Second language learners' Dilemma

PROJECT PAPER – IDENTIFYING LEARNERS LEARNING STYLES

Introduction

This paper explores a spectrum of problems and challenges students face while learning

second language. Many educators and researchers have claimed that learning styles are

insignificant component in the learning process. However, the study points out the significance

of learning the students’ learning style preference. The purpose of the study is to determine

thelearning styles of students at University of Selangor. The focus group was comprisedby 5

learners of B. Ed. (HONS) TESL final year of 2013/2014. There are different definitions of

learning. Learning is commonly defined as a process that bringstogether cognitive, emotional

and environmental influences and experiences for acquiring, enhancing,or making changes in

one's knowledge, skills, values, and world views (Illeris, 2004; Ormrod, 1995).Meanwhile, for

others learning is the lifelong process of transforming information and experience

intoknowledge, skills, behaviors’, and attitudes. Many researchers worked on the way

individuals learn orunderstand, later adjust new information and their preferred methods for

learning. It has also been thefocus of a number of studies in the second language acquisition field

in recent years. It has beenclaimed that learning styles are insignificant component in the

learning process. Studies on learningstyles have provided different views of student learning and

the way to apply it in the classrooms andlives. Educators and researchers have developed several

instruments to assess students´ learning styles,but literature regarding this topic is full of

unresolved issues; both theoretical and practical (Wilson,1998, P.3). On the other hand, these

instruments have been a great help in identifying visual,kinesthetic, auditory, tactile, group and

individual styles as well as many other classifications ofstyles in students and also exploring

them with the aim of improving the learning and teachingprocesses. Therefore, it is obvious that

people learn in many different ways: people who learnprimarily with their eyes are called visual

learners; or with the ears - auditory learners; whereas somepeople prefer to learn by experience

and/or by "hands-on" tasks - kinesthetic or tactile learners; somepeople learn better when they

work alone while others prefer to learn in groups.

Background

Every learner has their own learning style. This is because, every student have their own

multiple intelligences, idea introduced by Howard Gardner which make every single learner of

L2 different. The reason why this study is conducted is because; we want to identify the best

learning style to be used to learn English language effectively. When the teacher already identify

each of the students learning style, the process of preparing the lesson plan, choosing appropriate

teaching aid become easy.

Objective of the study

The main objective of this research is to determine the learners’ learning style at

University of Selangor.

Description of the subjects

There are 5 respondents of B. Ed. (HONS) TESL final year of 2013/2014 students which

will contributed in this project paper. They will be given with questionnaire and need to answer.

After that, all of the finding will be documented to identify the most preferences learning style.

There are three females and two males would be my respondent.

Section B

Research Instruments

In this project paper, I will be using a set of questionnaire consist of 30 questions called

Perceptual Learning Style Preference Questionnaire (PLSPQ). PLSPQ was developed by Reid

(1987) and was used to access language learners’ preferred perceptual learning style. PLSPQ was

used in this research as this questionnaire is reported to be of high validity and reliability

(Riazi&Mansoorian, 2008; Peacock, 2001). This self-report questionnaire helps us identify the

ways in which learners learn best and prefer to learn. The 30 statements in the questionnaire

cover Reid’s six learning style preferences, with five statements for each preference. The six

learning style preferences are visual, auditory, tactile and kinesthetic preferences, and two social

aspects of learning like group, and individual preferences (Reid, 1987). The questionnaire uses a

likert scale with strongly agree (5 points), agree (4 points), undecided (3points), disagree

(2points) and strongly disagree (1 point).

Reid (1987) describes visual learners as those that learn best with pictures, images

andgraphs while studying and retaining information. Such learners perform well when they

acquiremessages from videos, mind maps or powerpoints slides in ESL classroom whereas

auditorylearners are comfortable with listening to a lecture, discussing information or expressing

verballywhat he or she learns. Kinesthetic learners prefer physical participation like drama and

role play.

Thus, this group of people would become actively involved in classroom activities as they

learnbest by experiences. Tactile learners like hands-on activities like using materials or taking

notesduring the learning process. For example, these learners write notes during lectures or

engagephysically in classroom activity to retain the information they have learned. Group

learners learnand understand new information well when they study with others. They feel

comfortable with group discussions, class interactions or any other activity that involves

communication withother learners. However, individual learners learn the other way round. They

acquire knowledgewhen they study alone. Individual learners learn best when they work or

handle projectsindependently.Reid (1987) also classified learning styles preferences into major,

minor and negligencecategories. Major learning style preferences reveal that a learner could

acquire information welland is able to perform the best. Minor learning style preferences indicate

performance andacquisition at an average level whereas negative learning style preferences

indicate that anindividual has difficulty learning in that style. Thus, it is essential for educators to

lead theirstudents towards their preferred learning style to be successful.

