Learning Styles and Strategies

It was Thursday when I conducted the CITE test to my students. They were even surprised that it was I who provided them papers to answer. I simply told them the directions on how to go through the test and answer as honestly as possible, I sincerely told them that the test is required for my masters assignment but I did not tell them about learning styles and strategies. After almost 30 minutes, I gave them the responsibility to determine which is their major,minor or negligible learning style.
After, I discussed about learning styles and elaborated each of them. As I go through the discussion all I could hear are: “lagi noh?”, “mao jud”, “sakto”, one even blurted “absolutely!”. I was glad that the CITE results were approved by my students (anyway, who would know their learning styles except them).
As I went through the results of their MAJOR learning style, I found out that out if 41, 30 are visual learners, 15 are auditory, 16 are auditory – visual kinesthetic, 24 are social- individual, 5 are social – group, 3 are expressive in both written and oral forms.
Prior to the given test, among my Oral Communication classes, that class is the most silent. When I talk in front, it seems that they are there physically but not mentally or perhaps they are just their for the sake of not being absent. There are even few times that I am intimidated by their silence. Nevertheless, during exams almost all of them get high grades. It was then after the test did I realize that they are visual learners. Good thing, I always make use of the blackboard whenever discussing something.
However, I am saddened to find out the results of their expressiveness both in oral and written forms. I agree with the results that CITE came up with. Whenever I give essays exams, it is really hard for them to express themselves especially using the English language, they same goes for oral activities. My students are from rural areas where academic facilities are not well-supported so they lack exposure to activities which boost their use of the English language. In fact, they also lack confidence to express them selves.
From the results and from the academic backgrounds that they have, it is safe to say that they lack risk-taking attitudes to learn the language. As a teacher it is really hard and calls for much effort but when you see an improvement, even a little, one is inspired to strive harder in coming up with communicative activities that will let them get out from their shells.
Generally, conducting the test really helps. I then decided to give it every semester.