DOI: 10.7763/IPEDR. 2013. V68. 2

Developing Autonomy in an East Asian Classroom: from Policy to

Practice

Thao Thi Thanh PHAN

Thanhdo University – Hanoi – Vietnam

Queensland University of Technology – Brisbane - Australia

Abstract. Education will not take place without autonomy (Kenny, 1993). In accordance with global trends,

Vietnam has identified developing learner autonomy (LA) as one key strategy of its higher education. The

aim of this paper is to propose an action research which is planned to promote LA of Vietnamese students of

English at tertiary level. Firstly, a survey questionnaire will be conducted to a class of English majored

students to explore students' views of their responsibilities and decision-making abilities, their actual and

preferred learning activities. The students will then join in several activities, which are designed to develop

their autonomous learning. The learning tasks will include individual short talks, group discussion, group

presentation (oral or written), debate and drama. Finally, in-depth interviews will be taken with three random

students to obtain students' ideas about autonomous EFL learning, especially, the changes of their learning

style after the recommended activities. The paper implies suggestions for pedagogy of an autonomous

classroom in the East Asian context.

Keywords: Leaner Autonomy, Classroom, East Asian Context, Vietnamese Context, Pedagogy

1. Introduction

This paper concerns the issue of how East Asian teachers foster their student autonomous learning in

classroom setting. Descriptor as “reactive autonomy” has been used in regarding to East Asian learners

(Littlewood, 1999). They are also said to be accustomed to a teacher-directed teaching classroom where the

effort to encourage LA seems to be an impossible approach. Therefore, careful consideration should be given

to how to effectively develop LA, a Western concept, within the context of East Asia.

The proposed study will include three stages in one English class in a Vietnamese university: (1)

questionnaires for the whole class; (2) an intervention; (3) interviews with voluntary students. The

intervention will consist of activities during which students will have input in managing their own learning.

The findings of the study are expected to contribute to the development of autonomous classroom

management in East Asian countries.

2. Characteristics of Autonomous Learners

The early and still influential definition of learner autonomy is by Holec (1981, p. 3). According to this,

autonomous learners are those having "the ability to take charge to one's own learning", the responsibility (1)

to determine the objectives, (2) to define the content and progression, (3) to select methods and techniques to

be used, (4) to monitor the procedure and acquisition, (5) to evaluate what has been acquired. Later

researchers also produce their own lists of the attributes of autonomous learners. They are said to be highly

motivated to learn. They can work independently in determining learning objectives, and engaging with

learning content flexibly and actively. They are believed to have ability in selecting their own learning

methods, evaluating and identifying their learning strengths and weaknesses (Chan, 2001; Dam, 1995;

Dickinson, 1993; Littlewood, 1996; Trinh, 2005).

3. Promoting LA in the Classroom

The approach to promoting LA in the classroom takes the emphasis on learners' abilities to manage their

own learning within the classroom environment. In other words, this approach highlights the changing

Corresponding author: phanthao@thanhdo.edu.vn

6

relationship between teachers and students and classroom practices (Benson, 2001). It requires a gradual

move from teacher-directed to learner-directed learning environment (Dam, 1995). According to this,

teachers play the role as language advisors. Their responsibility is to create a learning environment that

supports successfully the development and implementation of learners’ study plan (Murray, 2009).

This section attempts to produce a comprehensive framework of LA implementation in the language

classroom. Employing Crabbe (1993)’s six aspects that should be considered to overcome difficulties in

order to carry out independent learning tasks (task initiators, language practice, task problems, task decision

makers, and feedback), the section locates our learners into the Vietnamese academic context where

planning, student-directed learning, and evaluation demonstrate LA (Smith, 2003). This framework not only

provides students opportunities to reject and renegotiate but also creates opportunities for teachers to rebuild

a more familiar but necessary authority in their classroom teaching (Nguyen, 2009).

Fig. 1: A student-directed learning cycle – Adapted from Smith (2003, p.136)

4. The Academic Context

Vietnam has recognized “autonomy” as one of key outcomes that higher education graduates need to

possess. This has been strongly stated in the country higher education law 2013. In term of English as a

major, university graduates are required to be independent users, which are clearly announced in “Project on

National Foreign Language Teaching and Learning up to 2020”. Therefore, fostering learner autonomy,

specifically, helping students to identify goals and employ effective strategies to achieve these goals, has

appeared to be a “must” task for Vietnamese universities.

