Investigating Language Proficiency and Learning Style Preference

Individual differences (ID) among language learners (e.g. language aptitude or motivation), are variables that are theorized to affect the degree of success one will have in acquiring a second language (L2). This study sought to add to the body of literature on learning style. 225first year students (divided into two groups based on English proficiency) at a private Japanese university were surveyed to determine their preferred learning style(s). The data obtained were then examined in relationship to the two groups’ English proficiency to search for any statistically significant differences between the groups. It was found that the highest-and lowest-ranked learning styles (auditory learning and individual learning) were the same for both Group A (higher proficiency)and Group B (lower proficiency), but to a statistically significant degree of difference