Abstract
The present study investigated the relationship between Art and Science students’ learning styles and their ESP reading strategies in academic settings. Learning styles are defined as general orientations learners take toward their learning experiences. This notion has recently obtained attention in the area of language learning. Strategies are also defined as specific behaviours or techniques learners employ towards leaning in order to achieve their learning goals. The strategies chosen are often linked to the individual's learning style. The purpose of this study was to identify Art and Science students’ major learning style preferences and their strategies they employ to tackle their reading materials in ESP courses at Tabriz Islamic Art University. To this end, 313 Art and Science students at Tabriz Islamic Art University answered two self-report questionnaires (PLSPQ and SORS) to identify their major and minor learning styles as well as their reading strategies in ESP reading. In order to find any relationship between the students’ preferred learning style (s) and their reading strategies in ESP, Pearson Product Moment Coefficient r was used to analyze the participants’ answers to the questionnaires. The results showed that Art students favored Kinesthetic, Auditory, Visual and Tactile learning styles as their major learning styles while Science students showed preference to only Kinesthetic Learning style as their major learning style and other learning styles as their minor ones. It was also found that the most dominant reading strategies both Art and Science students apply in reading their ESP texts was cognitive strategies. Correlational analyses of their major learning styles and their reading strategies are discussed.
Highlights
The notion of learning styles and strategies has recently attracted wide attention in the realm of education in general and TEFL in particular
The analysis of the mean scores on the Perceptual learning style preferences questionnaire (PLSPQ) questionnaires based on the cut off points introduced by Joy Reid (1995) revealed that Art students favored Tactile, Kinesthetic, Auditory and Group learning styles as their major learning style
With respect to Science students’ responses, the analysis showed that the single major learning style for these students was Kinesthetic and all other styles scored as minor learning styles. (See Tables 1-2)
Summary
The notion of learning styles and strategies has recently attracted wide attention in the realm of education in general and TEFL in particular. It is repeatedly claimed that learners bring their individual learning styles and strategies into their learning experiences. It is proved that learning styles and strategies, as individualistic traits, pave the way for learners to embark on their cognitive abilities and rev up their learning experiences. Psychological research has shown that there are quite different ways of viewing the world and approaching learning. Our general approach may be predominantly right-brained (global/holistic) or left-brained (analytical) or a mixture of both. Left-brained thinkers are highly verbal, linear, logical and temporal whilst global, right-brained thinkers are highly visual and spatial, intuitive and relational (parts to whole) (Kinsella, 1995)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.