Analysis of Data & Result

Based on the result, 5 learners’ questionnaire results’ were collected and will be

presented in the graph form. All of result and biodata of the subjects are confidential to make the

subjects feel comfortable and confidence to participate in this project paper. This project paper is

focusing on 6 learning style references which are visual, auditory, kinesthetic, tactile, group and

last but not least individual. From the PLSPQ by Reid suggested that:

Major Learning Style Preference 38-50 (Blue in colour)

Minor Learning Style Preference 25-37 (Green in colour)

Negligible 0-24 (Red in colour)

All of the results from each of the learners are presented as below:

Learner 1

Visual Auditory Kinesthetic Tactile Group Individual0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Learner 1

Based on the graph shown above, I can conclude that this learner is a tactile kind of

person. Tactile kind of learner will enjoy ‘hand-on’ kind of activity inside the classroom. While,

kinesthetic will be this learner minor learning style preference. Learner with kinesthetic learning

style enjoy by being involved physically in classroom experiences. This kind of learner will

remember well when participate in classroom activity. The negligible learning style would be in

group. This language learner does not prefer to sit in group to discuss any topic or task to be

completed.

Learner 2


5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Learner 2

Based on the finding, I can conclude that, this is kinesthetic type of language learner.

Kinesthetic type of learner learns best by experience, by being involved physically in classroom

experiences. A combination of stimuli-for example, an audio tape combined with an activity-will

help he or she understand new material. The minor learning style preference of this learner

would be individually study. I could say that, this is interpersonal kind of person. This student

comfortable and learn language effectively by individually. The negligible learning style would

be visual. This learner will not enjoy learning language through visual aids.

Learner 3


5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Learner 3

Based on the finding, this is interpersonal type of leaner. This kind of person enjoy learn

language all alone and not prefer to sit even in a small group of people. This student has two

minor learning style preferences which are kinesthetic and tactile. Kinesthetic type of person

enjoy learn language when actively participate in activities, field trips, and role-playing in the

classroom. While, tactile type of person learn best when they have the opportunity to do “hands-

on” experiences with materials. That is, working on experiments in a laboratory, handling and

building models, and touching and working with materials provided. Auditory is the negligible

learning style.

Learner 4


5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Learner 4

Based on the graph presented, this language learner has two major learning

style preferences which are visual and individual. He or she will enjoy learning through visual

aids for example videos, pictures but by individually. Individual type of person thinks well when

he or she study alone, and remember information he or she learn by her or himself. While,

auditory would be this minor learning style preference and does not interested study in a group or

to complete particular task.

Learner 5


5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Learner 5

Based on finding, I can conclude that, this fifth learner are auditory and group type of

language learner. Students with auditory characteristic learn from hearing words spoken and from

oral explanations. He or she may remember information by reading aloud or moving his or her

lips as his or her read, especially when he or she is learning new material. While for the group

characteristic, this kind of person will benefit and gain new language, skill and information when

sit in a group rather than being isolated. For the minor learning style preference, this learner is

tactile type of person. Writing notes or instructions can help this type of learner remember

information, and physical involvement in class related activities may help him or her to

understand new information. This fifth learner will not enjoy learning through visual aids as this

is his or her negligible learning style.

Suggestions

As the suggestion, there are two parties that I could say, must cooperatively work

together in ensuring the successfulness of the teaching and learning process. They are the

educators or teachers and the learners itself. Here, I would like to make some suggestions on how

both parties can take part actively in this matter.

1. Teachers or educators

As Felder (1993) states, the alignment between students’ learning styles and instructors’

teaching styles leads to better recall and understanding as well as to more positive post-

course attitudes. From this statement, it is clearly stated that teachers play an important

role in helping the learners to have better understanding about the lesson. So, the teachers

themselves need to identify the learners’ learning styles preference so that will be easier

for them to prepare a lesson which can be accepted by the learners. Furthermore, by

knowing the learning styles preference of their learners, this will help the teachers in

preparing variety of teaching aids. This is important in order to attract the learners’

attention towards the lesson.

