An Empirical Study Of Perceptual Learning Style To Improve Vocabulary Learning Under Multiple Intelligence Theory At Junior School

Based on the concepts of multiple intelligence theory, this paper is to explore the effectiveness of perceptual learning style on vocabulary learning in Grade Seven at Junior Middle School. English is of alphabetic language with its pronunciation typically related to its spelling, its phonemic identities and the orthographic structure of each word. The vocabulary in Grade Seven, the majority of which are the basic nouns, adjectives and verbs, mainly focusing on places, animals, jobs, food, have direct references in real life. Thus, these words possess obviously either visualized or audiolized features which can be learned effectively by students in their different perceptual learning style preference, especially with the help of perceptual learning strategy. However, the perceptual learning can help students promote their vocabulary learning only integrated with multiple intelligence theory, which enriches the way of learning vocabulary.This paper conducted an experiment on the students’ vocabulary learning by perceptual learning style under Multiple Intelligence Theory in Grade Seven q\a\\junior middle school in Wenzhou. A pilot study was first conducted in Grade Seven. Then, students were interviewed and required to do a vocabulary test and a questionnaire, which are designed to get a basic knowledge of students’ vocabulary learning competence and their vocabulary performance, in terms of words pronunciations, forms, meanings, students learning attitude, their mother tongue inference and learning difficulties. Students in experiment class were given different learning methods according to their strong intelligence and perceptual learning preference. They learned ten words in every morning reading class, and a post-test would be given to them after vocabulary learning of three modules. In addition, an interview would be conducted after it. The experiment is mainly based upon three questions: firstly, what is the relationship between perceptual learning and vocabulary learning? secondly, what are the distribution features of participants’ multiple intelligence and their perceptual learning styles? Thirdly, how does perceptual learning style conduct effective vocabulary learning when integrated with multiple intelligence theory?The study has revealed several findings:(1) 22% students’ strongest intelligence is Bodily-kinesthetic Intelligence. Only 5% students’ strongest intelligence is Logical-mathematical Intelligence. Meanwhile, visual learning is favored most, 30% students prefer to it.(2)In the post-test, there is a significant difference between the experimental group and the controlled group, that is, the mean of the experimental group is 3.3 higher than the controlled group.(3)Through the analysis of questionnaire, it is concluded that students have a better understanding of their vocabulary learning. Their interest has increased and the difficulty of vocabulary learning has decreased.