Learner Autonomy Across Contexts: Practices, Perspectives and Possibilities in Language Education.

David Little is a Fellow Emeritus of Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. His principal research interests are the theory and practice of learner autonomy in language education, the pedagogical exploitation of linguistic diversity in schools and classrooms, and the use of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages to support the design of L2 curricula, teaching/learning programmes, and assessment. He has contributed to the Council of Europe’s work in language education since the 1980s, including its projects on the European Language Portfolio and the Linguistic Integration of Adult Migrants. Most recently he has been academic coordinator of the Council’s Romani/Plurilingual Policy Experimentation (2022–2025).

In 1973, Leni Dam started reforming her own English classes in a Danish elementary school south of Copenhagen by taking her first steps towards developing language learner autonomy. In 1995, her first book, Learner Autonomy: From Theory to Classroom Practice, came out. Since then, she has published extensively on the topic. One of her latest publications is “Learner Autonomy- Theory, Practice and Research” (2017), together with David Little and Lienhard Legenhausen. Apart from spreading the word about language learner autonomy via publications, she has run workshops and given numerous talks worldwide. Apart from being a teacher, she held the post of in-service teacher trainer at the Royal Academy for Teachers in Denmark. In 2004, she received an honorary PhD in pedagogy from Karlstad University, Sweden. She is now a freelancer.

Anja Burkert is a lecturer of English, French, and German at the University of Graz, Austria. Her research interests include English for Academic Purposes and the promotion of learner autonomy.