Supporting learner autonomy in the primary school foreign language classroom

Abstract

Along the lines of “early start” issue in EU language policy children are starting to learn foreign languages at an increasingly early age. It goes without saying that autonomous learning brings about a wide range of educationally and developmentally important benefits like positive emotionality, greater intrinsic motivation, higher academic achievement, and undoubtedly helps the student to realise and accept the fact that learning a foreign language is a life-long occupation. Developing and supporting learner autonomy is therefore becoming more and more significant since the early stages of primary school. Considering autonomous learning in primary education one should take into account cognitive, emotional and social determinants that can either limit or boost the autonomization process. The purpose of this article is to take a closer look at these determinants as well as to give some suggestions and present a few active teaching techniques that support learner autonomy at this stage of education.