Lingua et Linguistica
Vol. 1.1, 2007
ISBN 978-1-84753-625-9

Macrocosmic Autonomy to Language Teaching and Learning

Li-Mei Chen
Valdosta State University, USA

Abstract

The concept of autonomy has been discussed in the context of second and foreign language for years. However, its potential remains in microcosmic views in which self-government learning strategies are stressed and knowledge is treated subjectively. Since language learning inevitably interacts with the learner's communal society and culture, the way that microcosmic autonomy treats language teaching and learning is inappropriate. Therefore, I propose macrocosmic autonomy. In this paper, I conceptualize macrocosmic autonomy by contrasting it to the microcosmic version, discuss the parameters of macrocosmic autonomy to English teaching and learning, and provide activities and suggestions for implementing macrocosmic autonomy through cyberspace with visualizing the implementation into four stages.

pp. 46-57

order or download