From Unwillingness to Autonomy: Narratives of Engagement in Blended Language Learning 
Diego Mideros  
(Autonomous Language Learning Series)
To be released in September 2026

What happens when students are required to learn a language they have no interest in studying? Can learners who begin with resistance, apathy, or frustration develop genuine engagement and autonomy?

​In From Unwillingness to Autonomy: Narratives of Engagement in Blended Language Learning, Diego Mideros explores these questions through the stories of university students enrolled in a compulsory blended Spanish course in the English-speaking Caribbean. Drawing on student reflections, interviews, survey responses, and learning analytics, the book traces diverse pathways of engagement, revealing how learners navigate the tensions between external requirements and personal agency. The narratives challenge simplistic assumptions about motivation and show that even reluctant learners can find meaningful ways to connect with language learning.
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Alongside these learner stories, Mideros offers a reflective account of his own efforts to design an autonomy-supportive learning environment within the constraints of a compulsory course. Bringing together insights from learner autonomy, engagement research, identity theory, and self-determination theory, the book provides a nuanced exploration of motivation, learning beyond the classroom, blended learning, and the responsible use of AI. Rich in practical implications, it will be of interest to language teachers, learning advisors, teacher educators, and researchers seeking to better understand and support learners whose journeys begin not with enthusiasm, but with reluctance.

About the author

Diego Mideros is a tenured lecturer at The University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago, where he has lived, studied, and worked for nearly 20 years. He completed both his master’s in education and PhD in Linguistics at the same institution. His main publications include two books: Am I an Autonomous Language Learner? (Candlin & Mynard, 2021) and Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching: The Case of the Southern Caribbean (Palgrave Macmillan, 2023). He has also published numerous articles and book chapters.

Contents

  • Acknowledgements
  • Tables and figures
  • Chapter 1 – 'Unwilling' language learners
  • Chapter 2 – "I have to teach unwilling language students; how do I do that?"
  • Chapter 3 – "Sir, when is the deadline to complete the online activities?"
  • Chapter 4 – Narratives of Engagement 
  • Chapter 5 – "Sir, we have an anatomy exam"
  • Chapter 6 – The (mis)use of AI in blended language learning
  • Chapter 7 – From Narratives to Lessons and Pedagogical Implications
  • References

Publication details

Publication date: September, 2026
Print book, $29.99
Ebook: $19.99
Series: Autonompus Language Learning
​DOI: ​https://doi.org/10.47908/48