Most of the participants agreed that their relationship with counsellors, if there is
one, is very distant and impersonal. They have not met their expectations, either as
guides or as counsellors. The consequence is that they do not discuss their learning
problems at all:
A: It is difficult to tell someone very distant and cold with me that I am not
learning. I do not want to expose myself to someone I do not know if I can
trust.
Under these conditions, most of the learners prefer to leave without saying a
word.
In short, the participants believe that in self-directed learning a base is still
needed. However this base is different from the ones mentioned in other-directed
learning. In this case, the base was expressed in three terms: participating in a class, in
which case SAC work is complementary; an awareness of own needs (in order not to feel
lost in SAC) and the counsellor. The third element, the counsellor, was depicted by
participants in three different ways according to their own learning styles: independent
learning (in which case the is no need of a counsellor); guided learning (in which the
counsellor is a guide) and assisted learning (where the counsellor plays the role of an
assistance for learning).
6.2.5 Beliefs about language learning in a self-directed way within the
Mexican culture.
Basically, everything that has been said in this chapter talks about Mexican
people working in a self-directed scheme and their beliefs. In this section I will put
forward some participants' comments about this issue. According to the participants,
learning in a self-directed way means, in the Mexican culture, a break of habits, that is, a
change in the way they are use to leam. There is an agreement that a sudden change is
impossible
A: We have the same capacity as people from other cultures, but the change
has to be gradual.... Yes, we can change, but we need guidance,
direction, advice.
The change, for F, has to mediate with our usual learning scheme
F: Mexico is not ready for autonomy. It would be a failure. We do not
have that culture. Acmally I do not know if it exists in another country.