This study based on researcher’s adult oral English teaching experience, takes an adult English learner as a case study to explore the characteristics of an autonomous English learner. From analysis of data (observation and teaching diary), this study elaborates three common characteristics of an autonomous learner: (1) Firstly, an autonomous learner has a high motivation; (2) Secondly,an autonomous learner is good at trying different learning strategies, especially metacognitive strategy to manage learn-ing proceeding. (3) Lastly, an autonomous learner readily takes charge of their own learning by making plan and reflecting on it. Meanwhile, this study presents teacher’s role as a facilitator and consultor and some factors that need taking into consideration, of-fering a precious experience for future’s fostering of autonomous English learners.