Book Description

This book contributes to the body of knowledge concerning individual learner differences by addressing the issue of learning styles in developing a second language. It comprises five chapters. The notion of style, together with its place among other individual differences and its relation to learning strategies, is presented in Chapter 1. The reasons for researching styles are also delineated in this chapter. Chapter 2 describes simple (one-dimensional) models of learning styles, contrary to Chapter 3, in which two-dimensional (compound) models are presented. Multi-dimensional (complex) models of learning styles are the focus of Chapter 4. Each model discussed in Chapters 2 through 4 is accompanied by an outline of its significance to second language educators, as demonstrated in earlier studies. The final, fifth chapter is devoted to the discussion of the practical exploitation of the learning style awareness in second language education. The options suggested include accommodating learners’ styles, stretching them (by exposing the students to the less familiar and less preferred options), and mixtures of both approaches. The book will be of interest to applied linguists, psycholinguists and language teaching practitioners, as well as tertiary level students interested in finding out the ways in which learning styles account for linguistic achievement.