Probing University-level Students' English Learning Style Preferences: A Case Study of Laotian English Majors
Main Article Content
Keywords
influential factors, learning style preferences, university students
Abstract
This study examines the preferred English learning styles among Laotian university-level English majors. It is a qualitative research, using a semi-structured interview with 10 purposively selected participants involved in a face-to-face interview. The findings reveal that most participants have more than one preferred learning style in English learning. Most of the participants have the tendency to prefer visual learning style over the others. Males prefer to be more kinesthetic-tactile learners than females, whereas females have the tendency to prefer learning in groups. The findings also show that the present learning styles applied by most participants differ from the ones they did in the past. Teacher, peer, and technology correlate with the participants' English learning style preferences. An analysis of students' learning styles is strongly recommended for teachers. An effective learning can happen if the teacher' teaching styles are adapted to student needs and styles of learning.
References
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Thongma S., Mohamad J. Z. A., R. S., Leong L. M., & Ithayaraj B. (2013). Investigating learning English strategies and English needs of undergraduate students at the National University of Laos. English Language Teaching, 57.
Tuan, L. T. (2011). EFL learners' learning styles and their attributes. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 2(2), 229-320.
Tuyet, T. T. (2013). What Shapes the Passiveness in Learning of Vietnamese Students? VNU Journal of Education Research, Vol. 29(2), 71-83.
Vaseghi, R., Ramezani, A. E., & Gholami, R. (2012). Language Learning Style Preferences: A Theoretical and Empirical Study. Advances in Asian Social Science, 2 (2), 441-451.
Wang, N. N. (2012). Relationship between English learning strategies and learning style references: An empirical study. Sino-US English Teaching, 9(9), 1502-1509.
Wong, W. L. H. (2015). A study of language learning style and teaching style preferences of Hong Kong community college students and teachers in English for academic purposes (EAP) contexts. (A PhD dissertation). Canterbury University.
Xu, W. (2011). Learning Styles and Their Implications in Learning and Teaching. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 1(4), 413-416.
Yassin, B. M., & Almasri, M. A. (2015). How to accommodate different learning styles in the same classroom: Analysis of theories and methods of learning styles. Canadian Social Science, 11(3), 26-33.
Zhou, M. (2012). Learning Styles and Teaching Styles in College English Teaching. International Education Studies, 4(1), 73-77.
Abante, M. E., Almendral, B. C., Manansala, J. E., & Mañibo, J. (2014). Learning styles and factors affecting the learning of general engineering students. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 3(1), 16-27.
Alkhatnai, M. (2011). Learning Styles of EFL SAUDI College-Level Students in Online and Traditional Educational Environments. Indiana University of Pennsylvania: The School of Graduate Studies and Research Department of English.
Baig, M. M. Z., & Ahmad, M. M. (2016). Learning with a style: The role of learning styles and models in academic success. European Academic Research, 4(8), 6695-6705.
Barzegar, F., & Tajalli, G. (2013). Relationship between learning styles of advanced Iranian EFL learners and their achievment. Journal of Studies in Learning and Teaching English, 1(4), 1-21.
Creswell, J. W. (2012). Educational research: conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research, (4th ed.). Boston: Pearson.
Donkoh, K. E., Eshun, E. S., & Acquaye, V. N. A. (2015). Learning Styles And Factors Affecting Learning: Perception Of 2013/2014 Final Year Post - Diploma Sandwich Students Of The Department Of Basic Education, University Of Education, Winneba (Uew), Ghana. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 2(5).
Felder, R. M., & Silverman, L. K. (1988). Learning and Teaching Styles in Engineering Education. Engr. Education, 78(7), 674-681.
Fleming, N. (2012). Teaching and learning styles: VARK strategies. Neil D Fleming.
Fundi, D. (2015). A Survey of the Literature on Factors affecting learning Style preferences of the Learner.Kibogoji Experiential Learning Inc. www.kibogoji.com.
Gilakjani, A. P. (2012). Visual, Auditory, Kinaesthetic Learning Styles and Their Impacts on English Language Teaching. Journal of Studies in Education, 2(1), 104- 113.
Gurpinar, E., Bati, H., & Tetik, C. (2011). Learning styles of medical students change in relation to time. Adv Physiol Educ 35: 307–311
Hassan, S., Ismail, N., Jaafar, W. Y., Ghazali, K., Budin, K., Gabda, D., & Samad, A. S. (2012). Using Factor Analysis on Survey Study of Factors Affecting Students' Learning Styles. International Journal Of Applied Mathematics And Informatics, 6(1), 33-40.226 The Normal Lights Volume 13, No. 1 (2019)
Inal, S., Büyükyavuz, O., & Tekin, M. (2015). A Study on Preferred Learning Styles of Turkish EFL Teacher Trainees. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 40(3), 52-67.
Jhaish, M. A. (2010). The Relationship among Learning Styles, Language Learning Strategies, and the Academic Achievement among the English Majors at Al-Aqsa University. n.p: Department of the Requirement for the Master Degree of Education.
Karthigenyan, K., & Nirmala, K. (2013). Learning Style Preference of English Language Learners. Educationia Confab, 2(1), 134-140.
Khanum, F. (2014). Learners' Learning Style Preferences and Teachers' Awareness in the Context of Higher Secondary Level in Bangladesh. Global Journal of HUMAN-SOCIAL SCIENCE: A Arts & Humanities - Psychology, 14(10).
