| The New Senior English Curriculum Syllabus promulgated by the national Ministry of Education in July, 2001 points out that "the objective of the English course in elementary education is ... to train students to gain ability to use English, to form learning strategies and to develop autonomous learning ability...".Autonomous learning is the main characteristic of successful learners. Autonomous learner training is quite an effective way to help learners learn how to learn. To provide learner training is necessary, especially for those learners who may not be as quick-witted and flexible in their use of learning strategies as their successful classmates.Many linguists at home and abroad have done a lot of research on autonomous learning, which is mainly on the notion and the method of learner training. Many papers provide a lot of valuable suggestions for learner training. Learner Strategies for Learner Autonomy by Anita Wenden is a good resource. However, until now, most English teachers in middle schools are still lacking in knowing autonomous learning. On the other hand, the previous research on English (as a foreign language) mostly focuses on theory. The achievement in practical research, especially experimental research on autonomous learner training, is far more inadequate. Experimental research on it is of great practical value, but it is hard to carry out as any other experimental research. Consequently the experimental research on autonomous learner training nearly remains blank. For this reason the writer plans to provide the students systematic autonomous learner training in Senior English Course to help the students develop their autonomous learning ability and accumulate some practical experience on autonomous learner training.The method of the case study is as follows:1. The objectives of the experiment By conducting 3 years of English autonomous learner training, the teacher intends to help students form appropriate beliefs and attitudes towards English learning and learner autonomy; promote the students' awareness of employing a strategy; encourage thestudents to employ appropriate strategies to deal with different learning tasks more autonomously. Some rational proposals for further autonomous learner training will be provided, based on the actual experiment.2. The experimental subjects of the program The experiment is designed for the students in Senior Grade One in Shenzhen Guanlan Middle School in Guangdong. After making sure that there is no obvious dissimilarities in English learning proficiency by way of a "t-test", a class of students is selected as the experimental subjects (Class 1) and another class as the control class (Class 2). The whole training is planned to last 3 school years, from September 1, 2002 to June 30, 2005, or from Senior Grade One to Senior Grade Three.3. The procedure of the training program 1) Preparation for the autonomous learner training programThe teacher in the action plan studies the theories of autonomous learner training in a comprehensive way; A training program is made according to the theories of Course Design; Autonomous Learner Training Materials for Senior Middle School Students is selected and compiled. 2) QuestionnairesSeveral questionnaires, which are concerned with good language learners, about learners' attitudes towards English learning and learner training, and for developing learners' special skills and techniques, are handed out to the students. Two copies of each questionnaire are handed out to the students. One is for investigating their learning ability and the other is for further study so that they form awareness of their learning efficiency. 3) Discussions are held after the questionnaires so that the students can learn more and understand better about learning strategies and the language learning process and adjust their beliefs and attitudes towards English learning and autonomous learner training. In this way, the action plan for learner training will be carried out more effectively.4) A...
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