An Investigation on the Learning Style Preferences of EFL Learners in Taiwan

[[abstract]]This study aims to find out the preferred learning styles of EFL learners in Taiwan. Research has shown that learners from the same culture have a shared tendency in learning styles and that learning style preferences are cultural bound. Although individuals differ in their learning styles, there is a tendency that people from the same cultural background share a similar pattern of learning. This study utilized Reid's (1987) Perceptual Learning Styles Preference Questionnaire. According to Reid, there are six major learning style preferences: visual, auditory, kinesthetic, tactile, individual, and group. A total of 491 college students from comprehensive universities and universities of science and technology from northern and southern parts of Taiwan participated in this study. All participants were given a copy of the Perceptual Learning Style Questionnaire. Results indicated that learning styles of Taiwan learners do differ according to learners' majors and English proficiency levels. Also, it was evident that learning styles are cultural bound. Although learning styles are natural tendencies, learning strategies can be taught to facilitate learning. With adequate training, learners should be able to employ useful learning strategies in learning English.[[sponsorship]]中華民國英語文教師學會[[conferencetype]]國際[[conferencedate]]20061110~20061112[[conferencelocation]]臺北市, 臺