Learner Autonomy in English classes at a Czech Secondary Technical School

This dissertation explores the efficacy of the learner autonomy (LA) principles implemented in secondary technical school EFL classes through project-based units incorporated into the conventional four-year language curriculum (2011-2015). This integrated approach remains uncommon in a Czech secondary technical school, even though it suggests a teaching model that enhances ELA and increases communicative competence and motivation among learners. A mixed-method design based on longitudinal four-cycle action research and quasi-experiment approaches was selected (1) to examine the changes in self-regulation and academic achievement development over time; (2) to investigate the efficacy of autonomous projects systematically applied within the assigned treatment group (TG), and (3) to compare the results of the treatment and control groups as to their self-regulation and academic achievement development. For the quantitative strand, a structured Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SRQ-A) and a series of academic tests were administered which were consequently analysed through null hypothesis statistical testing (NHST). The instruments employed within the quasi-experiment were focused on the following two major questions: (1) whether there was correlation between self- regulation and academic achievement..