Exploring Language Learning Style Preferences of the ELT Graduate Students

Abstract

The paper aims at discovering the language learning style preferences of the ELT graduate students of the English Department of the University of Dhaka. The paper explores the students’ learning style preferences based on Reid’s (1984) six perceptual learning style categories such as visual, auditory, kinesthetic, tactile, group and individual style preferences. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using a questionnaire and interview of the ELT students of a public university in Bangladesh. The results revealed that the ELT students are more or less aware of their own learning styles and the way they learn better. It was found out from the study that majority of the students preferred the auditory style of learning while individual style is the least preferred. The study also brings students’ opinions regarding learning styles in the field of learning ESL (English as a Second Language) or EFL (English as a Foreign Language) to light. The paper then discusses the implications of the findings and offers some recommendations regarding the need to identify students’ learning styles in Bangladeshi classroom.