Increasing Learner Involvement in Course Management

This article explores ways in which learners can be brought into a more central role in making decisions about the organization and direction of their language courses. As an introduction, a review of some of the arguments which support increasing learner involvement is presented. Constraints in introducing such involvement are then discussed, concentrating on learners' prior experiences and expectations, and it is argued that what is required is a gradual approach toward relinquishing the teacher's dominant role. This argument is taken up in a third section, where some materials and tasks are presented which are designed to bring about such a relinquishment.