Auditory learning style in second language acquisition: a case study of first year undergraduates at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Abstract

Most teaching instructions at tertiary level in Malaysia are given in an auditory manner where students have to listen to lectures, class discussion and presentations. Therefore, students with auditory learning style would benefit most from such teaching compared to those with different modality strengths. This case study looked at the following research questions: (1 ). In terms of perceptual learning styles (visual, auditory, tactile, and kinesthetic) what is the distribution of the major and minor learning style preferences of the whole group of first year low proficiency students of Bachelor of Arts in English Language Studies at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia? (2). Can the selected four focal students adapt to the other styles that are not their preferred styles, nam8ly the auditory style, over eight months of practices (in a basic English grammar class)? The following tools were used in collecting the data: The Perceptual learning style preference questionnaire (PLSP}, journal writing, projection techniques, semi- structured interview and observation The findings from this study were: majority of the students had at least kinesthetic and/or tactile as their major perceptual learning style and they also had difficulties in adapting to a new learning style namely auditory which is the main mode of teaching used at tertiary education. The implications from the findings in relation to nation building include the need for educators to recognize the various aspects of learning styles our students have and provide the progressive shift from school to university to prepare them for tertiary education in this era of globalization.