However, academics and educators claim that Vietnamese students are hindered by high levels of inertia.

They do not know how to take responsibility for their own learning. In the EFL classroom, they tend to listen

to teachers and take notes without offering any personal ideas or raising questions (Phung & Doa, 2010). It

is said that students are not self equipped with language learning strategies. They depend totally on teachers

(Nguyen, 2011). There are also issues that challenge most Vietnamese institutions in their English education

such as the shortage of teaching and learning resources (Kam, 2002; T. H. T. Pham, 2011) the overloaded

curriculum (Duong & Nguyen, 2006; H. H. Pham, 2007; T. H. T. Pham, 2008, 2011), the large classes (Kam,

2002), traditional teaching methods ((Lewis & McCook, 2002; H. H. Pham, 2007).

5. The Study

5.1. Research Question

In what ways can teachers encourage autonomy in the classroom?

5.2. Setting and Participants

7

The researcher plans to carry out a case study in an English major class at a Vietnamese private

university. The main reason for this option is the experience of the researcher herself in teaching for English

students. The second reason is because of English important role in the development of Vietnam. The

students of this subject area will participate, to be selected on a voluntary basis.

5.3. Research Process and Procedure

Phase 1: Questionnaire

The questionnaire with students (in English and Vietnamese) will be in two parts, and last for

approximately thirty minutes. It aims to investigate students' views of their responsibilities and decision-

making abilities, their actual and preferred learning activities.

Phase 2: Intervention

I employ the topic Describing your job from a list of situations and topics for the second language

suggested by Nation (2001, pp. 405 - 406). Others can be used alternatively. The main reason for this option

is it breaks down a big task into smaller short- term goals so as making the learning more goal-directed. All

the five activities follow the learning cycle: planning, student-directed, and evaluation.

Activity 1: Individual short talks

Students will be asked to talk about their future career of 2 – 3 minutes. This activity is considered as a

warm up activity to get students general orientation to their learning goals. It also helps students to gain

confidence, looking for several sources to prepare themselves for a very basic talk.

Activity 2: Group discussion and presentation

Students who share the same job option will form their own groups. They will then discuss about the

characteristics, requirements of the job they choose, and what they should prepare for themselves to achieve

the job. They will make an oral presentation about it.

Activity 3: Debate

Students will write a discussion about the advantages of disadvantages of the chosen job

Students will debate about the pros and cons of the job in peer groups.

Activity 4: Drama

Students will create their own drama of 20 - 30 minutes of any aspects relating to their career.

Activity 5: Report

Students will write a report to reflect on what their strong or weak points of their own performance.

Phase 3: Interview

In-depth interviews will be carried out individually with three students focusing on any changes of

autonomous learning style after the intervention.

5.4. Data Generation and Analysis

5.4.1. Questionnaire

Participation will involve completing an 8 item anonymous questionnaire with likert scale answers

(strongly agree – strongly disagree) that will take approximately 30 minutes.

For example: Choose the best option to answer the questions

The teacher should build on student’s potential to learn independently?

Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree

The teacher should give guidelines and suggestions on how to get more information and how to

explore new ideas.

Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree

The participation in this project is entirely voluntary. If students agree to participate they do not have to

complete any question(s) they are uncomfortable answering. Their decision to participate or not participate

will in no way impact upon their current or future relationship with the university, for example their grades

or with associated external organisation. If students do not agree to participate they can withdraw from the

project at any time without comment or penalty.

8

5.4.2. Intervention

Before the teachers and the students conduct their project work, there will be an orientation by the

researcher with the teachers. The researcher will give guidelines and model the project work first. Then there

will be consultation with the teachers in order to conduct the work effectively. The researcher will collect

their ideas on the final design.

5.4.3. Interview

The interviews will be arranged at a room on the university campus at the participants’ convenience and

will be audio recorded. The data will then be typed into text for a careful qualitative theme analysis

(Sanacore, 2008). All these transcripts will finally be segmented and coded.

