The importance of self-directed learning in English teaching was deeply explored, emphasizing the coordinated development of learning behavior, learning ability, and self-awareness. Through specific examples, the behavior of students in the process of self-directed learning was analyzed, and the importance of identifying effective self-directed behavior was pointed out. At the same time, the necessity of cultivating students' autonomous learning ability was emphasized, including increasing relevant knowledge, improving understanding of learning patterns and self-evaluation. In addition, the role of learning motivation and self-regulation in promoting self-directed learning behavior, as well as methods to enhance self-awareness through embodied experiences, were also discussed. Finally, a strategy was proposed to guide students to observe, evaluate, and reflect on themselves through task design in classroom teaching, in order to comprehensively enhance their self-directed learning abilities.