Personality, Learning Styles and Learning Strategies in SLA/FLA: Implications of individual differences in SLA/FLA

Abstract

Research have stated the importance of individual differences such as personality, learning styles and learning strategies, in predicting success in second or foreign language acquisition. Particularly, investigations in the field have demonstrated the connection between personality type and the way we acquire, process and retrieve information, namely learning styles. Likewise, the conscious use of learning strategies, closely associated with one’s learning style, can have a positive impact in the successful acquisition of a second or foreign language. This paper suggests that in order to provide an effective instruction, teachers need to know who their learners are by identifying and understanding their individual differences – personality type, learning styles and learning strategies – and consequently, establishing the implications these affective and non-affective variables can have in the classroom.