EFFECTIVENESS OF STUDENT TEACHER AUTONOMY IN “TUTORING PROGRAM 2010” PERCEIVED BY THE 4th-year Fast-track TESOL STUDENTS, ULIS, VNU

Abstract

Along with learner autonomy, the notion of teacher autonomy has long been researched in the world. It is perceived as not only the freedom and capacity of control to one’s own teaching but also the responsibility to motivate learners’ autonomous learning and improve professional development. However, in Vietnam, this research area has not been taken moderate notice of. As one of the first attempts to fulfill research gap on the subject, this paper aims at shedding a light on the effectiveness of student teacher autonomy in conducting a tutorial in “Tutoring program 2010” perceived by the 4th-year TESOL students in fast-track group, FELTE, ULIS, VNU by seeking answers to four research questions related to aspects of autonomy shown, effectiveness of autonomy to tutees and student teachers, influential factors and recommended solutions. This study involved the participation of 26 students of E1K41, 10 tutees and 2 supervisors who undertook triangulated data collection method of interview, questionnaires and classroom observation. The findings revealed that although student teacher autonomy had quite significant effects on tutees and tutors as well, student teachers performed their autonomy automatically but unconsciously. Some influential factors which degraded the effectiveness were also figured out, helping to offer recommendations to better the situation, including: (1): teacher autonomy and learner autonomy should be taught officially and taken seriously at school, the interrelationship between these two concepts needs to be highlighted, with the focus on teacher-learner autonomy; (2): “Tutoring Program” should be designed in order to meet its aim that is “developing autonomy in learning and teaching of student teachers” by increasing teaching-individually opportunities for each tutor; (3): disciplines, curriculum and syllabus should be put under student teachers’ control to exploit their autonomy more.