This volume contains a collection of articles which were originally published between 2006 and 2010 in the IATEFL Learner Autonomy SIG’s newsletter Independence. All of the articles were written in connection with a project which likened exploring the multifaceted concept of learner autonomy to opening a metaphorical “can of worms”. Ten “worms” were released into the academic community, resulting in a series of short articles. The following areas are explored in this collection: Assessment, Classroom research, Counselling / advising, Culture, Learner training, Motivation, Self-access, Teacher autonomy, Teacher education, and Technology. 50 authors contributed to the book and the result is a highly original and, at times, humorous take on aspects of learner autonomy. Despite the light-hearted approach, the contributions are grounded in research and practice and come from a range of countries and contexts, making this an essential resource for anyone interested in the field of language learner autonomy.
The book was originally published as an ebook in 2011 by IATEFL. It has now been republished as an ebook and paperback book in the Autonomous Language Learning Series series.