students and teachers prefer different activities when learning english...

It seems that students and teachers do not necessarily have the same opinions about what is effective when it comes to learning a foreign language.

It might be a question of culture:
TESL-EJ 10.3 -- Bridging The Gap Between Teaching Styles And Learning Styles: A Cross-Cultural Perspective

There are differences of perception when it comes to level of ablity:
EBSCOhost | 6567816 | Learners' evaluations of teacher-fronted and student-centred classroom activities.

On the one hand there's the attitude and motivation which students bring into the learning environment - on the other, there's the 'idiosyncrasy' of the teacher:
The Role of Students' Attitudes and Motivation in Second Language Learning in Online Language Courses - CALICO Journal

Students should be seen as 'learners':
Knowing Our Students as Learners

Language students might benefit from business-training skills:
Using management motivation techniques to motivate students and develop their self-motivation

A useful Q + A list for how teachers should 'interact' with students:
More advice about teaching ESL students (FAQ)

Some interestin of research when it comes to 'learner autonomy':
Learner Perceptions and Teacher Beliefs about Learner Autonomy in Language Learning

It might be a matter of challenging students:
Teaching vocabulary through different learning styles | Oxford University Press

It's often a matter of putting students at the centre of learning:
Promoting Classroom Practices that are more students-centred; Proposed Classroom Action Research at the State Islamic Student-teachers College in Salatiga | Hanung Triyoko new English learning environment internet facilitated learning

There are differences in how 'working together' is understood:
Teachers and Students Perceptions towards Cooperative Learning
.
.
.