Learning Styles Of English Preparatory School Students and The Relationship Of Their Proficiency With Learning Styles and Gender

Yıl 2016, Cilt: 24 Sayı: 3, 1055 - 1070, 15.07.2016

Fatih Güngör Demet Yaylı Gülsün Sofracı Dilek Çelik

Öz

This study aims to determine the learning styles of English Preparatory School students, and examine the relationship between their proficiency scores, and their learning styles and gender. A sample of 263 students participated in the study, and their learning styles were determined by using Kolb’s Learning Style Inventory (LSI). It was found that the most prevailing learning styles were diverging and accommodating. However, no statistical significance could be found in the relationship between their gender, and proficiency scores and learning styles. As a conclusion of this study, educators should be skeptical about categorizing learners in a single category.

Anahtar Kelimeler

learning styles, English preparatory school, gender

İngilizce Hazırlık Okulu Öğrencilerinin Öğrenme Stilleri ve Başarı Puanlarının Öğrenme Stilleri ve Cinsiyetleri

Öz

Bu çalışma İngilizce Hazırlık Okulu öğrencilerinin öğrenme stillerini tespit etmek ve başarı puanlarınının öğrenme stilleri ve cinsiyetleriyle arasındaki ilişkiyi araştırmaktır. Çalışmaya 263 hazırlık okulu öğrencisi katılmış ve bunların öğrenme stilleri Kolb’un Öğrenme Stilleri Envanteri ile belirlenmiştir. En baskın öğrenme stilleri değiştiren ve yerleştirendir. Öte yandan, başarı puanlarıyla öğrenme stilleri ve cinsiyet arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark bulunamamıştır. Bu açıdan öğretme ve öğrenme süreçlerinde tüm öğrencileri dahil edecek uygun stratejiler kullanılması önerilmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

