University of Tabriz Journal of English Language Teaching and Learning 2251-7995 8 17 2016 06 21 A Shift into Autonomous Education حرکت به سمت آموزش مستقل: جستجوی الگوهای یادگیری مستقل در میان زبان آموزان ایرانی 75 92 4961 EN Shirin Sadaghian PhD Candidate of TEFL, Alzahra University Susan Marandi Associate Professor of TEFL, Alzahra University Journal Article 2016 02 24 <span>Fostering autonomous learning has become one of the key concerns of course designers and curriculum planners in the last 20 years which has been validated on both ideological and psychological grounds. However, estimating learners’ readiness to accept autonomous education is an important step prior to moving toward autonomous education. Thus, the current research investigated the patterns of autonomous behavior among Iranian EFL learners before the implementation of principles of autonomous education in language classroom. Students' responses to autonomy questionnaire went through a factor analysis process which revealed the existence of three factors underlying participants' autonomous learning behaviors. The paper discusses each factor in turn and concludes by reiterating the importance of implementing the underlying factors in designing courses that aim at fostering learner autonomy.</span> https://elt.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_4961_d6d88774bfbc2866cf2b97f58c8e2038.pdf