scholarly journals EXAMINING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN EFL STUDENTS' LEARNING STYLE, WRITING PROFICIENCY, AND SELF-ASSESSMENT

Author(s):  
Andri Suherman

This research article aimed to explore the relationship between students’ learning styles, writing proficiency, and self-assessment. The participants in this case study were forty Indonesian tertiary-level EFL learners. This study investigated language learning styles preferences of the participants, analyzed preferred language learning styles of the most proficient writers, and explored how the partcipants assess their writing ability. Multiple sources of data were collected, including questionnaires, self-assessment checklist, and students’ writings. The findings revealed three main points. First, based on the mean value and standard deviation, Communicative was the most popular learning styles among the students, followed by three others styles, called Concrete, Analytical, and Authority-Oriented. Second, based on the students’ writing scores, eight students were considered the most proficient writers, and most of them had applied Communicative learning style to help them organize their writings. Third, the most proficient writers, compared to the self-assessment performance of the least proficient writers, appeared to underestimate their writing ability. The pedagogical implications of this study were to provide insight to EFL teachers into how students’ learning styles can help them to make the necessary adaptation and changes in the instruction, and to inform EFL learners with some suggestions to carry out self-assessments to help them improve their writing performance.

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zohreh Jafarpanah ◽  
Majid Farahian

<p>Learning styles and strategies are among the important factors which affect the learners’ performance in foreign language learning. The present study investigated the relationship between learning styles and metacognitive reading strategy of Iranian EFL (English as Foreign language) learners. It has also made an attempt to discover which learning style has the strongest correlation with metacognitive reading strategy. Accordingly, a total sample of 128 students who studied EFL at university was asked to answer a proficiency test. The purpose of administrating the proficiency test was to have a homogenized group of intermediate EFL learners. As the next step, the participants were asked to answer two questionnaires which explored their metacognitive reading strategy and learning styles. The data analysis indicated that thirteen learning styles out of twenty-three ones have a significant, positive correlation with metacognitive strategy. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between visual, auditory, introvert, intuitive, concrete, closure-oriented, synthesizing, analytic, sharpener, deductive, field independent, metaphoric, and reflective styles with metacognitive reading strategy. In addition, among 23 learning styles, visual, closure- oriented and synthesizing styles had the strongest correlation with metacognitive strategy. The findings revealed that Iranian EFL learners with these three learning styles use more metacognitive reading strategy.</p><p><strong>Keywords</strong><strong>:</strong> Learning Styles, Metacognitive Reading Strategy, Foreign Language Reading</p>


The main aim of this study was to see if a significant relationship existed among Iranian EFL learners’ Learning Styles, Writing Strategies and Writing Anxiety. To this effect, 183 EFL learners studying English in three language institutes from the upper intermediate and advanced proficiency levels were selected based on convenient nonrandom sampling procedure. They completed the Kolb Learning Style (KLS), the Inventory of Learning Strategies for writing (ILS) and the Foreign Language Writing Anxiety Scale (FLWAS) self-report questionnaires. However, after the initial screening, 21 cases were discarded as their answers were incomplete, leaving 162 participants in the final sample. The relationship among EFL learners learning styles, writing strategies and writing anxiety were analyzed using the Spearman rank order coefficient of correlation. Since, the results indicated statistically significant relationships among them, multiple regression analyses were run to see if significant predictors of EFL learners’ writing anxiety could be identified. Interestingly, the analyses showed that pragmatist learning style made the strongest statistically significant unique contribution to predict writing anxiety while activist learning style failed to make such a significant contribution. To clarify, the negative relationship suggests that the more pragmatic the preferred learning style is, the lower the writing anxiety. Furthermore, only memory writing strategy made a statistically significant unique contribution to predicting writing anxiety while the other five writing strategies did not. To explain further, their positive relationship implies that learners who apply memory strategies more, face higher levels of writing anxiety. Thus, this study identified learners’ pragmatist learning style and memory writing strategy as significant predictors of writing anxiety in the EFL context. As a result, not only does this study provide statistical evidence of the relationship among these variables but it also stresses the importance of EFL learners’ language learning styles and writing strategies to their writing anxiety.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 1220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mania Nosratinia ◽  
Aram Soleimannejad

