A Case Study of EFL College Students' English Learning Style Preferences in South Korea

Abstract

Objectives This study aimed to explore two EFL English majors’ learning styles to identify factors affecting their learning styles.
 Methods The study conducted qualitative research and selected two English majors with different cultural background (i.e., one Korean and one international Chinese student) as a case study. The researchers took field notes of an advanced English conversation class and completed interviews between October 2020 and April 2021 at a Korean national university. During the data analysis phase, the researchers coded the interview content and examined additional materials, such as classroom observation logs and interview notes.
 Results The researchers discovered that Korean student Alice had a visual learning style promoted through kinesthetic, whereas International Chinese student Cindy was an auditory learner, promoted through the visual. The factors that influenced the different learning styles of the two participants were: family environment, school environment and their cultural background.
 Conclusions This study revealed that learning preference is not an innate ability but may vary in accordance with individual's family environment, school environment and the teachers' styles, and culture background. Based on these findings, when the individual knows his/her learning style, s/he will integrate it in the process of learning. Moreover, identifying the characteristics of students' learning styles will assist teachers navigate their teaching style and class materials.