This document discusses whether the concept of learner autonomy is appropriate in collectivist societies. It argues that while some individualistic aspects of learner autonomy like independence may conflict with collectivist values, other aspects like group work can actually facilitate autonomy. Teachers should consider how to adapt, not reject, autonomy to their specific cultural contexts. Learner autonomy aims to prepare students to continue learning outside the classroom, which benefits all students, so teachers should select appropriate methods without simply accepting or rejecting autonomy as a whole.

1. Learner Autonomy and Collectivist SocietiesJay Duxfield

2. IntroductionThe concept of learner autonomy has revolutionized language teaching over the last few decades by placing the learner at the centre of the learning process and transferring much of the power into the hands of the student.In this presentation I will look at the question of whether the promotion of learner autonomy is appropriate in all contexts. It has been argued that some of the principles of learner autonomy such as independence and freedom from the constraints of an authoritarian teaching system are in fact imposing individualistic western values on collectivist cultures. This raises the question of whether or not learner autonomy is an ethnocentric concept.I will examine these claims and argue that while it is true that some aspects of learner autonomy may be difficult to promote in the same form as they are in the West., others are well suited to the collectivist classroom culture.Therefore teachers should not simply accept or reject arguments about learner autonomy but rather consider how to adapt and apply aspects of learner autonomy that are appropriate to their own particular teaching context.

3. What is Learner Autonomy?The term learner autonomy was first used in relation to second language learning by Henri Holic who descirbedit as “the ability to take charge of one’s own learning”(Holic, 1981, p.3)Since then a number of definitions have been offered.Littlewood (1999 ,p.1) offers the following summary of features included in the definitions of learner autonomy.Students should take responsibility for their own learning. This is both because all learning can in any case be carried out by the students themselves and also because they need to develop the ability to continue learning after the end of their formal education.

4. ‘Taking responsibility ‘ involves learners taking ownership (partial or total) of many processes which have traditionally belonged to the teacher, such as deciding on learning objectives, selecting learning methods and evaluating progress.Methods of promoting AutonomyMethods of promoting autonomy may include:Raising awareness about learning styles

5. Teaching language learning strategies

6. Learning Journals

7. Self Access CentresIndividualist and Collectivist CulturesGeerteHofstede’s cultural dimensions theory proposes that cultures can be classified as either collectivist or individualist . Individualist cultures assume that people look primarily after their own interests and tend to emphasize personal achievement at the expense of group goals, resulting in a strong sense of competition. Learning is less about how to do and more about how to learn.Collectivist cultures assume that people through birth and other events, belong to particular group emphazize the importance of loyalty to those groups. Learning is reserved for the young, who learn how to do things in order to be useful group members(Hofestede, 1986, p. 312)

8. Arguments Against promotion of learner autonomy in Collectivist culturesIndividualization: Learner autonomy is closely tied to the idea that learners have their own learning styles, capacities and needs (Kojima, 2006, p.68) . It gives students a great deal more independence. This may conflict with the traditions of a collectivist society where group consensus is valued.Learner Centeredness: This approach is not characterized by the transmission of knowledge from the teacher to the student, but rather by the student being involved in the active production of knowledge. This represents power being taken away from the teacher and being redistributed in a more egalitarian manner. This may be viewed as a reduction in the traditional status held by a teacher in collectivist societies.

9. Arguments Against promotion of learner autonomy in Collectivist culturesJones (1995, p.228) describes the promotion of learner autonomy as being “laden with cultural values, especially those of the west”And therefore unsuited to the Cambodian tradition of learning and teaching.Ho and Crookall (1995) also claimed that autonomous learning was in opposition to the teacher-centered, authority oriented traditions of Chinese education. Therefore not appropriate for students in Hong Kong.

10. Arguments Against promotion of learner autonomy in Collectivist culturesIt has also been argued that assuming that a method that is appropriate in the west is therefore necessarily appropriate in other cultures is a form of cultural imperialism.“yet another version of the free, enlightened, liberal West bringing one more form of supposed emancipation to the unenlightened , traditional, backward and authoritarian classrooms of the world”(Pennycook cited in Palfyman 2003 p.7)

11. HoweverThere are also arguments which suggest that the collectivist culture actually facilitates the promotion of learner autonomyGroup work has been associated with the promotion of autonomy because it allows students to make decisions independently of the teacher (Harmer, 2007, p.166).Despite his criticisms of the promotion of learner autonomy, Jones (1995) describes how his students reacted positively to working in groups, independently of the teacher.

12. Autonomy and relatednessRelatedness is described by Littlewood(1999, p.74) as contact, support and community with others.If this contact is felt to be controlling it can cause us to lose our sense of autonomy.ButIf this contact is supportive (such as the strong bonds between members of in group in collective cultures combined with the desire maintain harmonious relations within the group ) it can facilitate autonomy.Autonomy may be accomplished through interdependence rather than independence.