EFL Male and Female Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligences; A Case of Iranian EFL University Students

This study was an attempt to investigate a learning style and multipleintelligences survey distributed among two groups of senior-level EFL male andfemale students to use appropriate techniques and activities for different gender.Two standardized instruments were used during the data collection process. Itshould be noted that a t-test was conducted to conclude the differences betweenmale and female groups. Since there was the same survey as a data elicitationinstrument, it was possible to easily compare the results from the two groups.Furthermore, sufficient considerations of both audiences were taken into accountduring the design of the survey. The first part of the survey aimed at the students’desired learning styles and the second part focused on multiple intelligences. Dataanalysis displayed the prevailing learning styles and multiple intelligences in eachgroup. Furthermore, findings revealed that prevailing learning style preferencesof the male group were visual, global, closure-oriented, extroverted, and intuitivelearning style, respectively, whereas the female group preferred mostly aglobal, intuitive, closure-oriented, a visual, and finally an extroverted learningstyle. The findings of the study indicated that knowing the strengths andpotentials of the male and female students regarding their multiple intelligencesand learning styles would help both language teachers and students in order tomake progress, develop language skills, and select appropriate syllabus designsand language learning methods.

Keywords:

Cross-gender studies , Learning styles , Multiple intelligences