Learner autonomy and technology: an integrated language learning environment

The rate of technological progression seems to have encouraged teachers and researchers to reassess their pedagogic beliefs in an attempt to maintain their control over the learning process and the influx of authentic materials. With regard to the field of language teaching, technology seems to be demanding a re-examination of pedagogies in order to find ways of making use of current technology-related opportunities. Thus teachers and researchers have been searching for ways to legitimise their teaching practices and the design/implementation of online language learning environments. Learner autonomy is, understandably, at the forefront as its principles (respect for learner differences, learner responsibility and control) seem to be encouraged and promoted by technology. This paper briefly presents the framework of an integrated language learning environment that has attempted to acknowledge these differences and find ways of accommodating them.