LEARNER AUTONOMY IN VOCABULARY LEARNING - A STUDY ON STUDENTS OF THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD PROGRAM, VNU =

Abstract

The study, as its name reveals, has been conducted with the hope to identify the awareness of learner autonomy in vocabulary learning among students of the International Standard Program (ISP), VNU. Being a newly-developed program with different goals and objectives, as well as different targeted learners, the International Standard Program has not yet been given much serious research. Focusing on their language learning, specifically vocabulary learning, this study aims at finding out ISP students’ use of methods and materials in learning vocabulary, as well as the role of their teachers in stimulating their autonomous vocabulary learning. For these objectives, both qualitative and quantitative approaches were employed in the research conduct, including two questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and observations. Analysis of data collected among 147 students and 24 teachers, particularly 10 interviewed students, 5 interviewed teachers and 4 observed classes revealed a mismatch between ISP students’ full awareness of the importance of vocabulary learning, as well as autonomy in vocabulary learning, and their determination to learn vocabulary by themselves. Two outstanding explanations are attributed to their lack of guidance and motivation and their dependence on teachers’ involvement in their learning. From this reality, some practical implications were proposed with a view to improving students’ autonomy in their learning in general and in vocabulary learning in particular.