öğrenme stilleri, İngilizce hazırlık okulu, cinsiyet

Kaynakça

• Aşkar, P., & Akkoyunlu, B. (1993). Kolb öğrenme stili envanteri. Eğitim ve Bilim, 17(87), 37-47.
• Bahar, H. H., Özen, Y., & Gülaçtı, F. (2009). An investigation on academic achievement and learning styles as to branches and gender from faculty of education students’. Ankara University, Jour- nal of Faculty of Educational Sciences, 42(1), 69-86.
• Brandt, R. (1990). On the learning styles: A conversation with Pat Guild. Educational Leadership, 48, 10-12.
• Busato, V. V., Prins, F. J., Elshout, J. J., & Hamaker, C. (2000). Intellectual ability, learning style,
• personality, achievement motivation and academic success of psychology students in higher educa- tion. Personality and Individual Differences, 29(6), 1057-1068.
• Can, Ş. (2011). Investigation of the relationships between the learning styles of preservice elementary teachers and some variables. H. U. Journal of Education, 41, 70-82.
• Cassidy, S. (2004). Learning styles: An overview of theories, models, and measures. Educational Psychology, 24(4), 419-444.
• Castro, O., & Peck, V. (2005). Learning styles and foreign language learning difficulties. Foreign Language Annals, 38(3), 401-409.
• Clark-Thayer, S. (1987). The relationship of the knowledge of student perceived learning-style pre- ferences, and study habits and attitudes to achievement of college freshmen in a small urban university. Dissertation Abstracts International, 48(04), 872A.
• Coşkun, N. & Yıldız-Demirtaş, V. (2015). The achievement and anxiety levels of secondary school stu- dents in Math lesson according to their learning styles. K.Ü. Kastamonu Eğitim Dergisi, 23(2), 549- 564.
• Crystal, D. (2003). English as a global language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Cullen, D. J., Pearson, M., Saha, L. J., & Spear, R. H. (1994). Establishing effective PhD supervision. Canberra: AGPS.
• Çelik, F., & Şahin, H. (2011). Beden eğitimi ve spor öğretmenliği öğretmen adaylarının cinsiyet ve öğrenim gördükleri sınıf düzeyleri bakınmından öğrenme stillerinin incelenmesi (MAKÜ örneği). Buca Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 31, 23-38.
• Çelik, F., Yalçın, R., Gök Çatal, Ö., & Aydın, A. (2014). Investigating the learning styles of pre-service teachers in terms of some variables. Mehmet Akif Ersoy Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 32, 114-129.
• Çetin, M. Ç. (2014) Evaluation of the correlation between learning styles and critical thinking dispositions of the students of school of physical education and sports. Educational Research and Reviews, 9(18), 680-690.
• Demir, T. (2008). Learning styles of the Turkish teaching students: The case of Gazi University. The Journal of International Social Research, 1(4), 129-148.
• Demirbas, O. O., & Demirkan, H. (2007). Learning styles of design students and the relationship of acade- mic performance and gender in design education. Learning and Instruction, 17, 345-359.
• Dörnyei, Z., & Skehan, P. (2003). Individual differences in second language learning. In C. J. Doughty &
• M. H. Long (Eds.), The handbook of second language acquisition (589-630). Oxford: Blackwell.
• Dörnyei, Z. (2005). The psychology of the language learner: Individual differences in second language acquisition. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
• Dunn, R., DeBello, T., Brenman, P, & Murrain, P. (1981). Learning style researchers define differences differently. Educational Leadership, 38(5), 372-375.
• Ehrman, M. E. (1996). Understanding second language learning difficulties. London: Sage Publications.
• Ekici, G. (2003). Öğrenme stiline dayalı öğretim ve biyoloji dersi öğretimine yönelik ders planı örnekleri.Ankara: Gazi Kitabevi.
• Ekici, G. (2013). The analysis of teacher candidates’ learning styles in terms of gender and overall academic success according to Gregorc and Kolb learning style models. Education and Scien- ce, 38(167), 211-225.
• Ellis, R. (2004). Individual differences in language learning. In C. Elder & A. Davies (Eds.), Handbook of applied linguistics (525-551). Oxford: Blackwell.
• Field, A. (2009). Discovering statistics using SPSS (3rd edition). Dubai: Sage Publications.
• Genç, G. (2010). Hazırlık sınıfı öğrencilerinin öğrenme stillerinin çeşitli değişkenler açısından ince- lenmesi. Atatürk Üniversitesi Kazım Karabekir Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 20.
• Graves, K. (2000). Designing language courses: A guide for teachers. Nelson: Heinle&Heinle Pub- lishing.Harmer, J. (2001). How to teach English: An introduction to the practice of English language teaching. Malaysia: Pearson Education Limited.
• Healey, M., & Jenkins, A. (2000). Kolb’s experiential learning theory and its application in geog- raphy in higher education. Journal of Geography, 99(5), 185-195.
• Holley, J. H., & Jenkins, E. K. (1993). The relationship between student learning style and performance on various test question formats. Journal of Education for Business, 68, 301-308.
• Hsu, C. H. C. (1999). Learning styles of hospitality students: Nature or nurture? Hospitality Management, 18, 17-30.
• JilardiDamavandi, A., Mahyuddin, R., Elias, H., Daud, S. M., & Shabani, J. (2011). Academic ac- hievements of students with different learning styles. International Journal of Psychological Studies, 3(2), 186-192.
