AN EXAMINATION OF ESL STUDENTS\u27 PERCEPTUAL LEARNING STYLES : IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STYLES AND PREFERENCES FOR GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL LEARNING?

In this study, a number of hypotheses were tested which mirrored the examination of ESL learners\u27 perceptual learning styles carried out by Reid (1987) and Melton (1990). Data were collected on 38 students from Japan, China and Korea who were studying intensive English in an Australian context. Students\u27 variation in learning style preference was measured across a number of demographic variables including sex, age, length of time studying English and language background. In addition, in a unique examination of data obtained using Reid\u27s (1987) Perceptual Learning Style Questionnaire, the four perceptual learning styles (auditory, visual, kinesthetic and tactile) were correlated with the same questionnaire\u27s measures of group and individual learning. It was found that preferences for certain perceptual learning styles correlated highly with preferences for group or individual learning. The current results have implications for lesson designers and educators who have sought to facilitate learning by matching teaching styles with the learning styles of their ESL students