IJIET, e-ISSN 2548-8430, p-ISSN 2548-8422, Vol. 7, No. 1, January 2023, pp. 8-21 International Journal of Indonesian Education and Teaching http://e-journal.usd.ac.id/index.php/IJIET Sanata Dharma University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia 8 EXPLORING THE FACTORS AND LEVELS OF STUDENTS’ AUTONOMY IN LANGUAGE LEARNING *Sukma Wiranti 1 and Elok Widiyati 2 1,2 Sultan Agung Islamic University, Indonesia sukmawiranti@std.unissula.ac.id 1 and widiyati@unissula.ac.id 2 *correspondence: sukmawiranti@std.unissula.ac.id https://doi.org/10.24071/ijiet.v7i1.5139 received 5 September 2022; accepted 23 December 2022 Abstract Students’ autonomy is important in language learning since students’ autonomy is considered one of the elements in successful language learning. This study aimed to explore the students’ autonomy levels in language learning by considering the characteristics of autonomous students and the factors that affected students’ autonomy. As a mixed-method study, this study combined questionnaires and interviews as the instruments. The sample of this research was 34 students of XII MIPA 1 of SMA Negeri 2 Semarang. The quantitative data regarding students’ autonomy levels showed: emerging (0%), beginning (14.12%), intermediate (57.60%), and advanced (28.28%). It indicated that the majority of the students’ autonomy level in language learning is considered at the intermediate level. While the mean of quantitative data regarding the factors influencing students’ autonomy showed: students’ role (21.13%), teacher’s role (21.83%), task (16.90%), environment (21.83%), material (18.31%). It indicated that students agreed that students’ autonomy was influenced by those supporting factors. The qualitative data revealed that the students’ autonomous skills were also supported by several factors, such as students’ goals and motivation, teacher and students’ bond, learning materials and activities, and a supportive learning environment. Keywords: factors, levels, students’ autonomy Introduction English is considered the most widely spoken language in the world. English has been agreed internationally as the official language that is used universally in the field of technology, economics, education, politics, culture, and various other fields. It makes proficiency and mastery of English become a necessity. Unfortunately, the English proficiency of Indonesian people is still considered low. According to the 2021 EPI (English Proficiency Index) data which is the world’s largest ranking of countries and regions by English proficiency, Indonesia ranks 80 th out of 112 countries in the world and 14 th out of 24 countries in Asia. Hence, from 2014 to 2021, Indonesia is constantly facing a downgrade in English proficiency. Several factors are the reason why English is hard to root in Indonesian society, one of the reasons is the lack of understanding that English is an