Abstract: This study aims to investigate English majors’ competence in autonomy learning. Questionnaires are used to investigate five aspects of learning autonomy: learning motivation, learning strategy, learning environment, the learning plan and goals and learning materials. 80 English majors participate in the survey. Questionnaires are collected and the data are processed by SPSS. The study reveals that students have a moderate level of autonomy learning competence, and there is no significant difference between the freshmen and the juniors. The results imply that students can learn autonomously and teachers should give full play to their competence in autonomous learning. The paper also explores some practical ways to promote learners’ autonomy. 

Key word: English majors; learning autonomy; implication

CONTENTS

Abstract

中文摘要

1. Introduction..1

2. Theoretical Background and Literature Review.1

2.1 Definition of Learning Autonomy

2.2 Major Components of Learning Autonomy

2.3 English Learning Autonomy

2.4 Previous Research on Learning Autonomy 

3. Methodology.5

3.1 Research Questions

3.2 Participants

3.3 Instrument

3.4 Data Collection and Analysis 

4. Results and Discussions.6

4.1 Description of English Majors’ Learning Autonomy

 4.1.1 The Overall Description 

 4.1.2 Description of Autonomous Motivation

 4.1.3 Description of Autonomous Strategies

 4.1.4 Description of the Autonomous Environment

 4.1.5 Description of Autonomous Selection of Materials

 4.1.6 Description of the Autonomous Panning

4.2 Difference in the Level of Learning Autonomy Between the Freshmen and Juniors 

5. Pedagogical Implications9

  5.1 Implications to English Majors

5.2 Implications to Teachers

6. Conclusion11

Bibliography.13

Appendix....14

Acknowledgements17