English Perceptual Learning Style Of Senior High School Students

With the advocating of quality education and lots of educators’ long-term exploration based on the educational theories of teaching practice,the educational concept of “learners centered” has caught the attention of more and more researchers,and the study of learners’ individual differences has also become a hot topic among educators.Perceptual learning style,as one of the important factors of learners’ individual differences,which directly participates and influences learners’ learning activities,naturally becomes a focus in the study of individual differences.And the current research about perceptual learning style at home and abroad mostly take university and vocational school students as the research subjects,the studies of senior high school students are relatively sparse.In this study,the author collected data from 123 senior one students in The Middle School Attached to Sichuan Normal University to have explored their overall English perceptual learning style preference(s)with Reid’s Perceptual Learning Style Preference Survey(PLSPS).Questionnaire,together with the Senior High School Entrance Examination English Test and interviews were adopted to examine the correlation between perceptual learning styles and English learning achievements,and the gender difference on perceptual learning style preferences.Based on the research results,suggestions were put forward in promoting English teaching.The data analysis of descriptive statistics in this study shows that the participants express the major preferences for all the six perceptual learning styles,but with different strength of each perceptual learning style preference.Data also shows that a positive relationship is found between an auditory,kinesthetic-oriented learning style preference and language learning achievements.A negative correlation is found between group-oriented learning style and language learning achievements.Gender does not seem to be a decisive factor of perceptual learning style preferences.Based on the results of this study,the author puts forward some concrete suggestions for future English teaching in senior high school.Teachers should enhance awareness of students’ perceptual learning style and identify their perceptual learning style preferences by using different measurement tools and methods to train students’ learning strategies accordingly;change traditional instruction of visual and auditory modes to match with and stretch learners’ diversified perceptual learning styles by designing various teaching activities and learning tasks;apply computer-aided instruction(CAI)and diverse approaches of teaching;and evaluate students’ English learning achievements in a comprehensive way.In this way,teachers can help students maximize their learning achievements in English.