Learning Styles of English BA Students at Cihan University-Erbil

This study investigates the learning style preferences of 100 English BA students at Cihan University-Erbil to inform effective English Language Teaching (ELT) pedagogy.Utilizing Reid’s (1984) Perceptual Learning Style Preference Questionnaire, the research examines preferences across six learning styles: Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, Tactile, Group, and Individual. Data, analyzed using SPSS version 25, reveal a strong preference for Kinesthetic (M = 4.12, 32% dominant) and Tactile (M = 3.98, 24% dominant) styles, followed by Visual (M = 3.87, 18% dominant), Auditory (M = 3.76, 12% dominant), and Individual (M = 3.61, 10% dominant), with Group learning as a minor preference (M = 3.42, 4% dominant). Significant correlations include a positive Kinesthetic-Tactile relationship (r = 0.58, p < 0.01) and a negative Group-Individual correlation (r = -0.56, p < 0.01). No significant differences were found across gender or year of study, though trends suggest increasing Individual and decreasing Group preferences over time. These findings, supported by reliable questionnaire data (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.7), align with regional EFL studies emphasizing active learning but highlight a unique low Group preference. The results advocate for ELT curricula prioritizing hands-on, multisensory activities while balancing individualized approaches, offering insights for enhancing English language acquisition in similar contexts.