The Empowerment of Perceptual Learning Styles with the Use of Social Media in the University Foreign Language Classroom

Abstract

The integration of new media technologies in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom has contributed to the evolution of the 21st century educational system towards multimodal communication. This doctoral dissertation aims to provide new evidence which may contribute to the ground for improvement in: EFL teaching and learning, perceptual learning styles (i.e., auditory, kinaesthetic, and visual), and digital education and training. A total of 34 participants of the bachelor’s degree in Tourism at Universitat Jaume I (Castellón, Spain) were selected to take part in the implementation of this study. The results obtained revealed that Social Media applications are suitable to enhance communication, empower perceptual learning styles, and improve students’ confidence and motivation in the language learning process. In conclusion, this project leaves an open door to further investigations based on the possible correlation between multimodality and perceptual learning styles in the EFL field.