Developing learner autonomy Developing learner autonomy through new curriculum reform through new curriculum reform

project in Uzbekistanproject in UzbekistanDilrabo Ahmadalieva Dilrabo Ahmadalieva

Andijan State University Andijan State University Faculty of Foreign PhilologyFaculty of Foreign Philology

IETFL – Brighton 2011IETFL – Brighton 2011

UzbekistanUzbekistan

The student is an empty vessel which the teacher fills with knowledge.

It is important to give learners choice over what task to perform.

Pair work and group work is a waste off time. What can students teach each other?

Students should only speak when spoken to.

TIGER STORY

A powerful Old tiger, the leader of the pack, was

preparing to go on a hunt. Gathering the young

generation about him he said:

‘The winter is coming. We must go out in the

plains and hunt. You, young fellows, come with

me, we learn a thing or two together.’

Young tigers were pleased to hear this as

they were very enthusiastic about learning

and developing.

On the first day The Old Tiger held a briefing

where he introduced several hunting

strategies. ‘Here is your chance!’ he said

pointing at a herd of elephants. ‘Hunting is a

challenge! Use all your skills and knowledge,

and do your best!’

Young tigers rushed at the elephants quite

thoughtlessly. They all wanted to be the best

ones, to boast a bit to become popular

among their peers.

Some of the tigers used the new high tech Some of the tigers used the new high tech

claws and tails devices their parents brought claws and tails devices their parents brought

them from abroad. Unfortunately, the them from abroad. Unfortunately, the

elephants run off in all directions. elephants run off in all directions.

‘‘What a shame!! We could not do the job What a shame!! We could not do the job

properly!’ thought each tiger to himself, properly!’ thought each tiger to himself,

looking very upset. looking very upset.

The next day the tigers came upon a herd of The next day the tigers came upon a herd of

buffalos. ‘Are there any volunteers?’ asked the buffalos. ‘Are there any volunteers?’ asked the

Old Tiger. Silence. Old Tiger. Silence.

‘So?? I will try to help you but you need to ‘So?? I will try to help you but you need to

learn to take independent decisions.” learn to take independent decisions.”

The Old Tiger killed a buffalo, the young ones The Old Tiger killed a buffalo, the young ones

were watching him, and afterwards the kids were watching him, and afterwards the kids

had a nice dinner. had a nice dinner.

Next day and again young tigers relied on

The Old Tiger.

“OK… I will do the job myself” – said the

leader philosophically. And so he did.

Young tigers lacked initiative, they were too

lazy to learn now. They were all waiting for

food from The Old Tiger.

One day during a usual hunt a huge buffalo

tossed The Old Tiger to the ground. The

leader was too old and tired to survive from

wounds he got from the buffalo. He died.

That winter was severe. Many young tigers

died of cold and hunger.

Only 3 of them survived. How will they teach

their cubs????

Teaching language in traditional Teaching language in traditional curricularcurricular

Teachers focus on teaching the form of the target Teachers focus on teaching the form of the target language by presenting pieces of the language language by presenting pieces of the language Learners develop strategies to cope with the Learners develop strategies to cope with the demands of exist curriculardemands of exist curricularLearners find ways to meet the requirements Learners find ways to meet the requirements imposed by the teachersimposed by the teachersLearners develop strategies which will pay off in the Learners develop strategies which will pay off in the classroom situation, but serve no useful purpose in classroom situation, but serve no useful purpose in later life. later life. Williams, M & Burden, R.L (1997) Williams, M & Burden, R.L (1997) Psychology for language teachers.Psychology for language teachers.

Typical child BillTypical child Bill

Bill is one of life’s plodders, conscientiously looking for and Bill is one of life’s plodders, conscientiously looking for and sticking to the one “right” methods of working. It is a sticking to the one “right” methods of working. It is a strategy which, unfortunately, pays off in many school strategy which, unfortunately, pays off in many school situations, and he will probably end up with a reasonably situations, and he will probably end up with a reasonably good set of grades and a school report which describe him good set of grades and a school report which describe him as a “good student”. His inability to adapt to changing as a “good student”. His inability to adapt to changing requirements and his lack of self knowledge may start to be requirements and his lack of self knowledge may start to be a problem when he is expected to study on his own but for a problem when he is expected to study on his own but for the present, his teachers do not see him as a problem and the present, his teachers do not see him as a problem and are quite glad to have a few like Bill in their classes. are quite glad to have a few like Bill in their classes. ( 1991:3)( 1991:3) There are many Bills in our English classes.There are many Bills in our English classes.

Williams, M & Burden, R.L (1997)Williams, M & Burden, R.L (1997)

Advantages of traditional Advantages of traditional curriculumcurriculum

No need to read extra materials No need to read extra materials No need to spend precious time on No need to spend precious time on watching, listening or internetwatching, listening or internetEvery task ready designed , no need to Every task ready designed , no need to design new tasksdesign new tasksVery portable coursebook Very portable coursebook All skills are in oneAll skills are in oneStudents are in comfortable zone in using Students are in comfortable zone in using this materials this materials

disadvantagesdisadvantages

Less opportunity for students to speakLess opportunity for students to speak

Doesn’t meet the students need ( Dr Sandford’s Doesn’t meet the students need ( Dr Sandford’s family and his home –elementary level)family and his home –elementary level)

