Reflections on the Suitability and Unsuitability of English as a Foreign Langauge Teaching and Learning Styles in Benin

Abstract

For a successful teaching-learning process, both teachers and learners should agree about the styles to use. The present research work aimed at investigating suitability and unsuitability of EFL teaching-learning styles in public secondary schools in Parakou municipality (Benin). Three hundred and fifty (350) EFL learners and thirty five (35) EFL teachers were randomly selected for the study. Questionnaires and interviews had been the major instruments for data collection. Statistical analysis carried out with R 4.0.2 revealed significant mismatch between the two styles. It was noted that most of learners are likely to prefer to learn English language with the help of visual and kinesthetic materials than auditory. Teachers strongly favored kinesthetic teaching style (14.9), visual style (13.6) and disfavored auditory teaching style (12.9). The majority of them have two teaching styles (70%). Meanwhile, it was shown that such unsuitability has important negative impacts on students such as stress, unhappiness, boredom and makes teaching-learning failed.