Collaborative Learner Autonomy: A Mode of Learner Autonomy Development

Soufiane Blidi‏

ستمبر 2016 · Springer

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The book investigates interest groups and various learning circles, Reading Circles (RCs) learning opportunity in particular, as a mode of in-class and beyond class autonomous learning in the context of English Language Teaching (ELT) at tertiary level in Oman, and in similar contexts in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This investigation presents learners’ positive perceptions of learner autonomy and their readiness to adopt related practices. Building on findings from these RCs, the book introduces collaborative learner autonomy (CLA) as a novel concept of learner autonomy for use in educational contexts in the MENA region. As a concept of gradual development of learner autonomy, the CLA represents a new dynamic learner autonomy development process consisting of individual, competitive, collaborative, and autonomous stages. The CLA advocated in the book emphasizes the constructive role of teachers and educational institutions can play with other stakeholders in developing autonomy in their learners. The book also suggests that it is a shared responsibility that students, teachers, educational establishments, families, society and the educational systems should assume in a spirit of partnership.

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Dr. Soufiane Blidi is a senior ELT practitioner with twenty years of experience in teaching English, both language skills and content applied linguistics and translation courses, in Tunisia and Oman. He is currently the acting Dean of the Faculty of Language Studies at Sohar University, Oman and a member of the Laboratoire de Recherches d'Analyse de Discours, Sfax University, Tunisia. He has contributions in the design, review and evaluation of undergraduate and post-graduate programmes and a committed interest in curriculum design and evaluation within the perspectives of learner involvement, autonomy, and collaboration.
He is an advocate of learner autonomy development through effective teacher guidance and peer scaffolding in an environment of shared responsibility. Research projects in the pipeline cover: learner involvement in extra-curricula activities; the impact of autonomous and collaborative learning on the learners' language life skills; and the development of autonomous reading culture.