The year began for me with a keynote at the 3rd PSC Forum in Oman (held online in January 2026), dedicated to learner autonomy and titled The Enduring Interest in Learner Autonomy. The focus of the talk was not whether learner autonomy is still relevant, but why it continues to endure despite--and in many ways because of--global disruptions such as the pandemic, advances in psychology, and the rapid emergence of generative AI. The keynote, and indeed the conference, explored why learner autonomy remains a pedagogical imperative rather than an optional extra, and considered how we might navigate an evolving digital landscape while keeping learners’ agency firmly at the centre.
The recent flurry of attention on learner autonomy is clearly visible in publishing activity across the field. Toward the end of last year, Candlin & Mynard published two volumes that speak directly to enduring and emerging questions of autonomy in practice:
This momentum continues into 2026. Forthcoming titles from Candlin & Mynard include:
Alongside these new works, we are also pleased to be bringing foundational texts back into circulation. Candlin & Mynard will be republishing several classic volumes originally released by Authentik, now made available open access. These include Lerner Autonomie: Von der Theorie zur Unterrichtspraxis (in German) / Learner Autonomy 3: From Theory to Classroom Practice (in English). We are grateful to Leni Dam, the copyright holder, for generously supporting the continued accessibility of these influential works. Making these texts openly available is part of a broader commitment to ensuring that key ideas in learner autonomy remain visible, usable, and relevant for new generations of educators.
Beyond Candlin & Mynard, there is equally encouraging news. Jo Mynard, Giovanna Tassinari, and Diego Mideros are currently working with over 50 contributors on The Bloomsbury Handbook of Learner Autonomy (more on that in due course). At the same time, Phil Benson and Hayo Reinders are revising Autonomy in Language Learning, a volume that has long been a favourite 'go-to' text for many of us in the field, and the AILA Research Network on Learner Autonomy is planning a new edited volume based on the 2024 Kuala Lumpur conference.
Taken together, these developments point to an important conclusion: learner autonomy is evolving. The people may change, the contexts may shift, and the tools may be new, but the core concern remains the same: how learners take charge of their learning in meaningful, supported, and socially situated ways.
Looking ahead, the next AILA World Congress will take place in Vancouver in August 2027. It feels like an ideal moment for the learner autonomy community to plan a proper gathering, not only to share research but to celebrate the many publications, collaborations, and sustained commitments that continue to shape the field.
Learner autonomy endures! And judging by what lies ahead, it is very much alive and well.
The recent flurry of attention on learner autonomy is clearly visible in publishing activity across the field. Toward the end of last year, Candlin & Mynard published two volumes that speak directly to enduring and emerging questions of autonomy in practice:
- Pulling Back the Curtain in Self-Access: Stories of Student Staff Member Motivation by Christopher Phelps offers a nuanced, human-centred exploration of motivation within self-access contexts.
- Reforming the Foreign Language Classroom: Empowering Students to Take Ownership, edited by Katja Heim, Leni Dam, Annika Albrecht, and Carmen Becker, firmly integrates learner autonomy into contemporary classroom reform.
This momentum continues into 2026. Forthcoming titles from Candlin & Mynard include:
- Language Learner Autonomy: A Practical Guide by David Little provides a clear, practice-oriented synthesis from one of the field’s most influential scholars.
- The Learning Mindset Notebook: A 12-Week Reflective Journal for Learning Learning by Satoko Kato and Mioko Yoshinaga translates theory into structured, reflective practice for learners.
- Autonomy Among Unwilling Language Learners in Blended Environments: A Teacher’s Narrative by Diego Mideros offers a timely and honest account from blended learning contexts.
Alongside these new works, we are also pleased to be bringing foundational texts back into circulation. Candlin & Mynard will be republishing several classic volumes originally released by Authentik, now made available open access. These include Lerner Autonomie: Von der Theorie zur Unterrichtspraxis (in German) / Learner Autonomy 3: From Theory to Classroom Practice (in English). We are grateful to Leni Dam, the copyright holder, for generously supporting the continued accessibility of these influential works. Making these texts openly available is part of a broader commitment to ensuring that key ideas in learner autonomy remain visible, usable, and relevant for new generations of educators.
Beyond Candlin & Mynard, there is equally encouraging news. Jo Mynard, Giovanna Tassinari, and Diego Mideros are currently working with over 50 contributors on The Bloomsbury Handbook of Learner Autonomy (more on that in due course). At the same time, Phil Benson and Hayo Reinders are revising Autonomy in Language Learning, a volume that has long been a favourite 'go-to' text for many of us in the field, and the AILA Research Network on Learner Autonomy is planning a new edited volume based on the 2024 Kuala Lumpur conference.
Taken together, these developments point to an important conclusion: learner autonomy is evolving. The people may change, the contexts may shift, and the tools may be new, but the core concern remains the same: how learners take charge of their learning in meaningful, supported, and socially situated ways.
Looking ahead, the next AILA World Congress will take place in Vancouver in August 2027. It feels like an ideal moment for the learner autonomy community to plan a proper gathering, not only to share research but to celebrate the many publications, collaborations, and sustained commitments that continue to shape the field.
Learner autonomy endures! And judging by what lies ahead, it is very much alive and well.
