THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCE AND VOCABULARY LEARNING STRATEGIES AMONG IRANIAN EFL LEARNERS

The present study aimed at identifying the relationship between multiple intelligences(MI) and vocabulary learning strategies(VLS) among the Iranian EFL learners. The participants were senior students at Kerman Azad University majoring in English Language Teaching. More specifically answers to the following research questions were sought: Is there any relationship between MI and types of vocabulary learning strategies among the Iranian EFL learners? Which type of intelligence or combination of intelligences is the best predictor of vocabulary learning strategy? And also, Is there any type of intelligences or combination of intelligences to be a predictor of weakness or strangeness in Iranian EFL learner’s vocabulary learning strategies? To this end, two kinds of instruments were used in this study: Schmittʹs vocabulary learning strategies (1997) and an MI questionnaire whose construct validity was checked through principal factor analysis. The data were analyzed both descriptively inferentially. The findings of the study revealed that there is a relationship between MI and vocabulary learning strategies and there is a significant relationship between social strategy and multiple intelligence. . Furthermore, there are several types of the intelligences and combination of intelligences to be the best predictor of vocabulary learning strategies and among 7 categories of multiple intelligence (dif types) spatial, logical mathematical and interpersonal intelligence are the most significant predictors of vocabulary learning strategies. And also among different types of multiple intelligence ,spatial intelligence can be a good predictor of VLS and musical intelligence can not act as a good predictor and is the weakest one. Seemingly, the results are context-bound not universal.