Promoting Self-Directed English Language Learning

Abstract

The purpose of the seminar was to motivate teachers toward improving their English language proficiency by themselves with little to no support from the knowledgeable others. The big problem which our learners, who join Universities, are facing today is their very limited knowledge and skills of English language. This learners’ problem may be reduced if first, teachers of all disciplines improve their English language proficiency to better level, and use English language as a medium of instruction without mixing with local languages. So, the main purpose of this seminar was raising teachers’ awareness and motivation towards improving their English language. In addition, it was also intended to inspire the attendants toward learning more local languages to become polyglot/multi-lingual as our country is blessed with different languages. Different research papers and article were reviewed, compared with the reality in our country, and analyzed carefully using constant comparative method. The paper contained some concepts of self-directed language learning, benefits of being multi-lingual, experiences of self-directed language learning from some polyglots around the world, and the roles of technology in self-directed language learning. From the review, it is concluded that self-directed language learning is the better way to learn any local or foreign languages within a short period of time with the help of today’s widespread and highly sophisticated technology.