Influenced by the acknowledged role of critical thinking and learning styles in the process of second language learning, this study attempted to systematically inspect the association between English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners' critical thinking, on one hand, and their total score of perceptual learning styles, different perceptual learning styles, and number of major perceptual learning styles, on the other hand. To do so, 595 male and female undergraduate EFL learners, between the ages of 18 and 25 (Mage = 22) participated in this study. These participants completed two instruments: a) the questionnaire of critical thinking by Honey (2000), and b) the Perceptual Learning Style Preference Survey developed by Reid (1984). Due to the violation of the assumptions of normality of distribution, the non-parametric Spearman rank order coefficient of correlation was employed in order to answer the initial 3 research questions. The obtained results indicated that there were significant and positive relationships between participants’ critical thinking and total score of perceptual learning styles, ρ = .33, n = 595, p < .01; critical thinking and the number of major perceptual learning styles, ρ = .28, n = 595, p < .01; and critical thinking and group, visual, auditory, tactile, and kinesthetic perceptual learning styles. Furthermore, a multiple regression analysis was run which revealed that tactile learning style preference is the best predictor of EFL learners’ critical thinking (β = 0.285, t = 6.107, p = 0.0005). The study concludes with a discussion on the findings and stating a number of recommendations for further research.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 82
Author(s):  
Khalid Al-Seghayer

One of the most important factors among those that play key roles in second language acquisition is language learning styles and strategies. This article identifies the unique and multifarious learning-style preferences that characterize Saudi English as a foreign language (EFL) learners&rsquo; learning, and explores how multidimensional causal factors and experiences shape their preferred modes of learning. The analysis first tackles Saudi EFL learning-style preferences, followed by a discussion of Saudi EFL language learning strategies. The discussion addresses the learning-style approaches and learning behaviors of Saudi EFL leaners and the impact they have on them and highlights the factors and consequences of each. It concludes by pinpointing the importance of identifying language learning styles and strategies Saudi EFL students use and offering measures that will help Saudi EFL teachers facilitate their students&rsquo; effective learning-style approaches. &nbsp;


2014 ◽  
Vol 971-973 ◽  
pp. 2677-2680
Author(s):  
Di Jiao

Factors affecting students’ English learning performances are always debated among language researchers. This research is carried out in art colleges to figure out the students’ preferences in learning styles and learning strategies as well as the relationship between them. Questionnaires have been applied and data have been dealt with by SPSS. This research has shown that students in the art college tend to be visual and individual learners, and thus they prefer to adopt metacognitive, memory and affective strategies.


2022 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 390-409
Author(s):  
Nadia Nur Afiqah Ismail ◽  
Tina Abdullah ◽  
Abdul Halim Abdul Raof

Background and Purpose: Education at higher institutions prepares graduates for the real world. To develop and maintain quality, the focus must not only be on what institutions can offer but also on the learning needs and styles of learners. Despite many studies on engineering learners’ learning styles, limited research has been conducted to compare the learning styles of Engineering and Engineering Education learners. This study was conducted to ascertain the learning style preferences of first-year undergraduates from both groups in a science and technology-driven university in Malaysia.   Methodology: This descriptive study consisted of 40 Engineering and 40 Engineering Education learners who attended an English language course at the university. Perceptual Learning Style Preference Questionnaire was adopted as the survey instrument. The data were analysed using self-scoring sheet and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences.   Findings: While both groups chose Kinaesthetic as a major learning style preference, the Engineering Education learners also chose Group, Tactile, and Auditory learning styles as their other major preferences. Both groups chose Visual and Individual as their minor preferences.   Contributions: The findings extend research demonstrating the significant role of specific disciplines in Engineering to determine the learning style preferences of learners. The findings also provide useful insights that suggest implications for practice and policy.   Keywords: Engineering, engineering education, English language, learning styles, teaching and learning.   Cite as: Ismail, N. N. A., Abdullah, T., & Abdul Raof, A. H. (2022). Insights into learning styles preference of engineering undergraduates: Implications for teaching and learning.  Journal of Nusantara Studies, 7(1) 390-409. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol7iss1pp390-409