6. Conclusion

Employing a student-directed learning cycle, the paper has described a study which will be undertaken to

explore the implementation of LA in a tertiary classroom setting in Vietnam. Individual short talks, group

discussion and presentation, and drama have been arranged from easy to more difficult level following the

learning cycle: planning, student-directed, and evaluation. The findings of the study are expected to

contribute to effective pedagogic intervention to promote LA in East Asia classrooms in general and

Vietnam in particular.

7. References

[1] Benson, P. (2001). Teaching and Researching Autonomy in Language Learning. Applied Linguistics in Action

Series: Pearson Educational Limited, U.K.

[2] Chan, V. (2001). Readiness for learner autonomy: What do our learners tell us? Teaching in higher education, 6(4),

505-518.

[3] Crabbe, D. (1993). Fostering autonomy from within the classroom: the teacher's responsibility. System, 21(4), 443-

452.

[4] Dam, L. (1995). From Theory to Classroom PracticeLearner Autonomy 3. Dublin: Authentik Language Learning

Resources.

[5] Dickinson, L. (1993). Talking Shop: Aspects of Autonomous Learning. ELT journal, 47(4), 330-336.

[6] Duong, T. H.O, & Nguyen, T.H. (2006). Memorization and EFL students' strategies at university level in Vietnam.

TESL-EJ, 10(2), 1-21.

[7] Holec, H. (1981). Autonomy and foreign language learning: Council of Europe.

[8] Kam, H. W. (2002). English language teaching in East Asia today: An overview. Asia Pacific Journal of

Education, 22(2), 1-22.

[9] Kenny, B. (1993). For more autonomy. System, 21(4), 431-442.

[10] Lewis, M., & McCook, F. (2002). Cultures of teaching: Voices from Vietnam. ELT journal, 56(2), 146-153.

[11] Littlewood, W. (1996). “Autonomy”: An anatomy and a framework. System, 24(4), 427-435.

[12] Littlewood, W. (1999). Defining and developing autonomy in East Asian contexts. Applied linguistics, 20(1), 71-

94.

[13] Nation, I. S. (2001). Learning Vocabulary in Another Language: Cambridge University Press.

[14] Nguyen, T. C. L. (2009). Learner Autonomy and EFL Learning at the Tertiary Level in Vietnam. PhD thesis,

Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.

[15] Nguyen H. (2011). Nang cao nang luc Ngoai ngu cho Sinh vien Viet nam trong 10 nam toi - Developing

Vietnamese students’ foreign language ability in the next 10 years. Retrieved from http://www. Egov.net.vn.

(Vietnamese version).

[16] Pham, H. H. (2007). Communicative language teaching: Unity within diversity. ELT journal, 61(3), 193-201.

[17] Pham, T. H.T. (2008). The roles of teachers in implementing educational innovation: The case of implementing

cooperative learning in Vietnam. Asian Social Science, 4(1), P3.

9

[18] Pham, T. H.T. (2011). An investigation of perceptions of Vietnamese teachers and students toward cooperative

learning (CL). International Education Studies, 4(1), p3.

[19] Phung N. & Doa N. (2010). Co nen Tha noi viec hoc Ngoai ngu cho Sinh vien? - Should we float Foreign

Language Learning for Students? Retrieved from http://www. Bee.net.vn. (Vietnamese version)

[20] Sanacore, J. (2008). Turning reluctant learners into inspired learners. The clearing house, 82(1), 40-44.

[21] Smith, R. C. (2003). Pedagogy for autonomy as (becoming-) appropriate methodology. Learner autonomy across

cultures, 129-146.

[22] Trinh, Q. L. (2005). Stimulating learner autonomy in English language education: a curriculum innovation study

in a Vietnamese context. PhD thesis, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Holland.

[23] Vietnamese National Assembly: Vietnam Higher Education Law No 08/2012/QH13 . Retrieved from:

http://www.chinhphu.vn/portal/page/portal/chinhphu/hethongvanban?class_id=1&mode=detail&document_id=16

3054 (Vietnamese version)

[24] Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training: Project on National Foreign Language Teaching and Learning

up to 2020. Retrieved from: http://vanban.moet.gov.vn/?page=1.15&script=viewdoc&view=708&opt=brpage

(Vietnamese version)

10