Larissa Acherman Ambrosio
Abstract
Learning a second language is a difficult task, especially when one chooses to learn on their own. To accomplish this type of learning process one must keep in mind the difficulties he/she will face, and the self discipline and self management he/she must have. There are many obstacles one needs to overcome when choosing this kind of method, but there are many benefits and the end result can be rewarding,
Becoming an autonomous learner
When learning a second language, a person has a relatively limited knowledge of it, meaning they know very little or nothing of the language they are trying to learn. As a result, learners must put in time, dedication, and effort. This is especially true if one decides to be an autonomous learner. Some believe independent learning to be more practical and that it allows more freedom. Moreover, with today’s technology and recourses it has become quite easy to learn a second language without the help of basically anyone. However, to accomplish the goal of autonomous learning, the person should know the benefits and inconveniences of this kind of method and some guidelines he/she should follow.
One of the benefits of being an autonomous learner is the independence one has over choosing when and how to learn a certain language. The student choses his/her own pace, and decides when to start learning. The autonomous learner is not obligated to follow any timeline or material. However, the learner must have discipline. One must explicitly accept the responsibility for his/her learning, and take initiative in planning and executing learning activities. Since there is no one to assist in the learning process, one must be aware that time must be invested and also understand the purpose of the learning process.
Another benefit is that a person that is being self taught has the ability to learn according to his/her needs. Since the desire to learn comes from a personal need, the learning process becomes more efficient and effective. Generally when someone learns something because they want to, and not because they are forced, they have a tendency of better absorbing the information. However, the learner must bear in mind that to properly learn a language the focus cannot only be given to what is interesting, but also to the other parts of the language.
A quality of being an independent student is the feeling of self reliability and self accomplishment. As the learners begin to understand the language, they begin to feel a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment, and therefore become more and more motivated to continue studying. The downfall is that not many learners have the patience to see these results and give up before ever really trying. Some do not know how to monitor and evaluate themselves, so it may seem as if they haven’t accomplished much. Autonomous learners have to basically “fend for themselves”, and if they do not have the proper commitment the process can be very tiring and frustrating.
Autonomous learners have the benefit of exposing themselves to different types of material and the amount of input they receive. They are free to decide what material to use and how to use that in their benefit. Also, since there are no teachers, the students may expose themselves to different types of accents, pronunciations, and cultures until they find one their comfortable with. Nevertheless, this could be a problem if the student finds himself/herself having doubts because of the different types of information. It is never easy to know what is reliable and what isn’t, and the autonomous learners generally talk to are other learners that may have the same doubts.
Autonomous learners have a lot to deal with in the process of learning a new language, but it is not an impossible task. All one needs is strategy, insight, a positive attitude and capacity for reflection. A learner has to be disciplined and proactive, and really make an effort to adapt to this new way of learning.
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