Different Types of LearnersBy Aygun Qasimova and Shani Backstrom

What Kind of Learner are You?

Definition of Learning Styles:

What is a learning style? Is an individual’s mode of learning and the way

they remember information best.

How many learning styles are there? There are as many learning styles as there are

people. Educational researchers have broken the styles into many categories. However, there are three main learning categories: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.

What are Learning Styles?Information enters your brain three main ways: sight, hearing and touch. Which one you use the most is called

your Learning Style

Visual Learners learn by sightAuditory Learners learn by hearingTactile Learners (kinesthetic) learn by

touch

Visual LearnersThey prefer to see information such as

pictures, diagrams, cartoons, demonstrations

They picture words and concepts they hear as images

They are easily distracted in lecture with no visual aids

But, they are overwhelmed with intense visuals accompanied by lecture

They benefit from using charts, maps, notes, and flash cards when studying

Auditory LearnersThey prefer to hear information spokenThey can absorb a lecture with little

effortThey may not need careful notes to

learn.They often avoid eye contact in order to

concentrateThey may read aloud to themselvesThey like background music when they

study

Tactile or Kinesthetic Learners

They prefer touch as their primary mode for taking in information

In traditional lecture situations, they should write out important facts

They create study sheets connected to vivid examples

Role-playing can help them learn and remember important ideas

Okay, Iget it now.

Helpful language learning activities (1)

If you are auditory, you should:

Listen to music or to the radio by native speakers.

Watch TV, videos or movies in the native language

Singing a song in the language.

If you are visual, you should:

Read textbooks and magazines in the language

which includes interesting topics.

Create visuals for each new vocabulary word

Make a chart of this new alphabet.

Helpful language learning activities (2)

If you are kinesthetic:

Learn an “action” to each new vocabulary word.

Take cooking lessons in the native language.

Role-play and dialogue with actions

Create manipulatives (notes or activities with moveable

parts for you to sort or create sentences with)

Extraversion/Introversion(Other Types of Learners)

Extroverts Like talking with others and taking action.

Prefer active learning and group projects.

IntrovertsPrefer to have others do the talking.

Prefer lectures and structured tasks.

Using Knowledge of Your Learning Style

Knowing your learning style, both your strengths and

your weaknesses, can help you study more effectively. As a teacher, it can help you teach to the different types of learners in your classroom.

Different Teaching StylesAre they compatible with different learning styles?

Lecture – teacher talks all period

Group discussion – teacher talks but encourages discussion

Small groups – teacher aids (facilitates) group interaction

Visual focus – teacher uses lots of visual aids

Verbal focus – words, words & more words

Logical sequence – teacher presents material in a step-by-step, reasonable format

Random sequence – teacher jumps all over the place

Build Strengths across the Learning Styles

You teach using different learning styles so that students can:

Make the best use of their learning style. Work harder in skills that don’t come easily to them. Become flexible and adaptable, trying new things and

new ways of learning. Keep growing and learning!