• Keefe, J. W. (1979). Learning style: An overview. In J. W. Keefe (Ed.), Student learning styles: Diagnosing and prescribing programs (1-17). Reston, VA. National Association of Secondary School Principles.
• Kılıç, E., & Karadeniz, Ş. (2004). The effects of gender and learning style on navigation strategy and achievement. Gazi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 24(3), 129-146.
• Knutson, S. (2003).Experiential learning in second-language classrooms.TESL Canada Journal, 20(2), 52-64.
• Koçyiğit, M. (2011). Causal attibutions and learning styles of university students. (Unpublished MA dissertation). Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyon.
• Kolb, A. Y., & Kolb, D. A. (2005). Learning styles and learning spaces: Enhancing experiential learning in higher education. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 4(2), 193-212.
• Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
• Kolb, D. A. (1985).Learning style inventory: Self-scoring inventory and interpretation booklet, Bos- ton: McBer and Company.
• Kolb, D. A. (1999). Learning style inventory, version 3. Boston, MA: Hay Group, Hay Resources Direct.
• Li, M., & Armstrong, S. J. (2015). The relationship between Kolb’s experiential learning styles and Big Five personality traits in international managers. Personality and Individual Differences, 86, 422-426.
• Littlewood, W. (1984). Foreign and second language learning. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Lynch, T. G., Woelfl, N. N., Steele, D. J., & Hanssen, C. S. (1998). Learning style influences student examination performance. The American Journal of Surgery, 176(1), 62-66.
• Murray, D. E., & Christison M. (2011). What English language teachers need to know (Vol. 2, Facilitating learning). NY: Routledge.
• Nation, I. S. P., & Macalister, J. (2010).Language curriculum design. NY: Routledge.
• Numanoğlu, G., & Şen, B. (2007). Learning styles of university students attending department of computer and instructional technologies education. KEFAD, 8(2), 129-148.
• Oktar-Ergür, D. (2010). The effect of personal characteristics of the basic English students on their learning styles and its reflection on teaching process. H. U. Journal of Education, 39, 173-184.
• Peker, M. (2003). Öğrenme stilleri ve 4 mat yönteminin öğrencilerin matematik tutum ve başarılarına etkisi. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Gazi University, Ankara.
• Reid, G. (2005). Learning styles and inclusion. London: Paul Chapman Publishing.
• Ricento, T. (2010). Language policy and globalization. In N. Coupland (Ed.), The handbook of language and globalization (123-141). Singapore: Wiley-Blackwell.
• Richards, J. C. (2001). Curriculum development in language teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge Uni- versity Press.
• Riding, R. (2000). Cognitive style: A review. In R. Riding & S. G. Rayner (Eds.), Interpersonal perspectives on individual differences (Vol. 1, Cognitive styles, pp. 315-344). Stamford, CT: Ablex.
• Rogers, T. (1978). Strategies for individualized language learning and teaching. In J. C. Richards (Ed.), Understanding second & foreign language learning: Issues and approaches (251-273). MA: Newbury House Publishers, Inc.
• Sawyer, M., & Ranta, L. (2001). Aptitude, individual differences, and instructional design. In P. Robinson (Ed.), Cognition and second language acquisition (319-353). NY: Cambridge University Press.
• Smith, D. M., & Kolb, D. (1986). Users’ guide for the learning style inventory: A manual for teac- hers and trainers. Boston, MA: McBer& Company.
• Sternberg, R. J., & Grigorenko, E. L. (2001). A capsule history of theory and research on styles.In R. J.
• Sternberg & L.-F. Zhang (Eds.), Perspectives on thinking, learning, and cognitive styles (1-21). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
• Tuckman, B., Abry, D., & Smith, D. (2008). Learning and motivation strategies (2nded.). New Jer- sey: Pearson Education.
• Tuna, S. (2008). The learning styles of art education students. Electronic Journal of Social Sciences, 7(25), 252-261.
• Willing, K. (1987). Learning strategies as information control. Prospect, 2(3), 273-291.
• Wooldridge, B. (1995). Increasing the effectiveness of university/college instruction: Integrating the results of learning style research into course design and delivery. In R. R. Sims &Serbre- nia J. Sims, The importance of learning styles (49-67). Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Company.
• Woolfolk, A. E., Winne, P. H., & Perry, N. E. (2003). Educational Psychology (2nd Canadian edition). USA: Pearson Education Canada Inc.
• Yalız, D., & Erişti, B. (2009). Learning styles of students in the department of physical education and sports teacher at Anadolu University. Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 4(4), 156-163.
• Yamazaki, Y. (2005). Learning styles and typologies of cultural differences: A theoretical and empirical comparison. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 29, 521-548.
• Yılmaz, B. (2004). Comparison and contrast of the learning styles of the prep class students and the teaching styles of the English teachers at some Anatolian high schools.(Unpublished MA dissertation). Gazi University, Ankara.