Exploring English language learning styles of Malay students at the International Islamic University Malaysia
This study investigates the learning styles of Malay students at the International Islamic University Malaysia. Participants in this research were 153 undergraduate Malaysian students of Malay ethnicity enrolled in two degree programmes at the university. Their learning styles were investigated...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
IDOSI Publication
2012
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/31195/1/Exploring_English_Language_Learning_Styles.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/31195/ http://www.idosi.org/wasj/wasj.htm |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | This study investigates the learning styles of Malay students at the International Islamic University
Malaysia. Participants in this research were 153 undergraduate Malaysian students of Malay ethnicity enrolled
in two degree programmes at the university. Their learning styles were investigated through an analysis of their
responses to Learning Styles Indicator (LSI) which had questions grouped under three modalities: Project
Orientation, Group Activity Orientation and Individual Activity Orientation. This instrument has been validated
in several studies. The study was mainly motivated by concerns about the standards of English of graduates
of Malaysian universities. Results of the current study suggest Group Orientation as the preferred learning style
for students from both the English Language and Literature and the Economics and Management Sciences
compared to the other two orientations. Language proficiency is poorer in explaining learning orientations
compared to the language spoken at home by the students. Generally, gender does not help differentiate
student preferences of learning orientations. These results also suggest strong cultural influences on the
students’ learning styles. The main implication of the study is that there is a need for language educators to
adjust their instructional style to suit the learning styles of the students.
Key words: Learning styles, project orientation, group activity orientation, individual activity orientation
|
|---|