The Effect of EFL Teachers’ Autonomy Awareness on Students’ Investment in EFL Learning: A Mixed-Methods Approach
Nader Abdolshahi Rad
1
(
Department of Foreign languages, Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran
)
Bahram Mowlaie
2
(
Department of Persian Literature and Foreign Languages, Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran
)
Hossein Rahmanpanah
3
(
Islamic Aazad University-South Tehran Branch
)
Keywords: Learner Autonomy (LA), Teachers’ Autonomy Awareness, EFL Learning, Student Investment,
Abstract :
This study investigated the impact of raising EFL teachers’ awareness of learner autonomy on students’ investment in EFL learning. A total of 100 public high school students in Shahrood city were selected as the participants, with 50 assigned to an experimental group and 50 to a control group. A standardized questionnaire on investment in L2 learning was administered to assess their initial levels of investment in L2 learning. The experimental group was taught by teachers who had participated in a comprehensive workshop aimed at enhancing their understanding of learner autonomy. The workshop addressed key topics such as the definition of learner autonomy, strategies for promoting autonomous learning, the benefits of autonomy-supportive environments, and their potential influence on student investment. Meanwhile, the control group received conventional instruction. After the intervention, students’ investment levels were reassessed, and semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore their perceptions of the intervention’s practicality and impact. Quantitative results revealed a significant increase in investment among students taught by autonomy-aware teachers. Qualitative findings further supported this outcome, highlighting improvements in self-management, self-regulation, self-efficacy, and overall learning engagement. The study offers practical implications for EFL teachers, learners, and teacher educators in fostering autonomy and enhancing student investment in language learning.
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