cultureÆs emphasis on other-directedness (a duty to care for family members) may conflict with American mainstream emphasis of individualism. Emphasizing cooperation to achieve goals can result in discomfort with the conventional American classroom competition.
There are distinct learning styles as there are distinct teaching styles. Some learners, for example, prefer to work by themselves while others prefer to work in teams. Several types of studentsÆ learning styles exist and understanding them will aid the classroom teacher in accommodating them so that students achieve their fullest potential. Five types of student learning styles have been identified: auditory learners, visual learners, tactile learners, kinesthetic learners and global learners. These styles indicate the ways in which individual students learn best, how they best remember and understand the material taught. A teacher who is able ûand willing- to adapt his/her teaching style to the learnerÆs style may be expected to have greater success in improving academic achievement since the emphasis is on the learner - enabling the student to learn û rather than on teaching a given subject or discipline.
Anthony Grasha (1996) identifies five teaching styles. These include the Expert, the Formal Authority, the Personal Model, the Facilitator and the Delegator. All five styles have their advantages and disadvantages. The Facilitator approach may be the most effective in helping students achieve their potential since the focus is on the studentsÆ needs and goals, and the teacherÆs willingness to explore options and alternative courses of action. Although this style is time consuming, it is the one that may work best with students with special needs who are not ready to become independent learners (p. 154). A small classroom affords greater practical opportunity to teach to the studentÆs learning style.
In spite of the benefits of matching learner style and ...