Investigating the Role of Autonomous Learning in Promoting Students' Oral Communicative Competence

Abstract

This research aims to investigate the Role of Autonomous Learning in Promoting Students' Oral Communicative Competence, and to highlight the importance of autonomous learning strategies and their role in promoting oral communicative skills and to activate and develop these strategies. Also of the importance of the autonomous learning for (E.F.L) students in acquiring English in general and oral communication in particular, which it does not find enough attention at university level. The descriptive analytical and quantitative methods have been used as well as the questionnaires in the collection of relevant data and information in pursuing this study. For analysis statistical package (SPSS) has been adopted. The data were collected by using two questionnaires as follows: 1. Teacher questionnaire of eighteen which was distributed among fifteen English teachers at Sudan University of Sciences and Technology. The questionnaire aims to investigate the positive role of autonomous learning in promoting students oral communicative competence. 2. Student questionnaire of eighteen which was distributed among fifteen English students at English Department, College of Education, Sudan University of Sciences and Technology. The questionnaire aims to identifying the actual autonomous learning strategies in promoting students oral communicative competence. Findings have been come out with the following: 1. Autonomous learning is neglected in promoting oral communicative skills. 2. Students do not use autonomous learning strategies in developing oral communicative skills effectively. Some useful recommendations have been come out with, based on the following: According to the obtained findings, it is clear that autonomous learning has great and an effective role in promoting oral communication skills. In order to develop these skills autonomously the researcher recommended that: 1. Autonomous learning success depends upon learners' motivation. 2. University curriculum should encourage autonomous learning in order to promote communicative skills. 3. Teachers should be aware of the importance of using modern technology when teaching communication. 4. One of the best strategies of autonomous learning is to set a definite schedule and then follow it. 5. Using English language in real life (airports, hotels, and restaurants) ply a great role in enhancing students' communication skills.