Journal of Literature Language and Academic Studies (J-LLANS)
Vol. 5 No. 1 (2026)

Navigating Learner Autonomy in Engineering ESP Classes: A Mixed-Methods Study of Vocational Students' Perceptions

Agustina Hananingsih (Politeknik Negeri Bali)
Rismayani Rismayani (Yogyakarta State University)



Article Info

Publish Date
10 Oct 2026

Abstract

Purpose – This study investigates Vocational High School (VHS) students’ perceptions of learner autonomy in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) classes across cognitive and metacognitive, affective and motivational, action-oriented, social, and external dimensions.. Methodology – An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was employed. Questionnaire data from 259 Grade 12 engineering students across five specializations in Klaten, Indonesia, were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Level of Respondent Achievement (LRA) index. Semi-structured interviews with five purposively selected students were analyzed using Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña’s interactive model. Findings – Overall perceived learner autonomy fostering reached 72% (sufficient). Cognitive and metacognitive aspects ranked highest (74%), followed by external (72.8%), affective and motivational (72.6%), social (71.6%), and action-oriented dimensions (71%). Students valued responsibility, self-monitoring, additional learning, and ICT-supported learning but reported limited creative tasks, fluctuating motivation, teacher dependence, and insufficient interaction. Novelty – The study examines learner autonomy across five dimensions in engineering ESP classes at VHS level. Significance – The findings highlight the need to balance teacher scaffolding, learner choice, self-management, reflection, collaboration, meaningful tasks, and purposeful ICT integration to foster learner autonomy progressively.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

J-LLANS

Publisher

Subject

Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

Journal of Literature Language and Academic Studies is open Journal to the public, researchers, academics, practitioners and observers in the field of Cultural Studies. This journal is a publication that contains research results, development of innovative and relevant research and related ...