Autonomy in the transition from foreign language learning to foreign language teaching
- Resource Type
- article
- Authors
- Benson, Phil; Huang, Jing
- Source
- DELTA: Documentação de Estudos em Lingüística Teórica e Aplicada. January 2008 24
- Subject
- Learner autonomy
Teacher autonomy
Self-directed learning
Teacher development
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 0102-4450
This paper discusses the historical development of the concept of teacher autonomy in foreign language education and its relationship to the idea of learner autonomy. Three major phases in the development of conceptions of teacher autonomy are reviewed, involving attention to teacher roles in autonomous learning projects, professional development and professional freedom. Different ways of conceptualising the link between teacher and learner autonomy are discussed and an alternative conception based on the notion of transition from learner autonomy to teacher autonomy in learning-teaching careers is proposed.