For further studies, the researcher suggests some ways to dig deeper to learning style preferences and vocabulary learning strategies. In particular, as far as I am concerned, there are five different directions for the researchers who spare interest for the same topic.
First and foremost, an exploratory study can be carried out to figure out the relationship between learning style preferences of students at SOL, VNU and the vocabulary learning strategies exploited by them.
As for the second suggestion for further studies, it is supposed that a quasi- experimental research study can be implemented in order to test the effectiveness of vocabulary learning strategies which were recommended by the teachers of English for each learning style.
Another suggestion is that open-ended questions should be added into the VLS questionnaires to give students more space to reveal their priceless information which may help the researcher understand their ways to learn English vocabulary.
From the perspective of teachers, an action research study can be carried out to find out the problems in teaching a class of mixed learning styles and then propose the correspondent solutions to them.
Last but not least, in further studies, researchers can select a scope and then classify them into different groups according to their English language competence.
Next, the strategies used by the group of students who have the highest proficiency can be investigated. After these strategies are disclosed, researchers can apply them to the other groups and test the effectiveness and suitability of those strategies to them.
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APPENDICES
APPENDIX 1: VAK Learning Style Questionnaire
(English Version)
Hi students! I‟m Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang. I‟m working as a lecturer of English at Faculty of English, ULIS, VNU. I‟m currently doing a survey research on vocabulary learning strategies used by students of different learning styles. This questionnaire is designed to define your learning styles. Please do me a favor by answering truthfully all the questions for the research to succeed.
PART 1: Personal information
1. What’s your name? ……….
2. What’s your student code? ………..
3. What’s your major? ……….
4. Are you self-aware of your own learning style preference? ………
PART 2: The explanation of learning style preferences VAK Learning Styles Explanation
The VAK learning styles model suggests that most people can be divided into one of three preferred styles of learning. These three styles are as follows, (and there is no right or wrong learning style):
- Someone with a Visual learning style has a preference for seen or observed things, including pictures, diagrams, demonstrations, displays, handouts, films, flip-chart, etc. These people will use phrases such as „show me‟, „let‟s have a look at that‟ and will be best able to perform a new task after reading the instructions or watching someone else do it first. These are the people who will work from lists and written directions and instructions.
- Someone with an Auditory learning style has a preference for the transfer of information through listening: to the spoken word, of self or others, of sounds and noises. These people will use phrases such as „tell me‟, „let‟s talk it over‟ and will be best able to perform a new task after listening to instructions from an expert. These are the people who are happy being given spoken instructions over the telephone, and can remember all the words to songs that they hear!
- Someone with a Kinaesthetic learning style has a preference for physical experience - touching, feeling, holding, doing, practical hands-on experiences. These people will use phrases such as „let me try‟, „how do you feel?‟ and will be best able to perform a new task by going ahead and trying it
out, learning as they go. These are the people who like to experiment, hands-on, and never look at the instructions first!
PART 3: The questionnaire about the students’ perceptual learning style preferences
Circle the answer that most represents how you generally behave 1. When I operate new equipment, I generally:
a. read the instructions first
b. listen to an explanation from someone who has used it before c. go ahead and have a go, I can figure it out as I use it
2. When I need directions for traveling, I usually:
a. look at a map
b. ask for spoken directions
c. follow my nose and maybe use a compass 3. When I cook a new dish, I like to:
a. follow a written recipe
b. call a friend for an explanation c. follow my instincts, testing as I cook
4. If I am teaching someone something new, I tend to:
a. write instructions down for them b. give them a verbal explanation
c. demonstrate first and then let them have a go 5. I tend to say:
a. watch how I do it b. listen to me explain c. you have a go
6. During my free time, I most enjoy:
a. going to museums and galleries
b. listening to music and talking to my friends c. playing sports or doing DIY
7. When I go shopping for clothes, I tend to:
a. imagine what they would look like on b. discuss them with the shop staff c. try them on and test them out
8. When I am choosing a holiday, I usually:
a. read lots of brochures
b. listen to recommendations from friends c. imagine what it would be like to be there 9. If you are buying a new car, I would:
a. read reviews in newspapers and magazines b. discuss what I need with my friends
c. test-drive different types
10. When I am learning a new skill, I am most comfortable:
a. watching what teacher is doing
b. talking through with the teacher exactly what I’m supposed to do c. giving a try myself and work it out as I go
11. If I am choosing food off a menu, I tend to:
a. imagine what the food I will look like
b. talk through the options in my head or with my partner c. imagine what the food will taste like
12. When I listen to a band, I can’t help:
a. watching the band members and other people in the audience b. listening to the lyrics and the beats
c. moving in time with the music 13. When I concentrate, I most often:
a. focus on the words or the pictures in front of me
b. discuss the problem and the possible solutions in my head c. move around a lot, fiddle with pens or pencils and touch things 14. I choose household furnishing because I like:
a. their colors and how they look
b. the descriptions the sales-people give me
c. their textures and what it feels like to touch them 15. My first memory is of:
a. looking at something b. being spoken to c. doing something
16. When I am anxious, I:
a. visualize the worst case scenarios
b. talk over my head what worries me the most c. can’t sit still, fiddle and move around constantly
17. I feel specially connected to other people because of:
a. how they look b. what they say to me c. how they make me feel
18. When I have to revise for an exam, I generally:
a. write lots of revision notes and diagrams b. talk over my notes, alone or with others
c. imagine making the movement or creating the formula 19. If I am explaining to someone, I often:
a. show them what I mean
b. explain to them in different ways until they can understand
c. encourage them to try and talk them through my ideas as they do it 20. I really love:
a. watching films, photography, looking at art or people watching b. listening to music, the radio or talking with friends
c. taking part in sporting activities, eating fine foods and wines or dancing 21. Most of my free time is spent on:
a. watching televisions
b. talking to friends
c. doing physical activities or making things
22. When I first contact a new person, I usually:
a. arrange a face-to-face meeting b. talk to them on the telephone
c. try to get together while doing something else such as an activity or a meal 23. I first notice how people:
a. look and dress b. sound and speak c. stand and move
24. If I am angry, I tend to:
a. keep replaying in my mind what it is that has upset me b. raise my voice and tell people how I feel
c. stamp about, slam doors and physically demonstrate my anger 25. I find it easiest to remember:
a. faces b. names
c. things I have done
26. I think that you can tell if someone is lying if:
a. they avoid looking at you b. their voices change c. they give me funny vibes 27. When I meet an old friend:
a. I say “it’s great to see you!”
b. I say “it’s great to hear from you!”
c. I give them a hug or a handshake 28. I remember things best by:
a. writing notes or keeping printed details
b. saying them aloud or repeating words or key points in my head
c. doing and practicing the activity or imagining it being done
29. If I have to complain about my faulty goods, I am most comfortable:
a. writing a letter
b. complaining over the phone c. taking the item back to the store 30. I tend to say:
a. I see what you mean b. I hear what you are saying c. I know how you feel
That is the end of the questionnaire.
Thank you for your enthusiastic cooperation!
APPENDIX 2: VLS Questionnaire
(English Version)
Hi students! I‟m Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang. I‟m a lecturer of English at Faculty of English, ULIS, VNU. I‟m currently doing a survey research on vocabulary learning strategies used by students of different learning styles. This questionnaire is designed to explore the frequency of strategy use in your English vocabulary learning. Please do me a favor by answering truthfully all the questions for the research to succeed.
PART I: The respondents’ information
1. What is your self-assessed learning style preference?
A. Visual B. Auditory C. Kinesthetic
2. How long have you been learning English? ……….
PART II: The students’ use of vocabulary learning strategies
This questionnaire is designed for students who learn English as a foreign language. You will find about vocabulary learning strategies.
Put a tick in the box (5, 4, 3, 2 or 1) that tells the degree of opinion on the strategies you employ to learn English vocabulary. Please mark the statement that most describe you.
