IATEFL Learner Autonomy Special Interest Group 

A website to share news and resources related to learner autonomy.

The Department of Language Studies at Unitec New Zealand (Auckland) has an excellent Self-Access Centre currently located within the ground floor of the Main Library Building on the main Mt Albert campus.

This Language Learning Centre (LLC) is physically part of the Library, which means that students can make use of it whenever the Library is open and that it is available to all students. Also, because it is philosophically and managerially part of the Language School, students get access to the very best materials, with very strong links between the teachers involved in classroom practice and the staff involved in managing and resourcing the LLC.

The Centre is arranged in such a way that all the materials are very accessible to a wide range of student needs and abilities – they are colour-coded for level and categorised on clearly-marked shelves broadly according to skill, topic and/or content. It has a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere, with areas for group and social interaction as well as quiet spaces (you can see some tutorial rooms and the “Talking Books” section in the photo below).

There is also a system of Tutorial Assistants whose roles range from helping with group or one-to-one work in the classroom, to facilitating small group conversation practice in the LLC.

Website: www.unitec.ac.nz (type "Language Learning Centre" in the search box)

Web: www.iatefl.org