Self-Directed Learning: 7 Ways to Develop Learner Autonomy in the ELT Classroom

Autonomous, self-directed, or independent learners have the academic and life skills required to take control of their own learning journeys. They can fast-track their language learning through self-study, seeking out learning opportunities, and using effective learning strategies. 

In my previous blog post on independent learning, I looked at 5 Benefits of Encouraging Learner Autonomy. In this post, I will cover some practical ways to do this. 

1. Explore learning strategies

Every learner is different, so what works for one may be less effective for another. Some learners may feel the need to write up notes straight after class, while others may prefer to watch videos or do activities with a similar theme.

Give students the opportunity to share learning strategies with their classmates. This can help them to find out what works for them and to understand that everyone learns differently. It also lets them take inspiration and guidance from their peers and discover new learning techniques. 

For a simple and creative classroom idea for how to do this, check out the container activity in this blog post: 

Learning That Sticks: The Power of Post-its in the ELT Classroom 

2. Encourage problem-solving

Students who haven't developed the ability to work autonomously can often be full of excuses. For example, they may claim that they didn't know what the homework was, that they didn't have the right worksheet, or that they couldn't log in. 

These are all valid excuses in certain contexts. However, it is the student's responsibility to find out what the homework is, to make sure they have the right worksheet, and to find a way to log in. 

We have to help students see excuses as problems to be solved. One way to do this is to write common excuses on the board and have them discuss solutions. 

Problem: "I didn't know we had homework."

Solution: Ask another student, keep a diary of the homework, or check emails, notes, or the learning platform.

Problem: "I didn't have the right worksheet."

Solution: Keep homework tasks in a separate folder, ask a friend, identify the homework worksheet with a post-it or a star, take a photo of someone else's, and complete it in their notebook.

Problem: "I couldn't log in."

Solutions: Ask the IT team, another student, or a friend for help. Follow the password reset functions. 

Getting students into the habit of finding their own solutions before asking for help promotes resourcefulness and stops them from relying on you more than necessary. 

3. Use learning journals

Learning journals can help students keep track of their learning. They can use them to jot down homework tasks, class schedules, topics covered, and upcoming themes. They can also use them to reflect on progress so far. 

Learning journals are a great way to help students get organized, assess their own learning, and track their distance traveled. 

4. Set goals

Setting goals lets learners consider where they want to be and how they are going to get there. It gives them direction and an attainable target to work towards and motivate them. 

Here are some posts on the topic: 

• Creative Ways to Set Personal & Academic Goals with Students
• Struggling to Focus? 4 Types of Goals to Get Your Language Learning Back on Track (for students)

Here are some Ellii resources on the topic: 

• Discussion Starters: Goal-Setting (Adv)
• Discussion Starters: Goal-Setting (Low Int)
• Discussion Starters: Grit (High Int – Adv)
• Discussion Starters: Growth Mindset (Adv)
• Grammar Stories: More Simple Future Stories (Goals)
• Student Reflection: Goal-Setting (Can Do)

5. Use self & peer assessment

Why spend hours on grading when you can give students the answer key or rubric and have them correct their work themselves? This way they can get into the habit of assessing their own progress in their own time and learning from their mistakes. 

Of course, this is simpler for activities with clear-cut answers (e.g., yes/no, true/false, multiple-choice) than for written or spoken work.

However, it is also good to have students get into a routine of checking their productive work against a checklist before they submit.

For example, have them check:

• Did they answer the question? 
• Have they used the right punctuation? 
• Is the word count suitable? 
• Have they used the language they are focusing on (e.g., sequence words, phrases for introducing opinions)
• How is the spelling? 
• For extra support, you can have them check each other's work in groups or pairs. That way, they can learn from each other and give feedback and support. 

6. Try project-, task- & inquiry-based learning

Project-, task-, and inquiry-based learning are great ways to help students explore topics in more depth. They can develop their research, collaborative, and presentation skills too. 

Check out these posts for more: 

• 10 Tips for Successful Project-Based Learning
• Task-Based Learning: An Introductory Guide
• Inquiry-Based Learning: A Quick Guide for ELT Professionals

7. Give them choices

It can be tiring choosing learning topics that will interest our learners. Giving them a choice lets them decide for themselves. You could set aside time in class where students can pick their own activity. 

For example: 

• read a book
• research something online
• create a poster
• make a video
• write a blog

This way, they can choose a mode of learning that works for them and a motivating subject that interests them. 

On Ellii, you can use the built-in feature called Student Picks. 

Our comprehensive self-study platform, Ellii Solo, lets students choose from a full library of courses, study packs, and videos, as well as studying vocabulary at their own pace. The content helps students target specific skills and reach their language learning goals faster.

For more on the topic of self-directed learning, check out my previous posts: 

• 5 Benefits of Encouraging Learner Autonomy 
• 5 Ways to Supercharge your Students' Study Skills
• Developing Learner Autonomy with AI

How do you encourage learner autonomy in your classroom? We'd love to hear which tips and tricks have worked for you! Let us know in the comments.