An Investigation On The Correlation Between EFL Learners' Learning Style Preferences And Their Grammar Achievements

EFL/ESL learners'Learning style research started in 1950s since American scholar Herbert Thelen proposed the concept of learning style in 1954 for the first time, and then it became a hot domain in the west. However, although the research on this field also began in China, its results were really sparse for their focus on learning strategy research. Till 1990s, researchers in China began to pay attention on EFL learners'learning style study with Wang Churning as representative. Researches both in China and abroad provide insights for the author to do the present investigation.Based on the previous studies on learning styles, the author also intends to take an investigation on EFL learners'learning style preferences. However, contrasted with other empirical researches on learning style, this thesis focuses on the correlation between EFL learners'learning style preferences and their grammar achievements to unfold which learning style in Kolb's four learning styles (Converger, Assimilator, Accomodator and Diverger) is more effective in grammar learning. In communicative teaching, EFL teachers and learners attach much more importance on language using aspect, but at the same time ignoring the grammar knowledge in the teaching and learning process. Therefore, EFL learners constantly make mistakes in their speaking and writing, which has caused the inaccuracy of speaking and writing, and EFL learners'incompletion of foreign language acquisition. It is hoped that this investigation can make some significance in raising EFL learners'grammar learning awareness and make some contribution to English teaching. In this investigation, two questions are put forward:1) What are the features of EFL learners'learning styles?2) What is the correlation between EFL majors'learning style and their grammar achievements?In order to answer these two questions,104 senior students majoring in English were investigated by using revised Kolb's Learning Style Inventory, and a grammar test designed by the author. We hope the two questions can be answered in a positive way by SPSS analysis. After the investigation, the author found that (1) most of the students incline Assimilator and Converger learning styles. And students with Converger learning style got the relative higher score in the grammar test, (2) the positive correlation exists between EFL learners'learning style preferences and their grammar achievements.Based on the investigation, the author put forward the implications including diagnosing EFL learners'learning styles, stretching out their learning styles and raising their grammatical awareness.