No opportunity for developing critical thinking No opportunity for developing critical thinking ( Ss get used to translate, learn new words) if ( Ss get used to translate, learn new words) if they can not find appropriate translation they they can not find appropriate translation they become frustrated for not having enough become frustrated for not having enough practice of Englishpractice of English

Experiencing teaching in traditional Experiencing teaching in traditional groupsgroups

No continuous professional development ( No continuous professional development ( as teacher knows every task in that book as teacher knows every task in that book by heart)by heart)

There was no need to develop new course There was no need to develop new course booksbooks

More translation task rather than More translation task rather than communicative onecommunicative one

All skills are prepaid in one bookAll skills are prepaid in one book

New curriculum reform projectNew curriculum reform project

It becomes crucial in ELT in Uzbekistan as It becomes crucial in ELT in Uzbekistan as teaching methodology is outdated.teaching methodology is outdated. Ss need other skills more then language in Ss need other skills more then language in their future career and professional their future career and professional development.development.Outdated textbooks can not teach young Outdated textbooks can not teach young generation who is aware of ICT or even open generation who is aware of ICT or even open to changes & updated in world changes issuesto changes & updated in world changes issues

Curriculum focuses on the Curriculum focuses on the transferable transferable

skills skills Today when the technology and ICT develop too fast Today when the technology and ICT develop too fast and a huge number of inventions are taken place in and a huge number of inventions are taken place in every sphere of life, learners should be involved in the every sphere of life, learners should be involved in the process of research, project development, or other process of research, project development, or other creative activity that is intended to enhance their creative activity that is intended to enhance their knowledge and skills that will be useful in many knowledge and skills that will be useful in many academic and work environments. academic and work environments. It helps students gain confidence in their ability to It helps students gain confidence in their ability to speak and use English. respond to challenges.speak and use English. respond to challenges.English becomes a Global Language, our country English becomes a Global Language, our country needs in a specialists who will be skilled, competent needs in a specialists who will be skilled, competent and professional teachers of English with a fluent and professional teachers of English with a fluent command of the target languagecommand of the target language

New curriculum New curriculum

Is topic based Is topic based

Encourages Ss to develop their critical Encourages Ss to develop their critical thinkingthinking

Encourage Ss autonomyEncourage Ss autonomy

Push students to be creativePush students to be creative

Make Ss motivated & Involved in a project Make Ss motivated & Involved in a project work work

Help student to develop their study skillsHelp student to develop their study skills

English language strandEnglish language strand

Listening and speakingListening and speakingReadingReadingWritingWritingIntegrated skills Integrated skills GrammarGrammarVocabulary Vocabulary Discourse Analysis Discourse Analysis English as an international language English as an international language

Integrated skills. Project work on Integrated skills. Project work on topic “Family”topic “Family”

Methodology Methodology

Language learningLanguage learningApproaches to language teachingApproaches to language teachingTeaching integrated skills Teaching integrated skills Teaching language systems for communication Teaching language systems for communication Assessment and testingAssessment and testingClassroom language and management Classroom language and management Materials evaluation and design Materials evaluation and design English for Specific PurposesEnglish for Specific PurposesPlanning for teaching Planning for teaching Classroom investigation Classroom investigation

Additional modules Additional modules

Independent Study SkillsIndependent Study Skills

Writing a research paper Writing a research paper

Features:Features:

All courses are taught in English All courses are taught in English

Teacher autonomy Teacher autonomy

Referred to the CEFR Referred to the CEFR

project team (2008)project team (2008)

Learners’ AutonomyLearners’ Autonomy

keeping learning logskeeping learning logsReflectionReflectionSelf evaluationSelf evaluationJournal entriesJournal entries debates debates Round table discussionsRound table discussions presentationspresentations giving feedbackgiving feedbackPeer evaluationPeer evaluationReflective writingsReflective writingsMaking a mini researchMaking a mini researchProcess oriented writingProcess oriented writingGroup oriented learningGroup oriented learning

Give students chance to survive Give students chance to survive Teach them how to surviveTeach them how to survive

The Wisdom of NatureThe Wisdom of Nature

Nature is a kind mother always takes careNature is a kind mother always takes care of young born of young born babies, whether it’s animal or bird: to make them strong, to babies, whether it’s animal or bird: to make them strong, to make them survive, and to prepare them for future wild life. make them survive, and to prepare them for future wild life. Have you ever observed nestling? How the mother bird is Have you ever observed nestling? How the mother bird is patiently waiting until the nestling will be able to break the patiently waiting until the nestling will be able to break the eggegg by himself. by himself. In his way new young born struggling with In his way new young born struggling with all obstacles comes out from the dark. This is the first and all obstacles comes out from the dark. This is the first and very important experience in his life because it shows very important experience in his life because it shows further capability to live or not to live. No mother, no outer further capability to live or not to live. No mother, no outer assistance can interfere the process of nestling . This is assistance can interfere the process of nestling . This is the way in which Nature train young born babies how to the way in which Nature train young born babies how to survive in real life and how to become INDEPENDENTsurvive in real life and how to become INDEPENDENT

Autonomy is an ability to make Autonomy is an ability to make your own decisions about what, your own decisions about what,

when, where and how to do when, where and how to do something rather than being something rather than being

influenced or told what to do by influenced or told what to do by others. others.

Any questionsAny questions??????Any questionsAny questions??????