Learning style

Life orientation

Grade 9

My future career

Module 7

Learning style

Types of learning styles

One of the first things that show you what kind of person you are, is the preference (style) you have with regard to how you learn. If you know what learning style you prefer, you can develop ways in which to compensate for your weak points and to develop your strong points.

Learning styles are, therefore, simply different approaches to learning.

1. Visual learners

• Learn by seeing
• Want to see the educator’s facial expression or body language
• Enjoy sitting in the front row of the class
• Like making notes in class
• Think in pictures
• Often learn best by using diagrams, pictures, the overhead projector, videos, etc.

2. Auditive learners

• Learn by listening
• Like to listen and to participate in discussions in class
• Learn by taking notice of tone of voice, pitch and tempo at which the educator speaks
• Benefit by reading texts loudly and by using a tape recorder.

3. Tactile or Kinesthetic learners

• Learn by moving, doing or touching
• Learn by exploring things – a “doing” approach
• Become restless if they have to sit still for too long.

What is my learning style?

Directions:

Tick the boxes that describe you best. The list with the most ticks should indicate your dominant learning style.

List 1 – visual learning style (see)

1. ask for verbal instructions to be repeated

2. watch speaker’s facial expressions and body language

3. like to take notes that can be checked later

4. remember best by writing down facts over and over a few times or by drawing diagrams or pictures

5. spell well

6. turn up the volume of the radio or TV

7. do not follow verbal instructions

8. like information to be presented visually (e.g. when it is written on the blackboard)

9. am good at drawing graphs, maps and other visual representations

10. can understand and follow directions on maps quite easily

11. believe that the best way to remember something is by means of a mental image

12. follow written instructions better than verbal instructions

13. am good with puzzles

14. often hear the words of a song incorrectly

15. am good at visual arts (drawing, painting, etc.)

List 2 – auditive learning style (hear) or audile

1. follow oral directions better than written instructions

2. would rather listen to a lecture than read up on a subject

3. understand better when it is read out loudly

4. struggle to keep work books neat

5. prefer to listen to the radio rather than to read the newspaper

6. sing, hum or whistle frequently

7. do not like to read from a greyish computer monitor

8. find it easy to distinguish between similar sounds

9. need to have maps, graphs and diagrams explained

10. enjoy talking to other people

11. talk to myself

12. chant when learning

13. would rather listen to music than look at paintings

14. often use finger as pointer when reading

15. like to tell stories, jokes and comparisons in order to illustrate a point.

List 3 – tactile or kinesthetic learning style

1. frequently touch objects

2. collect things

3. talk rapidly, gesticulate

4. fidget all the time (play with pen, keys, etc.)