Learning Style : Preferences of pre-service student teachers in Oman

Abdo Mohamed Al-Mekhlafi; Fawzia Al-Seyabi; Sulaiman Al-Ghataami

Volume : IV, Issue : XI, November - 2015

Learning Style : Preferences of pre-service student teachers in Oman

Abdo Mohamed Al Mekhlafi, Fawzia Al Seyabi, Sulaiman Al Ghataami

Abstract :

The aim of this study was to investigate the learning style preferences of a group of pre-service student teachers in two majors at the teacher preparation program of the College of Education/Sultan Qaboos University, Oman, namely the EFL program and the Arabic program. It also investigated the differences in students� learning style preferences attributed to major, gender and academic level. A total of 124 College of Education students were randomly selected from the EFL major (76) and Arabic major (48) teacher preparation program to participate in the study by answering the VAK learning style questionnaire. The 24 item VAK questionnaire defines preference of learning based on the sensory modalities: visual, aural and kinesthetic. Results revealed the order of preferred learning styles as: visual, auditory, and then kinesthetic but with an overall moderate preference for all three dimensions. There were significant differences in student-teachers� preferences for learning styles attributed to gender in favour of females mainly in the visual and kinesthetic dimensions. Results also revealed significant differences attributed to student-teachers� area of specialization in favour of English major students mainly in the visual and kinesthetic dimensions. There were, however, no significant differences resulting from students� academic level. The study urges educationists in higher education institutions to make the use of learning style inventories a regular practice in their classes.