Identifying Perceptual Learning Styles Preferences on Students’ Vocabulary Mastery

Abstract

The study's aims were to determine the level of students’ vocabulary mastery, identify the students’ perceptual learning style preferences, and determine the impact of the perceptual learning style preferences on students’ vocabulary mastery. Mixed method research was used in this study. This study included 25 students from MA Muallimin Muhammadiyah Makassar's eleventh grade. The research data were collected using vocabulary test, perceptual learning styles preference questionnaire by Reid (1987), and interview. Likert scale, descriptive statistics, SPSS 26 version, and Microsoft Excel were used to analyze the data. The result of this research showed that (1) The students’ perceptual learning styles preferences was group learning style as a major classification. And the other learning style like visual, auditory, kinesthetic, tactile and individual were minor classification. (2) The impact of perceptual learning styles preferences on students' vocabulary mastery was that individual learners could focus on memorizing a new vocabulary; group learners could be enthusiastic and motivated to memorize English vocabulary; and auditory learners could help themselves memorize the vocabulary by listening repeatedly. (3) The level of the students’ vocabulary mastery was classified as fair. Based on findings and discussions, it can be concluded that the perceptual learning styles preferences affect the students’ vocabulary mastery. Students felt comfortable and it can help them to master vocabulary if they used their favor learning style.