Papers

Investigating learning styles

(Perspectives, a Journal of TESOL-Italy - Vol. XXI, No. 2/Vol. XXII, No. 1, Spring 1996)

Identifying learning styles, and relating them to teaching styles, can help improve the quality of communication in the classroom. This paper aims to discuss four main issues:
1. what are learning styles?
2. how can we get information about our students' styles?
3. how can this information be used by teachers and students?
4. should we accommodate personal styles or try to change them?

Learning styles across cultures

(Perspectives, a journal of TESOL-Italy, vol. XXXIV, n. 2., Fall 2007)

Learning styles are as much affected by cultural factors as all other areas of individual differences.  Such factors, while shaping individual identity, should not lead to undue generalizations or even stereotypes. Within multi-cultural educational institutions, possible clashes between learning and teaching styles can only be dealt with through processes of awareness raising, mediation and negotiation.

Learning styles: an approach to individual differences

(Milan '95: English language teaching - Papers from the British Council 1995 Milan Conference)

The purposes of this paper are to introduce the concept of "learning style" and to show its value in understanding the role of individual differences in the (language) classroom.

Surveys and questionnaires

From learning styles to teaching styles

How do your learning preferences affect your way of teaching? This questionnaire will help you to think about your teaching style in the areas of sensory modalities (visual verbal, visual non-verbal, auditory and kinesthetic), global vs analytic orientation, degree of structure (reflective vs impulsive) and individual vs group orientation.

An Italian version is available.

Brain-dominance questionnaire

Each of us uses some combination of both left- and right-brain information processing modes. Many of us, though, show some preference for one over the other. This questionnaire will give you an indication of your possible preference. You will also read descriptions of the features of the different modes, and will be asked to consider the relevant implications for your learning and teaching approach.

Note: The questionnaire can also be used with students, provided a clear (but gentle!) introduction to the topic is used.

An Italian version is available.