I feel that most courses, masters, etc., related to second/foreign language teaching are centered in Grammar (not a bad thing) and classic teaching skills (e.g. how to apply the communicative approach). However, in an autonomous approach the teacher needs to be a coach too to encourage the students and know how and when take an active role and when the teacher needs to wait and let the P2P work so that it builds strong dynamics in the classroom.

I myself don't really like how coaching is "sold", but it's the way to understand and learn the skills needed in a more free and autonomous learning environment. Maybe we need a more serious approach to coaching (or I am the one who needs to learn who is a quack and who is a professional -I admit that) and integrate this discipline in teacher training courses to develop the required skills.

I think that it's -and will be- important not only in classic (physical) classes, but also in online courses, MOOCs, etc., where the students are not only autonomous but mostly alone and independent or without the positive & direct feedback of a teacher and their colleagues. In this kind of teaching it's even more important to build dynamics between students and to know when to take an active role without breaking those dynamics but also not letting students get too loose or let an error spread between them.

it's very difficult to answer this quetion. In my opinion -an ideal foreign language teacher in the so-called autonomius approach shoud be characterized by the following features:be an expert and a tutor at the same time, act as an counsellor and moderator, shoud have the feeling of the professional identity ( identify him/herself with the professional group) and many, many more traits which would make him/her "a charismatic teacher " in the eyes of the students.

I feel that most courses, masters, etc., related to second/foreign language teaching are centered in Grammar (not a bad thing) and classic teaching skills (e.g. how to apply the communicative approach). However, in an autonomous approach the teacher needs to be a coach too to encourage the students and know how and when take an active role and when the teacher needs to wait and let the P2P work so that it builds strong dynamics in the classroom.

I myself don't really like how coaching is "sold", but it's the way to understand and learn the skills needed in a more free and autonomous learning environment. Maybe we need a more serious approach to coaching (or I am the one who needs to learn who is a quack and who is a professional -I admit that) and integrate this discipline in teacher training courses to develop the required skills.

I think that it's -and will be- important not only in classic (physical) classes, but also in online courses, MOOCs, etc., where the students are not only autonomous but mostly alone and independent or without the positive & direct feedback of a teacher and their colleagues. In this kind of teaching it's even more important to build dynamics between students and to know when to take an active role without breaking those dynamics but also not letting students get too loose or let an error spread between them.

Thank you very much for your briad and wise answer, Daniel I agree with you that an ideal autonomous teacher can't be "bought". It seems to me a tough work to strive to the ideal...

@Janina Wiertlewska, Although, ideals don't exist, I strongly believe. However, efforts can and should be made to be nearest to an ideal. I find communication is the key, more you communicate, more you becomes closer to an ideal teacher no matter as a foreign language teacher.

@Daniel Escandell Montiel, has expressed very intelligently the way forward and I endorse it fully.

I think if we are Teachers encouraging autonomy, we should help students to find their ideal path of Learning. Teachers have to be good listeners first of all but also need to be able to ask the right questions in order to encourage students to set realistic goals and paths for Learning. One of the most difficult parts of encouraging autonomous Learning is the relinquishing of power, Teachers have to stand back and allow students to explore what works and doesn't work for them. In my experience , this may go against what Teachers believe is the "best" way to learn.

Margaret, That's the point - we, teachers have to devoid ourselves of power and , as you say " stand back and allow students to explore...". It seems to me tat's the most important issue - more humbleness in us and more encouragement for the students. Thanks a lot for your prompt. Regards.

Asmat, thanks a lot for sharing your ideas. Communication is very important. I agree. But not only it..... I've just agreed with margaret what is the most important....... Regards.

The idea teacher in an autonomous approach to foreign language, I suppose should be one who is level-headed. He/ she should be abreast with time; he/ she chooses foreign language materials that are suitable for the learner (i.e. language materials that reflect everyday life and experience of the learner).

The ideal teacher should be methodical. He/ she defines clearly the objective of each lesson  and he/ she systematically presents the materials in a way that the autonomous learner will follow and will grasp the understanding of the material.

The ideal teacher in an autonomous class should not be a talkative. He should only guide the learners to discover things for themselves.

He/ she should be passionate about the foreign language. His/ her passion, it is believed, will create an enthusiasm in the autonomous learner too.

He/ she should be a friendly person. He/ she should accept the individual differences in the learners and encourage all of them to learn the foreign language.

He/ she  should also be resourceful. He/ she should be able to direct the learner to other useful sources of data that will help them in their study of the foreign language in question.

It's all about motivation,motivation,motivation. And the way to find this motivation is to explore these  'first steps' with the L2 learner using novelty in speaking the new language and finding out how to encourage self esteem.

It's easy to do - and humor is the key.

Harry@ thank you very much for your very wise answer and the key to success. It's true we have to show the students that speaking and using L2 is fun and humour is a very important tool here.

Janina

high levels of creativity, self efficacy, innovation, mindfulness,  computer literacy, content literacy, leadership skills, management skills, scaffolding, interaction and feedback , resilience, cultural understanding motivation and perseverance,

good luck with your research

a.

A very important feature to me, complementary to subject matter competency, is the ability to be an effective facilitator to learning. A facilitator here should be a person who has the initiative ability  to be innovative, creative, independent as well as motivating.