IATEFL Learner Autonomy Special Interest Group
A website to share news and resources related to learner autonomy.
Joint LASIG and TESOL Macedonia-Thrace event
Joint LASIG and TESOL Macedonia-Thrace Event
TESOL Macedonia-Thrace (www.tesolmacthrace.org) held a 3 day annual convention which attracted delegates and speakers from distant parts, but particularly from the Balkan region. The title was The Whole Professional: Rethinking Teaching in and out of the Classroom".
The LASIG was responsible for organizing the first day of the convention, which was, of course, devoted to autonomy. There were presentations and short round-table discussions which examined the factors that can foster or inhibit autonomy in language learning and what steps the teacher can take to promote autonomy in the language classroom.
The Event Schedule was as follows:-
2 p.m. Opening and Welcome by Chair of TESOL Macedonia-Thrace, Paul Shaw and Introductions to the Day’s Proceedings by IATEFL LASIG Coordinator, Carol Everhard
1st Group of Presentations chaired by Lienhard Legenhausen
First Speaker Leni Dam (Denmark)
Developing learner autonomy with a coursebook – is it possible?
Second Speaker Richard Smith (U.K.)
Steps towards autonomy: two situations compared
Third Speaker Androulla Athanasiou (Cyprus)
From learner training to collaborative learning: an experience of
promoting learner autonomy
4.15 – 4.30 Short Round Table coordinated by Lienhard Legenhausen
4.30 -5.00 Coffee break and snacks
2nd Group of Presentations chaired by Leni Dam
Fourth Speaker Lienhard Legenhausen (Germany)
Errors, grammar and autonomous language learning – where does
the teacher come in?
Fifth Speaker Joan Nordlund (Finland)
It’s all about trust
Sixth Speaker Carol Everhard (Greece)
Returning the dancing bears to the wild!
7.00 – 7.30 Round Table coordinated by Leni Dam
8.00 – 8.45 Plenary delivered by Leslie Bobb Wolff (Spain)
Rethinking teaching and learning: ‘the good language learner’ and
learner autonomy
The traditional TESOL Macedonia-Thrace Friday Evening
Plenary was delivered by Leslie Bobb Wolff who is
very well-known internationally for her work on the practical
implications for the classroom teacher of putting autonomy into
practice.
9 p.m. Buffet for TESOL Macedonia-Thrace Members and IATEFL Members
"Can of Worms" is an ongoing project designed to shed light on various strands of autonomy and language learning. The one day in Aberdeen event featured the following "worm keepers" sharing insights on their areas of expertise based on the worm's journey: