The faculty of foreign languages

Importance of Knowing Learning Styles
“Learning styles indicate an individual’s preferential focus on different types of information, the different ways of perceiving information, and the rate of understanding information. Having an understanding of the learning style preferences of students can provide effective learning strategies for teachers to use. Students who share a learning style that is attuned with the teacher remember information longer and are more optimistic about learning. Often, students will not do that well in school, this is due to the fact that they “lack the ability to cope with various situations. Students not coping with various situations is one of the greatest challenges in education. By using individual’s specific learning styles in the classroom, teachers are promoting problem-solving skills. By promoting problem solving skills in classrooms teachers are preparing students for real life situations. By making students aware of their specific learning style teachers can “encourage them to realize the importance of appropriate learning styles for different disciplines or subjects and that such styles may hopefully be changed to suit changing learning situations. According to Fatt students will not benefit from teaching methods being mismatched to the student’s styles of learning. By teachers providing a learning environment that suits the unique learning styles of students they can “learn better and be more comfortable in their own learning styles instead of having to adapt themselves to the differing teaching styles of teachers.
Due to the fact that teachers present their personalities through their teaching and their learning environment, teachers can become more flexible in knowing their students learning styles.Researchers believe that learning style is a good predictor of an individual’s preferred learning behavior. Having a teacher who understands the learning style or behavior of a student can minimize problmes that may come up with learning. By matching a students learning style to a specific teaching style can increase student achievement and satisfaction. Studies have shown that “the congruence between teaching and learning styles has a positive impact on achievement and satisfaction. According to Naimie et al learning style specialists have confirmed the theory that students will learn more and enjoy the class experience and environment when they can use their preferred learning styles. Developing instructional methods and materials that are appropriate for a wide range of cognitive learning styles should be a priority of all educators. Due to the fact that students respond better to instructional methods that match their learning style, integrating different learning styles in the classroom environment can enhance the benefits for everyone.