The Correlation between Iraqi EFL University Students’ Cognitive Learning Styles and Expository Writing

Abstract

Making coherent as well as accurate writings may be affected by a variety of factors, among which are cognitive learning styles towards which learners exert effort to realize and understand them in order to achieve better academic outcomes because cognitive styles have a direct impact on the foreign language learning where they contribute to determining the way or pattern in which learners learn and thus contribute to increases their language performance in learning process. These styles maybe related to learners’ seeking mastery of new skills or gaining better performance and judgements in comparison with others. Accordingly, the current research is conducted to explore EFL learners’ cognitive learning styles and their relationship to expository writing. Thus, it aims at finding out: Iraqi EFL university students' level of cognitive learning styles.  Iraqi EFL university students’ performance level in expository writing. The correlation between Iraqi EFL university students' cognitive learning styles and performance in expository writing. A sample of (180) Iraqi EFL 3rd year students at the Departments of English-Colleges of Education for human Sciences at three universities; Tikrit, Baghdad and Al-Muthana respectively for the academic year (2024-2025) has been selected. The research design of the current research is a correlational in nature through which two main instruments are used, after being approved and validated by a jury of experts. These are; Cognitive Learning Styles Questionnaire 2) Expository Writing Test which includes two questions that have been developed to collect data.  After achieving the validity and reliability and checking the statistical analysis of the instruments, the Questionnaire and the test have been applied on the research sample. The analysis of the collected data reveals specific findings, which are showed as follows: 1) The Iraqi EFL university students have different levels of cognitive learning styles (high, average, and low).  An average level in expository writing by Iraqi EFL university students.  As for the cognitive learning styles, Iraqi EFL university students have shown a strong correlation with performance in expository writing. On the basis of the above conclusions, some pedagogical recommendations, and suggestions for further studies have been put forward. A study to investigate the EFL learners’ cognitive learning styles and their effect on their language proficiency.