The influence of brain-compatible learning on English language proficiency of adult learners

The quest for finding out new methods or techniques in an effort to ameliorate the quality of English language teaching is not a new phenomenon in view of the approaches and methods having been introduced to the literature heretofore. One of the current initiatives embarked on to accomplish the mentioned objective involves the implementation of brain-compatible learning principles in learning environments. The review of the related literature has led the researcher to carry out a study in order for investigating the impact of brain-compatible learning on adult EFL learners' language proficiency as scarce number of research has been conducted on the topic of concern so far. This study having a mixed methods research design was conducted with the participation of 53 university prep class learners. The focus group was comprised of 27 learners while the remaining participants, 26 participants, took part in the study in the control group. The participants in the focus group were subjected to the intervention in brain-compatible learning principles for 336 hours while the ones in the control group were traditionally taught such as being subjected to lecture method in the duration of the study. The data collected by pre-post proficiency exam results, retention exam results, perceptions about brain-compatible learning questionnaire, beliefs about language learning inventory, learning styles inventory, lived English language learning experiences questionnaire, hemispheric mode indicator, two semi-structured interviews, learners' diaries and teacher's diary were analysed by employing SPSS 22 and MAXQDA 11. The findings attained from the analysis of the data reported that the focus group participants outperformed the control group participants in the post-proficiency exam, which indicates that brain-compatible learning has a positive influence on adult EFL learners' language proficiency. Keywords: English language teaching and learning, brain-compatible learning, brain-compatible learning principles, EFL learners, adult learners