Author(s):  
Julian Chen

Abstract This study intends to examine English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ attitudes toward practicing English in Second Life (SL) and to unpack the effects of avatar identities on EFL learners’ sense of self-efficacy and language practices. Nine EFL learners worldwide participated in a task-based course in SL, using avatars to carry out SL-related tasks while interacting with peers and the teacher via voice chat. Qualitative data were triangulated from multiple sources: learner reflective journals, a post-course survey, and semi-structured interviews. Three major themes emerged: (1) the effects of masked identity on learning, (2) the impact of telepresence and copresence on learning, and (3) the perceived attitudes toward avatar affinity. Findings implicate that the avatar form renders masked identities to safeguard learners’ self-efficacy and empower their language practices. It also opens up a research avenue on the impact of avatar identities on language learning and teaching in 3D virtual environments.


2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Azizi Yahaya ◽  
Noordin Yahaya ◽  
Shahrin Hashim ◽  
Jamaludin Ramli ◽  
Intan Sapinas Bahuri

Kajian ini dijalankan untuk meninjau tentang faktor yang mempengaruhi amalan pembelajaran koperatif dalam kalangan pelajar Tingkatan Dua di sebuah Maktab Rendah Sains Mara. Responden kajian terdiri daripada 132 orang pelajar Tingkatan Dua di sebuah Maktab Rendah Sains Mara. Nilai kebolehpercayaan Alpha Cronbach untuk item dalam instrumen ini bagi keseluruhan soal selidik ini ialah 0.926. Min keseluruhan bagi faktor diri sendiri adalah 3.88 dengan sisihan piawai 0.52. Pada keseluruhannya, kajian didapati bahawa faktor rakan sebaya merupakan faktor yang paling dominan terhadap amalan pembelajaran koperatif dalam kalangan pelajar Tingkatan Dua di sebuah Maktab Rendah Sains Mara. Cadangan juga telah dikemukakan antaranya adalah responden kajian tidak dihadkan kepada pelajar peringkat sekolah sahaja tetapi boleh melibatkan pelajar dari institusi pengajian tinggi yang lain. Kajian juga diperluaskan kepada banyak sekolah dan menggunakan responden dari kawasan bandar dan luar Bandar. Kata kunci: Diri sendiri; rakan sebaya; amalan pembelajaran koperatif; guru dan suasana sekolah This study was carried out to investigate the influencing factors which affected the cooperative learning styles among form two students in a MRSM. 132 form two students were selected to be the respondents of the study. The reliability and suitability of the questionnaires Cronbach Alpha was used to determine the internal consistency of the questionnaires was at 0.926. The findings indicated that the cumulative mean value for individual factor is 3.88 with 0.52 for the standard deviation. As for peers, the mean value is 4.18 and the standard deviation value is 0.47 followed by teachers factor with 4.17 for the mean value and 0.47 for the standard deviation value. The final factor is the environment with the mean 4.17 and 0.48 for the standard deviation. The findings demonstrate that the peers play the most important role in affecting the cooperative learning style among form two students in MRSM. From the findings, some suggestions are proposed for further research. Amongst the suggestions are to involve other group of respondents for example students in universities or other higher education institution and also students in urban and rural schools. Key words: Self, peer group; cooperatif learning practice; teacher and school enviroment


LITERA ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Siti Mahripah

This study aims to describe EFL learners’ attitudes towards the improvement of their English speaking performance. The data were collected through a questionnaire distributed to 131 students of Department of English Language Education. The results of the dataanalysis show that all respondents show positive attitudes towards the improvement of their English speaking performance. Although female students have more positive attitudes than male students, the difference is not significant. The results also show that students’ attitudes towards their speaking performance change in accordance with their learning time. Their self-assessment of their speaking performance has a significant correlation with their attitudes. Their positive attitudes towards the improvement of their English speaking performance serve as a foundation to the success of the English language learning. Therefore, learners should pay attention to and maintain attitudes to improve their speaking performance.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document