Abstract
The present study aimed to examine the inherent relationships between learning styles, learning strategies, and academic performance of Chinese students who study Spanish as a foreign language. For this purpose, an adaptation of the Honey-Alonso Learning Styles Questionnaire (CHAEA) and an adaptation of the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) questionnaire were used to identify learning styles and strategies, respectively. To measure academic performance, students’ qualifications of the National Examination for Undergraduate Students of Hispanic Philology were used. Our results indicated that the majority of Chinese students who study a foreign language had a combination of the studied styles. Moreover, most of them used all strategies with a medium or high frequency. Significant correlations were found between the learning styles and strategies, and it was confirmed that active style and metacognition strategies are influencing factors in the academic achievement of Chinese foreign language learners.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aguilera, E., & Ortiz, E. (2009). The investigations about learning styles and its explaining models. Journal of Learning Styles,4(2), 1–19.
Alonso, C. (1992). Análisis y Diagnóstico de los Estilos de Aprendizaje en Estudiantes Universitarios. Tomo I. Madrid: Colección Tesis Doctorales. Editorial de la Universidad Complutense.
Alonso, C., Gallego, D., & Honey, P. (1999). Los estilos de aprendizaje. Bilbao: Ediciones Mensajero.
Azpiroz, M. (2013). Chinese students of Spanish as a Foreign Language. Dialogue between the Chinese culture and the educational context. Cuadernos de Investigación Educativa, 19(4), 39–52.
Cabrales, M., & Oliveros, M. y Mejía, A. (2014). Estilos de aprendizaje en estudiantes de inglés y su rendimiento académico. Itinerario Educativo,28(63), 155–177.
Camargo, A., & Hederich, C. (2010). Jerome Bruner: Two cognitive theories, two forms of meaning, two approaches to teaching science. Psicogente,13(24), 329–346.
Chamot, A. (2005). Language learning strategy instruction: Current issues and research. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics,25, 112–130.
Chan, S. (1999). The Chinese learner—a question of style. Education Training,41(6/7), 294–304.
Cohen, A. (1998). Strategies in Learning and Using a Second Language. New York: Longman.
Dunn, R., Griggs, S., Olson, J., Gorman, B., & Beasley, M. (1995). A meta-analytic validation of the Dunn and Dunn learning styles model. Journal of Educational Research,88(6), 353–362.
Esguerra, G., & Guerrero, P. (2010). Learning methods and academic yields of Psychology students. Revista Diversitas Perspectivas en Psicología,6(1), 97–109.
Garbanzo, G. (2007). Study on the factors related to students’ performance—consideration on the quality of public higher education. Journal of Education,31(1), 43–63.
García, M. (2012). Differences in language learning strategy use in foreign language learning between genders. Docencia e Investigación,17(22), 61–80.
García, J. (2015). ¿Cuántos estudiantes de español hay en el mundo? (How many students in the world study Spanish?). Retrieved from: https://www.lavanguardia.com/vangdata/20150622/54432960001/cuantos-estudiantes-de-espanol-hay-en-el-mundo.html.
García, J., Santizo, J., & Alonso, C. (2009). Learning styles measurement tools. Journal of Learning Styles,4(2), 3–21.
Gu, S. M., & Zang, S. M. (2017). Review and introspection: Language learning strategies in China. Computer-assisted Foreign Language Education,174(2), 84–92.
Guo, J. R., & Liao, X. L. (2014). A study of the correlation between Non-English majors’ English learning styles and sex roles. Foreign Language Education,35(3), 60–64.
Hernández, S., Fernández, C., & Baptista, L. (2006). Metodología de investigación. México: Mc Graw Hill.
Honey, P., & Mumford, A. (1986). Using your learning styles. Maidenhead: Peter Honey Publications Ltd.
Hsu, C. W., & Chen, S. C. (2016). A study of EFL college students’ learning styles and learning strategies. Journal of Modern Education Review,6(1), 1–9.
Huang, F., Hoi, C., & Teo, T. (2018). The influence of learning style on English learning achievement among undergraduates in mainland China. Journal of Psycholinguistic Research,47(5), 1069–1084.
Keefe, J. W. (1987). Learning style theory and practice. Reston, VA: National Association of secondary School Principals.
Khodabakhshzadeh, H., Hosseinnia, M., & Rahimian, S. (2017). Learning style, metacognition and creativity as predictors of the foreign language achievement: A structural equation modeling approach. Psychological Studies,62(4), 377–385.
Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential Learning Experience as a Source of Learning and Development. College Teaching,1(3), 16–17.
Leaver, B., Ehrman, M., & Shekhtman, B. (2005). Learning styles and learning strategies. In B. E. Leaver (Ed.), Second language acquisition (pp. 65–91). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Lee, J., & Heinz, M. (2016). English language learning strategies reported by advanced language learners. Journal of International Education Research,12(2), 67–76.
Li, H., & He, Q. (2016). Ambiguity tolerance and perceptual learning styles of Chinese EFL learners. English Language Teaching,9(6), 213–222.
Li, W., & Zhang, J. (2018). A meta-analysis of the correlations in SILL based studies on Chinese university students’ language learning strategies and English learning achievement in China. Foreign Language Learning Theory and Practice,164(4), 41–49.
Lian, M. (2017).西班牙语专四考试通过率为什么这么低? (Why is the passing rate of EEE-4 so low?) Retrieved from: https://www.sohu.com/a/199009457_99916244.
Oxford, R. (1990). Language Learning Strategies: What Every Teacher Should Know. New York: Newbury House.
Rubin, J. (1981). Study of cognitive processes in second-language learning. Applied Linguistics,2(11), 118–131.
Sahragard, R., & Abbasian, R. (2016). Field of study, learning styles, and language learning strategies of university students: Are there any relations? Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching,10(3), 255–271.
Sánchez, A. (2009). Learning strategies of Chinese students who study Spanish as a second language. Marco ELE,8, 1–38.
Schmeck, R. (1988). Individual differences and learning strategies. In E. G. C. E. Weinstein (Ed.), Learning and study strategies: Issues in assessment, instruction and evaluation (pp. 171–191). New York: Academic Press.
Sepúlveda, M., Montero, E., & Solar, M. (2009). Learning style and pedagogic strategies of students attending pharmacology. Journal of Learning Styles,4(2), 188–206.
Soodmand Afshar, H., Tofighi, S., & Hamazavi, R. (2016). Iranian EFL learners’ emotional intelligence, learning styles, strategy use, and their l2 achievement. Issues in Educational Research,26(4), 635–652.
Uhrig, K. (2015). Learning styles and strategies for language use in the context of academic reading tasks. System,50, 21–31.
Weinstein, C. & Mayer, R. (1983). The teaching of learning strategies. Innovation Abstract, 5(32). Retrieved from: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED237180.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Feng, Y., Iriarte, F. & Valencia, J. Relationship Between Learning Styles, Learning Strategies and Academic Performance of Chinese Students Who Learn Spanish as a Foreign Language. Asia-Pacific Edu Res 29, 431–440 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-019-00496-8
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-019-00496-8