1. Introduction
The globalization era marks the need for a community to have knowledge and skills to face current and future challenges.
In order to face these challenges, life-long learning is regarded as a crucial and relevant requirement to the community. The effort to encourage lifelong learning has indirectly highlighted the importance of non-formal education (Coombs, 1985). Non formal education plays an important role in fulfilling the learning needs that formal education cannot provide.
Most educators found that not everybody learn the same way (Brookfield, 1987). This is especially true for adult learners,
due to differences of age and experiences. It is a more diverse group of learners than any other and they have multiple
perspectives on learning. Due to this, adults have diverse learning styles (Brookfield, 1987; Smith, 1990). One may like
reading, while another does best by trying out practical exercises. This diversity in learning has to be given attention to ensure that the learner needs are met. In addition, the information on learning styles is useful in developing an effective program (Al Ammar, 1998). Numerous studies have been done regarding learning styles, but these studies are mainly carried out in a formal setting, which are in schools or higher institutions. However, studies in non formal setting are insufficient. For college communities to be the hub for life-long learning, studies done on the learning styles of adult learners of these colleges are still lacking. Therefore, this study aims to determine the learning styles of adult learners in non formal education programs in a community college. Also, the study investigates the extent to which the adult learners favor the learning principles applied by the lecturers.