The New Role Of College English Teachers In Students' Autonomous Learning

As far as EFL teaching for non-English majors is concerned, increasing number of researches focus on'student-centered learning'or'autonomous learning'. The rapid development of modern media makes it more possible for students to learn by themselves. The function of teacher seems to be, more or less, weakened. The author thinks that although it is important for us to realize student is the center in the process of learning and teaching, we must also realize the fact that English is a foreign language instead of second language in China. English teacher is usually the main source of input for students. What's more, it is difficult for many universities in China to set up self-access English learning centers because of financial limitation. As a result, the role of English teachers should be emphasized instead of being neglected. In the process of developing students'autonomous learning ability, we should carefully think over about the new roles of college English teachers firstly instead of pursuing and practicing autonomous learning blindly.After reviewing the researches on autonomous learning at home as well as abroad by qualitative approach and looking at the current situation of Chinese college English learning and teaching including some related experiments by quantitative approach, the author has drawn the following conclusion: the most important role of the teachers is to introduce the elements of autonomous learning into every routine stage of the learning and teaching process, making it possible for students to develop the habit of autonomous learning gradually in all the learning activities both inside and outside class.