Developing a learner autonomy scale for teaching Turkish as a foreign language

The aim of this research is to examine learner autonomy in teaching Turkish as a foreign language in terms of some variables. The characteristics that an autonomous individual should have in learning a foreign language are; knowing the learning strategies, taking an active role in the learning process, making accurate predictions, contributing to the learning material and having tolerance towards the target language. In this study, in which these dimensions were examined in detail, the differences of learner autonomy and the variables of gender, the desire to learn a different language other than Turkish, the purpose of learning Turkish, the employment status, the university level, the place of residence and the field of profession were analysed. The study was designed as a survey model. The population of the study consisted of people learning Turkish as a foreign language in Turkish Teaching Application and Research Centers (TÖMER) in Turkey and abroad. E-mail list sampling, one of the online sampling methods, was used and 370 people from 55 countries voluntarily participated in the study. "Learner Autonomy Scale of Learners of Turkish as a Foreign Language" developed within the scope of the study and personal information form were used as data collection tools. According to the findings, it was seen that female participants had higher self-efficacy than male participants in the attitude factor towards foreign language learning. Among the participants, those who used foreign language learning strategies were more willing to learn a foreign language other than Turkish, compared to those who did not. Considering the participants' Turkish learning objectives, it was seen that those who learn Turkish for educational purposes are more competent in using a foreign language learning strategy and in self-direction in learning than those who learn it for a purpose other than education. Considering the participants' willingness to learn a foreign language other than Turkish it was observed that those who had high scores on using a foreign language learning strategy, positive attitudes towards learning a foreign language, ability to direct themselves in their own learning, expectations from the teacher, and in their total scores, had a desire to learn a different foreign language other than Turkish. In addition, it was seen that the participants who wanted to learn another foreign language other than Turkish had lower foreign language learning anxiety. Considering the research findings, it can be said that the scale developed in the study has the necessary psychometric properties such as validity and reliability and can be used in future studies.