Empowering Learner Autonomy: EFL Teachers' Perspectives and Classroom Dynamics

Abstract

In the last thirty years, learner autonomy (LA) has become a pivotal notion in language teaching, profoundly transforming instructional methodologies (Benson, 2011). The shift from behaviourist techniques, such as audiolingualism, to communicative methods has emphasised the importance of students taking responsibility for their learning. The viewpoints of educators, especially in public education, remain little examined, despite extensive research highlighting the advantages of Learning Analytics for language acquisition and lifetime learning. This paper examines the learning strategies utilised by English as a Foreign Language (EFL) professors in Moroccan institutions to foster language acquisition and their viewpoints on the matter. This study utilises both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The data were collected via semi-structured interviews and classroom observations done with a purposive sample of Moroccan EFL instructors. The interviews examined the obstacles instructors encounter in fostering autonomy, the importance they attribute to learner autonomy, and their understanding of learner autonomy. Classroom observations clarified the practical application of LA techniques, enabling a study that links teachers' views with their teaching methods. The study aims to provide enhancements for pedagogical methods and to elucidate how classroom dynamics influence the advancement of LA. The findings enhance the understanding of teachers' responsibilities in promoting autonomy, therefore addressing a gap in the research about teacher perspectives in language education.