Promoting Autonomy and Self-Directed Learning in English for Specific Purposes: Case of 3rd Year Marketing Students at Tlemcen University

Abstract

The concept of autonomy symbolizes a starting point towards self-dependence and individual achievement. Hence, recently a significant attention is consecrated to Self-Directed Learning (SDL) by a number of educationalists and languages teachers in the field of English Language Teaching in general and English for Specific Purposes in particular. This research is concerned with autonomous and self-directed learning in ESP context. It is a case study designed to explore ESP learners’ perceptions toward autonomy and SDL, their level of autonomy, as well as both teachers and learners roles in fostering autonomy using SDL approach. The purpose of this study is to explore teacher’s and student’s perceptions toward AL and SDL, as well as the roles of both of them in fostering autonomy using the self-directed le. To reach these objectives, an exploratory case study was submitted including data collection from a questionnaire that was designed to 36 third year Marketing license students from Economic Science Department at Tlemcen University, and a structured interview which was addressed to ESP teachers from the mentioned department. Afterward, both quantitative and qualitative collected data were analyzed and interpreted. Ultimately, some suggestions were helpfully provided to foster autonomy and self-directness in ESP classrooms.