Characterization of Autonomous Work in a Chilean English Pedagogy Program: Teachers’ and Freshmen’s Perspectives

Roxanna Correa-Pérez; María Gabriela Sanhueza-Jara

doi:10.15359/ree.23-1.4

Roxanna Correa-Pérez Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2035-4282
María Gabriela Sanhueza-Jara Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4037-8238

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15359/ree.23-1.4

Keywords: Autonomous learning, autonomous work activities, autonomous work, learning, university student

Abstract

Autonomy in language learning is recognized as a basic skill language learners need to develop. This study describes the autonomous work activities university students carry out in a first-semester course of an English teaching program, and the amount of time they invest in each of these activities. Moreover, it describes the teachers’ perspective on students’ autonomous work. It is a descriptive mixed study with an exploratory scope. The study considers data generated through the application of a questionnaire and an in-depth interview to 48 freshmen from an English Pedagogy Program, as well as a questionnaire and a focus group applied to eight English teachers from the same program. The qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis method; and the quantitative data, through a frequency method of analysis. The analysis reveals that there is an imbalance between the time teachers estimate students devote to autonomous work and the real time students declare to invest in it. In relation to students autonomous work activities, it can be concluded that they concentrate on activities which are less stressful and the ones they do not need to interact with teachers. This study provides empiric information that could be useful to design courses that consider autonomous work.

Author Biographies

Roxanna Correa-Pérez, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción

Roxanna Correa is a teacher of English at Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Chile. Professor Correa holds a Master’s Degree in Education. Since 2004 she has been part of the English Pedagogy Staff in UCSC, teaching mainly methodology and assessment courses and developing research in applied linguistics.

María Gabriela Sanhueza-Jara, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción

Profesora de Inglés de la Universidad de Concepción-Chile y Magister en Ciencias de la Educación de la Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción- Chile (UCSC). Actualmente, académica de la UCSC, ejerce docencia e investiga en el área del aprendizaje y enseñanza de inglés. Ha publicado capítulos de libro y artículos académicos sobre las concepciones pedagógicas de profesores en formación y en ejercicio, y estrategias de aprendizaje de inglés como L2.

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