Філологічні науки/ 1

Філологічні науки/ 1.Методика викладання мови і літератури

Halla A.O.

Petro Mohyla Black Sea State University, Ukraine

Using Learning Styles in the Improvement of Teaching English

Researchers have involved several instruments to assess pupils’ learning styles and developed an instrument to measure learning styles that related to environment, emotion, and sociology, especially in the 20^th century.

During the 1970s, several other researchers also developed instruments and techniques to assess learners’ learning styles. As a result, they share the goal of identifying the nature of human differences in learning and improving the effectiveness of learning by providing criteria for individualizing instruction .

Learning styles have been extensively discussed in the educational psychology literature and specifically in the context of language learning [1].

In addition, learning style research has examined the effects of adapted teaching to pupils’ learning styles. It has shown that matching learning styles has a positive impact on learners’ achievements, interests, and motivation [4]. The results of several investigations of learning styles indicate that learners’ performances can be enhanced by adapting the educational methods to individual differences in learning styles.

As a result, they argued that identifying a pupil’s learning style and providing appropriate instruction contribute to more effective learning.

In order to identify the learning styles of the pupils in the classroom, many scientists base their researches on the Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences. Students are all individuals and are most effective when they are taught in their personal learning style [2].

Children take in and process information in different ways. A learning style is the method a person uses to learn. Learning style[i] is sometimes defined as the characteristic cognitive, affective, social, and physiological behaviors that serve as relatively stable indicators of how learners perceive, interact with, and respond to the learning environment [3].

By knowing a pupil's learning style, a teacher can use teaching methods that maximize their learning. Learners can use recognition of their individual learning styles to find what study methods, environment, and activities help them learn best. Understanding learning styles is the best way for teachers to present educational materials in ways that best benefit their learners. While most pupils display characteristics of more than one learning style, most have a dominant style. Therefore, one set of teaching materials may not be effective for all types of learners. This may explain why some students seem to process information easier than others do. Learning styles have been studied for decades and there are several models that have been proposed by various researchers.

In fact, there are three major types of learners: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.

Audio Learning Style (Auditory Learners)

Auditory learners prefer to listen. They often have a finely tuned ear and remember what they have heard - they tend to have a wide vocabulary and are usually good speakers who enjoy group discussions They learn by listening and speaking. These pupils enjoy talking and interviewing [6]. They learn best by hearing and repeating sentences and words.

Visual Learning Style (Visual Learners)

Visual learners like pictures, diagrams, images and colour coding. They'll notice their environment and rely on visual memory, picturing where things belong, learning words by visualizing their shape, for example: “a cat”, “a dog”. Visual learners learn by visually examining things [5]. Visual learners depend on the instructor`s or facilitator`s non-verbal signs such as body language to help with understanding.

Kinesthetic Learning Style (Kinesthetic Learners)

Kinesthetic learners also learn by touching or manipulating objects. Kinesthetic learners need to touch and manually work with objects because they learn best by doing things. They are tactile. They express themselves through movement. They use large hand gestures when talking and use body language to communicate. They need to actively explore the physical world around them [1].

It is very important to present a technique that can be extremely useful in helping to teach English with using learning Styles.

Firstly, to draw a picture or diagram and divide words into groups. For example, you can draw a body and write the parts of the body, or draw a flat and write the names of the rooms. This technique works perfectly for visuals, as drawing the pictures stimulates the creative thinking what leads to easier memorization.

It is important to draw pictures and words not only on the paper but in the air with hands.

Secondly, to write words on sticky notes with translations, synonyms and examples. Then stick them in places where your learners spend the most time [4]. Encourage pupils to take a look and revise the words every time they are near. This is another good technique for the visuals.

Thirdly, to create word associations. Encourage learners to make their own word associations. The teacher can give some hints, however the pupils should create their own. The point is that the word will be memorized and in years they will remember it. This technique is as appropriate for visuals as it is for auditory and kinesthetic, as visuals will draw a picture in their minds, the auditory will memorize using sound association , but the kinesthetic will feel it emotionally.

Also, to read books. Get the pupils to read books and write down new words, learning them in the context of the book. The visuals will be able to remember not only the word but even the page where this word was printed.

Teachers need to assess and understand how to reach all students by understanding how to present information for pupils with different learning styles. As a result, if practitioners are aware of learners` learning styles and can assist them in determining their preferences.

Certainly, understanding of learning styles may become important as classroom increase of good results in teaching English. Teachers can incorporate learning styles into their classroom by identifying the learning styles of each of their pupils and learning styles strategies for them. Therefore, using learning styles gives an opportunity to involve all class in learning English. To make English learning successful, educators must understand and respect individuals’ diverse learning styles and make efforts to create optimal learning environments for learners.

As a result, teachers should plan lessons to match students’ learning styles while at the same time encouraging pupils to diversify their learning style preferences. However, it is important to remember that all existing learning style, teachers need to deepen and maximize the potential of their using during the lesson.