interaction is characterized by interdependence, the development of autonomy in learners presupposes the development of autonomy in teachers” (Little, 1995, pp. 175). Since teachers influence learners in a great way by interacting with learners in classrooms, it is important for teachers to be autonomous and show their autonomous approaches in their teaching and learning. In this paper, I would like to share my opinions and reflect on the interrelationships between learner autonomy and teacher autonomy.