Investigating Students’ Readiness for Autonomy and Self-access Learning during COVID-19 Pandemic. A Case Study of Master Students at the University of Ibn Khaldoun -Tiaret-

Abstract

The present study investigates the students‘ and teachers‘ perception of the concept autonomy. Foregrounding the paramount role of autonomy to boost foreign language learning at educational strata. It attemps to reveal the students‘ readiness to assume responsibility of their own learning during COVID-19. Therefore, this study is designed to scrutinize the students‘ attitudes towards autonomous learning and the extent to which they are prepared for it. Finally, it seeks ways to promote EFL learners’ autonomy at university level. For this purpose, a case study was undertaken with first and second year Master classes of one hundered twenty students majoring in English. Four data collection methods were used in this study; an intervention, a questionnaire, an interview, and journal prompts. The findings reveal both teachers and learners are not sufficiently aware of the concept and find it even difficult to implement it in learning. Students are also unable to self-regulate their own learning due to lack of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. This study recommends some measures to promote autonomous learning at higher education level which is a common pattern across universities in advanced countries. Furthermore, it suggests the involvement of students in assuming more responsibility for their own learning and direct them to become proficient autonomous learners.