Khmakhien, A. (2012). Demystifying Thai EFL Learners' Perceptual Learning Style Preferences. 3L: The Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies – Vol 18(1): 61 - 74.
Lau, W. W. F., & Yuen, A. H. K. (2010). Gender differences in learning styles: Nurturing a gender and style sensitive computer science classroom. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 26(7), 1090-1103
Lee, B., & Kim, H. (2014). What can we learn from our learners' learning styles? English Language Teaching, 7(9), 118-131.
Liu, F. (2012). A Probe into the EFL Learning Style Preferences of Minority College Students: An Empirical Study of Tujia EFL Learners in Jishou University. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 2(8), 1662-1667.
Mulalic, A., Shah, P. M., & Ahmad, F. (2009). Learning-style 227 The Normal Lights Volume 13, No. 1 (2019) preference of ESL students. AJTLHE, 1(2), 9-17.
Naqeep, H., & Awad, A. (2011). Learning styles as perceived by learners of English as a foreign language in the English language center of the Arab American University - Jenin, Palestine. An - Najah Univ. J. Res. (Humanities), 25(8), 2232-2256.
Naserieh, F. (2009). The relationship between perceptual learning style preferences and skill-based learning strategies (Master thesis). Shahid Beheshti University, Iran.
Nasreen, S. (2014). Learning style preferences of junior school students in Bangladesh. (A Master Thesis). BRAC University, Bangladesh.
Parvin, R. H., & Salam, S. F. (2015). The Effectiveness of Using Technology in English Language Classrooms in Government Primary Schools in Bangladesh. FIRE: Forum for International Research in Education, 2(1). Retrieved from http://preserve.lehigh.edu/fire/vol2/ iss1/5
Radwan, A. A. (2014). Gender and learning style preferences of EFL learner. AWEJ, 5 (1), 21-32.
Ramayah, M., Nasrijal, N. H., Leong, C. Sivannadan, P., & Letchumanan, T. (2011). Factors Influencing the Learning Style Preferences among Business School Students. Journal of Advanced Social Research, 229-243.
Razawi, N. A., Muslim, M., Razali, S. M. C., Husin, N., & Samad, N. Z. A. (2011). Students' diverse learning styles in learning English as a second language. In ¬ternational Journal of Business and Social Science, 2 (19), 179-186.
Reid, J. M. (1987). The Learning Style Preferences of ESL Students. TESOL QUARTERLY, 21 (1), 87-110.228 The Normal Lights Volume 13, No. 1 (2019)
Sengsouliya, S. (2015). Instructional barriers faced by secondary school English teachers and their professional development needs: Secondary schools within Xaythany district, Vientiane capital. Jounal of Scientific Research of Natioanl University of Laos.
Shuib, M. & Azizan, S. N. (2015). Learning style preferences among male and female ESL students in Universiti- Sains Malaysia. The Journal of Educators, 13(2), 103- 141.
Tabatabaei, M., & Gui, Y. (2011). The impact of technology on teaching and learning languages. Education in a technological world: communicating current and emerging research and technological efforts. A. Mendez-Vilas (Ed.)
Tai, F. M. (2013). Adult EFL Students' Preferred Learning Styles and Motivation. The Journal of Human Resource and Adult Learning, 9(2), 161-171.
Tantarangsee, C. (2011). Learning Styles of Full Time Suan Suanandha Rajabhat University Students: a Case of General Education Course; English for Communication and Study Skills. Suan Suanandha Rajabhat University. www.ssru.ac.th.
Thongma S., Mohamad J. Z. A., R. S., Leong L. M., & Ithayaraj B. (2013). Investigating learning English strategies and English needs of undergraduate students at the National University of Laos. English Language Teaching, 57.
Tuan, L. T. (2011). EFL learners' learning styles and their attributes. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 2(2), 229-320.
Tuyet, T. T. (2013). What Shapes the Passiveness in Learning of Vietnamese Students? VNU Journal of Education Research, Vol. 29(2), 71-83.
Vaseghi, R., Ramezani, A. E., & Gholami, R. (2012). Language Learning Style Preferences: A Theoretical and Empirical Study. Advances in Asian Social Science, 2 (2), 441-451.
Wang, N. N. (2012). Relationship between English learning strategies and learning style references: An empirical study. Sino-US English Teaching, 9(9), 1502-1509.
Wong, W. L. H. (2015). A study of language learning style and teaching style preferences of Hong Kong community college students and teachers in English for academic purposes (EAP) contexts. (A PhD dissertation). Canterbury University.
Xu, W. (2011). Learning Styles and Their Implications in Learning and Teaching. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 1(4), 413-416.
Yassin, B. M., & Almasri, M. A. (2015). How to accommodate different learning styles in the same classroom: Analysis of theories and methods of learning styles. Canadian Social Science, 11(3), 26-33.
Zhou, M. (2012). Learning Styles and Teaching Styles in College English Teaching. International Education Studies, 4(1), 73-77.
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Published
Jun 14, 2019
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How to Cite
Sengsouliya, S., Chatouphonexay, A., Phonekeo, S., & Xaixanith, T. (2019). Probing University-level Students’ English Learning Style Preferences: A Case Study of Laotian English Majors. The Normal Lights, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.56278/tnl.v13i1.1241
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Research Article
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