An Investigation of the Relationship between L2 Learning Styles and Teaching Methodologies in EFL Classes

Farrokhi, Farahman

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Farahman farrokhi

Associate professor of TEFL , university of Tabriz

Abstract

Individual differences have always been a key element in the success and failure of learners in language classrooms. Learners come to EFL classes with various learning styles and teachers utilize different methodologies targeting different needs of the learners which may have important effects on the quality of the learning environment. In this study a comparison is made between learning styles and teaching methodologies to figure out whether there is any consistency between the two. The participants in this survey study are 108 EFL learners and 108 teachers from private institutes. The instruments for gathering data are two questionnaires, one for learning style (Honey & Mumford, 2006) and the other for teaching style (Grasha, 1996). The results of this study revealed that not only there is little consistency between learning styles and teaching methodologies but also there is not a suitable way of measuring learning proficiency in language classes. In many EFL classes, there is little chance for feedback and a traditional paper-pencil evaluation is still on the stage in some classes. The paper ends with addressing the relevant pedagogical implications.

Keywords

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An Investigation of the Relationship between L2 Learning Styles and Teaching Methodologies in EFL Classes

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Volume 3, Issue 8 - Serial Number 8December 2011Pages 71-90

Volume 3, Issue 8 - Serial Number 8
December 2011
Pages 71-90