2. Students or learners

This study can also benefits the students where it helps to increase the students’ awareness

of their learning style preferences, so that they can modify their learning styles and

develop additional ones in order to enhance their learning achievement. Once the students

have identified their own PLS, they can start practising it in their study, to ensure the

maximum achievement.

As the conclusion, both educators and learners need to have the awareness on the

importance of identifying the perceptual learning styles preferences of individuals since it can

benefit both parties. All the learning styles discussed above have their own strengths, so it will be

the individual’s responsibility to enhance theirs for more effective learning and better

achievement.

Perceptual Learning Style Preference Questionnaire

(Copyright 1984, by Joy Reid.Explanation of learning styles was adapted from the C.I.T.E. Learning Styles Instrument, Murdoch Teacher Center, Wichita, Kansas 67208 )

Directions:

People learn in many different ways. For example, some people learn primarily with their eyes (visual learners) or with their ears (auditory learners); some people prefer to learn by experience and /or by “hands-on” tasks (kinesthetic or tactile learners); some people learn better when they work alone while others prefer to learn in groups.

This questionnaire has been designed to help you identify the way(s) you learn best – the way(s) you prefer to learn.

Decide whether you agree or disagree with each statement. And then indicate whether you:

Strongly Agree (SA)

Agree (A)

Undecided (U)

Disagree (D)

Strongly Disagree (SD)

Please respond to each statement quickly, without too much thought. Try not to change your responses after you choose them. Please answer all the questions.

PERCEPTUAL LEARNING STYLE PREFERENCE QUESTIONNAIRE

SA A U D SD

1. When the teacher tells me the instructions I understand better.

2. I prefer to learn by doing something in class.

3. I get more work done when I work with others.

4. I learn more when I study with a group.

5. In class, I learn best when I work with others.

6. I learn better by reading what the teacher writes on the chalkboard.

7. When someone tells me how to do something in class, I learn it better.

8. When I do things in class, I learn better.

9. I remember things I have heard in class better than things I have read.

10. When I read instructions, I remember them better.

11. I learn more when I can make a model of something.

12. I understand better when I read instructions.

13. When I study alone, I remember things better.

14. I learn more when I make something for a class project.

15. I enjoy learning in class by doing experiments.

16. I learn better when I make drawings as I study.

17. I learn better in class when the teacher gives a lecture.

18. When I work alone, I learn better.

19. I understand things better in class when I participate in role-playing.

20. I learn better in class when I listen to someone.

21. I enjoy working on an assignment with two or three classmates.

22. When I build something, I remember what I have learned better.

23. I prefer to study with others.

24. I learn better by reading than by listening to someone.

25. I enjoy making something for a class project.

26. I learn best in class when I can participate in related activities.

27. In class, I work better when I work alone.

28. I prefer working on projects by myself.

29. I learn more by reading textbooks than by listening to lectures.

30. I prefer to work by myself.

SELF SCORING SHEET

Instructions

There are 5 questions for each learning category in this questionnaire. The questions are grouped below according to each learning style. Each question you answer has a numerical value:

SA A U D SD

5 4 3 2 1

Fill in the blanks below with the numerical value of each answer. For example, if you answered Strongly Agree (SA) for question 6 (a visual question), write a number 5 (SA) on the blank next to question 6 below.

Visual

6 - __ 5__

When you have completed all the numerical values for Visual, add the numbers. Multiply the answer by 2, and put the total in the appropriate blank.

Follow this process for each of the learning style categories. When you are finished, look at the scale at the bottom of the page; it will help you determine your major learning style preference(s), your minor learning style preference(s), and those learning style(s) that are negligible.

VISUAL TACTILE

6 - _____ 11 - _____

10 - _____ 14 - _____

12 - _____ 16 - _____

24 - _____ 22 - _____

29 - _____ 25 - _____

Total_____ x 2 = _____(Score) Total_____ x 2 = _____(Score)

AUDITORY GROUP

1 - _____ 3 - _____

7 - _____ 4 - _____

9 - _____ 5 - _____

17 - _____ 21 - _____

20 - _____ 23 - _____


KINESTHETIC INDIVIDUAL

2 - _____ 13 - _____

8 - _____ 18 - _____

15 - _____ 27 - _____

19 - _____ 28 - _____

26 - _____ 30 - _____


Major Learning Style Preference 38-50Minor Learning Style Preference 25-37

Negligible 0-24

Documents

Second language learners' Dilemma