PCE 2025

David Little is a Fellow Emeritus of Trinity College Dublin (Ireland). He has been researching language learner autonomy (LLA) in theory and practice since the 1980s and his publications and conference presentations have played a central role in international discussion. LASIG is honoured to have David share his immense experience with our delegates and to help establish a theoretical framework upon which to build the day’s activities. 

Leni Dam started developing language learner autonomy (LLA) in her mixed-ability classes in Denmark in the 1970s. Ever since, in courses and workshops, books and talks, she has been trying to convince teachers and teacher educators all over the world that LLA provides the best language education. Among many other things, it helps teachers to solve the problem of unmotivated students, promotes inclusion and develops life-long learning skills. As LASIG’s patron, Leni has worked tirelessly and with deep commitment to support the SIG, the learner autonomy community, educators and policy makers, as well as learners themselves. 

Lienhard Legenhausen is professor emeritus of Language Pedagogy at the University of Münster, Germany. His research interests include the study of learner language, technology-enhanced language learning as well as learner-centred approaches to classroom learning/teaching. Together with Leni Dam, he started the LAALE project (Language Acquisition in an Autonomous Learning Environment) in which they systematically observed the linguistic development of a class of Danish mixed ability learners who were taught according to the principles of autonomous language learning over a period of four years.