LEARNING STYLES

Learning styles encompass a series of theories suggesting systematic differences in individuals' natural or habitual pattern of acquiring and processing information in learning situations. A core concept is that individuals differ in how they learn. The idea of individualized learning styles originated in the 1970s, and has greatly influenced education. 

                     Strategies for Different Learning Styles

Visual Learners:

• use visual materials such as pictures, charts, maps, graphs, etc.
• have a clear view of your teachers when they are speaking so you can see their body language and facial expression
• use color to highlight important points in text
• take notes or ask your teacher to provide handouts
• illustrate your ideas as a picture or brainstorming bubble before writing them down
• write a story and illustrate it
• use multi-media (e.g. computers, videos, and filmstrips)
• study in a quiet place away from verbal disturbances
• read illustrated books
• visualize information as a picture to aid memorization

Auditory Learners:

• participate in class discussions/debates
• make speeches and presentations
• use a tape recorder during lectures instead of taking notes
• read text out aloud
• create musical jingles to aid memorization
• create mnemonics to aid memorization
• discuss your ideas verbally
• dictate to someone while they write down your thoughts
• use verbal analogies, and story telling to demonstrate your point

Tactile/Kinesthetic Learners

• take frequent study breaks
• move around to learn new things (e.g. read while on an exercise bike, mold a piece of clay to learn a new concept)
• work at a standing position
• chew gum while studying
• use bright colors to highlight reading material
• dress up your work space with posters
• if you wish, listen to music while you study
• skim through reading material to get a rough idea what it is about before settling down to read it in detail.

Here are some articles I personally found interesting and helpful, so I decided to share them with you

ESL learning styles: 9 ways how to teach tactile-kinesthetic learnersESL learning styles: 9 ways how to teach visual learners

ESL learning styles: 9 ways to teach musical learners
ESL learning styles: 9 ways to teach interpersonal learners
7 sure fire-ways to boost student confidence
7 thing quiet esl students are not telling you
ESL activities teach to the seven different learning styles
20 tips for meeting your students' learning styles
Do you know your students
What are language learning styles
What should I know about my ESL students
How do I deal with a very slow learner?
Learning styles and teaching
How to assess your students' learning styles


Here is the website for those of you who want to know more on learnign styles and how to examine them

http://www.learning-styles-online.com/