EXPLORING STUDENTS‟ AWARENESS AND TEACHERS‟ CONSIDERATION OF PERCEPTUAL LEARNING STYLE PREFERENCES IN ENGLISH CLASSROOMS: THE CASE OF GRADE 10 STUDENTS AND EFL TEACHERS OF FOUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN HOSSANA TOWN ADMINISTRATION

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore students‟ awareness and teachers‟ consideration of perceptual learning style preferences in English classrooms. To conduct the study, descriptive survey deign was used. And both quantitative and qualitative data gathering method was applied. The study was carried out in Hadiya Zone Hossana Town Administration. Among eleven secondary schools of Hossana Town Administration, four secondary schools were selected by using simple random sampling technique. Comprehensive sampling technique was employed to take all grade 10 English language teachers from the selected schools. The main instruments of data collection were questionnaire and observation. Accordingly, a questionnaire was administered to 200 randomly selected grade 10 students from the four secondary schools. And the observation of teachers was substantiated by an interview. Then, the data were analyzed using percentage and overall mean of each preferences. The finding of the study revealed that there is lack of students‟ awareness of their perceptual learning style preferences with the exception of visual learners, and English Language teachers, except teachers who considered auditory learners, did not have clear consideration about their students‟ perceptual learning style preferences as well. Finally, the recommendations were forwarded based on the findings. To control their own learning, students need to be aware of their perceptual learning style preferences, and to meet the need of individuals‟ learning preferences, English Language teachers need to survey and identify their students‟ perceptual learning style preferences first; were some of the recommendations from the findings. So as to reduce and gradually solve the problems encountered in effective implementation of varying instructional methods of teachers based on the students‟ preferred needs of perceptual learning style preferences, English Language teachers need to make their students to have an awareness of perceptual learning style preferences specifically.