The Application of MBTI to Analyze EFL Teachers’ Teaching Styles

Abstract

Abstract – The study of EFL teachers’ teaching style has become an essential aspect of investigation in recent years. However, some recent data from previous studies show correlation between EFL teachers’ teaching style and their personality types. The current study was intended to analyze the significance of personality types in English teachers’ style of teaching and their preferences in using teaching media. The personality types used in this study to find out EFL teacher’s teaching style are based on mental functions such as intuition, thinking, feeling and sensing, driven by orientation of energy based on introverted and extroverted traits. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a commonly used instrument to identify personality types. Population of this study was English teachers at senior high school level. Response to a survey regarding teaching style and media preferences in relation to the personality types of 75 English teachers in Lampung were taken as quantitative data while some teachers, from the 75 samples, were interviewed to obtain qualitative data of their point of view regarding personality types and their preference in applying teaching approach and media. The data, collected from EFL teacher participants using questionnaires and interviews, were analyzed through Excel (for the questionnaire responses) and a process of Thematic Content Analysis to see the pattern of different personalities from the responses of each teacher during the interview. The findings reveal that the personality types based on MBTI are significantly correlated with EFL teachers’ teaching style and their decision making in choosing media as each type of teachers appeared to have different preferable approach and media to be applied in English teaching. In conclusion, it can be identified that different personality types have different preferences and beliefs in applying teaching style. Keywords: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), teaching style, personality, mental functions, EFL teachers