1 = never use 4 = often use
2 = seldom use 5 = always use 3 = sometimes use
The statement of vocabulary learning strategies
Degree of frequency
5 4 3 2 1
1. I use a bilingual dictionary to help me translate English words into Vietnamese language.
2. I use pictures illustrated in the textbook to find the word meanings.
3. I learn meanings of words by identifying its part of speech.
4. I ask the teacher to translate words into Vietnamese.
5. I ask the teacher to put an unknown word into a sentence to help me understand the word meaning.
6. I ask my classmate for meaning.
7. I know some new words when working in group works.
8. I practice English in group work activities.
9. I ask native speakers for help.
10. I learn words about the culture of English speaking countries.
11. I write a new word in a sentence, so I can remember it.
12. I study a spelling of new words.
13. I use physical actions when learning words.
14. I speak words out loud when studying.
15. I repeatedly practice new words.
16. I write a new word on a flash card, so I can remember it.
17. I learn words by listening to vocabulary CDs.
18. I record vocabulary from English soundtrack movies in my notebook.
19. I make vocabulary cards and take them with me wherever I go.
20. I listen to English songs and news.
21. I memorize words from English magazines.
22. I review my own English vocabulary cards for reviewing before the next lesson starts.
23. When encountering new words in listening to or reading English, I skip them.
24. I use online exercises to test my vocabulary knowledge.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENTHUSIASTIC COOPERATION!
APPENDIX 3: Interview Question List (For teachers)
Questions 1-2: Teachers’ experience in teaching English 1. How long have you been teaching English?
2. How long have you been teaching English for students at SOL, VNU?
Questions 3-5: Teachers’ understanding of their students 3. At which level are your students?
4. How difficult is vocabulary learning to your students?
5. Do you pay attention to their learning style preferences?
Questions 6-8: Teachers’ comments on the use of VLS of each learning style group of students & recommendations for improvement if possible
6. Could you leave some comments on the visual students’ use of VLS? Could you offer any recommendations for improvement if possible?
7. Could you leave some comments on the auditory students’ use of VLS? Could you offer any recommendations for improvement if possible?
8. Could you leave some comments on the kinesthetic students’ use of VLS?
Could you offer any recommendations for improvement if possible?
APPENDIX 4: VAK Learning Style Questionnaire (Vietnamese Version)
BẢNG CÂU HỎI KHẢO SÁT VỀ PHONG CÁCH HỌC
Xin chào các em sinh viên! Cô là Nguyễn Thị Huyền Trang. Hiện cô là giảng viên của Khoa Tiếng Anh, ĐHNN – ĐHQGHN. Cô đang làm một nghiên cứu để tìm ra các phương pháp học từ vựng được sử dụng bởi sinh viên năm 2 Khoa Luật thuộc 3 nhóm phong cách học khác nhau. Bảng câu hỏi khảo sát này được thiết kể với mục đích tìm ra xu hướng phong cách học của mỗi em. Để nghiên cứu này thành công, các em vui lòng giúp cô trả lời tất cả các câu hỏi dưới đây một cách chân thật nhất.
Cô đảm bảo rằng thông tin cá nhân của các em sẽ được bảo mật. Cảm ơn các em rất nhiều!
PHẦN I : Thông tin cá nhân của người trả lời 1. Tên em là gì? ……….
2. Mã số sinh viên của em là gì? ………..
3. Chuyên ngành học của em là gì? ……….
4. Em có biết xu hướng phong cách học của mình là gì không?………
PHẦN II: Giới thiệu về các nhóm phong cách học VAK
Mô hình phong cách học VAK gợi ý rằng hầu hết mọi người có thể có xu hướng thuộc một trong ba nhóm phong cách học. Ba kiểu phong cách học tập đó sẽ được trình bày dưới đây (nên lưu ý rằng không có sự phân biệt đúng/sai giữa các nhóm phong cách học tập).
Những người có phong cách học tập trực quan có xu hướng thích nhìn hoặc quan sát sự vật, chẳng hạn như tranh ảnh, sơ đồ, bảng biểu, tài liệu phát tay, phim ảnh, tờ rơi, etc. Khi muốn học hoặc biết thêm điều gì, những người này sẽ sử dụng các cụm từ/câu như “Hãy cho tôi xem nào!” hoặc “Hãy chỉ rõ cho tôi thấy đi!” để nhờ người khác. Họ có thể thực hiện tốt một việc nào đó sau khi đọc hướng dẫn sử dụng hoặc xem người khác thực hiện việc đó. Họ thích đọc những hướng dẫn/chỉ dẫn rồi tìm ra cách sử dụng của một vật nào đó.
Những người có phong cách học tập thính giác có xu hướng thích nhận thông tin bằng cách đọc to hướng dẫn sử dụng, nghe bản thân mình hay người khác nói, hoặc nghe băng đĩa và thậm chí là tiếng ồn. Khi muốn học hoặc biết thêm điều gì, những người này sẽ sử dụng các cụm từ/câu như “Hãy nói tôi nghe qua về nó xem nào!”. Họ có thể thực hiện tốt một việc nào