Different Learning Styles
Lianet Hernandez
Carlos Albizu University

Different Learning Styles Centuries ago the way students’ intelligence was assessed and judged was by their linguistic and logical mathematic intelligence. In 1983 Howard Gardner a professor of education at Harvard University changed this way of thinking among people. He developed multiple a intelligence theory stating that everyone learns differently and have different intelligence. Multiple intelligence gives adults a new perspective to look at their lives, because it provides opportunities to look for potential that was left behind in their early years of life, and which can be develop through programs. The majority of teachers have implemented activities that foster the different learning styles, but currently there are schools that depend on book-based teaching, and excessive repetition. As a result teachers label students as being smart or not by relying on just using one or two learnings style which may not be indicative of the student’s intelligence. (National Science Foundation, 2005) By recognizing and understanding the different learning styles educators can better understand the techniques to use with different students. The learning styles have more influence than a person might realize. A person best learning styles might guide the way they learn. The different learning styles also change the way a person represents experiences, and the way they retain information. According to researchers each learning style uses different parts of the brain. By using the different areas of the brain during learning, a person might remember more of what they learned. Researchers using technologies devises have been able to find out the key areas of the brain responsible for each learning style. For example; the occipital lobes at the back of the brain are in charge of the visual sense. Spatial orientation is controlled by the parietal lobe as well as by the occipital lobe. The temporal lobe takes care of aural content. On the other hand, the right temporal lobe is crucial for music. The frontal and temporal lobes, mainly Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas are responsible for the verbal. The motor cortex and cerebellum (at the back of the frontal lobe) drive physical movement. The parietal lobes, especially the left side, handle logical thinking. The frontal and temporal lobes are responsible for most social activities. The limbic system also controls both the social and solitary styles. The limbic system has a lot to do with emotions, moods and aggression. The frontal and parietal lobes, and the limbic system, are also active with this solitary style. (Armstrong, 2000) It is important that students know the different learning, styles this becomes particularly important when teaching English language learners. ELLs may be well literate in their own language but experience difficulties when acquiring English because they might need a different learning style. The majority of Ells’ are either kinethetic learners when they first learn English. Most teachers, especially in the higher grades, teach students with an auditory learning style. This can be very hard for the ELLs in class. Auditory learners will be able to remember what they hear and will prefer oral instructions. They learn by listening and speaking. These students enjoy talking and interviewing. They are phonetic readers who enjoy oral reading, choral reading, and listening to recorded books. They learn best by interviewing, debating, participating on a panel, giving oral reports, and participating in oral discussions of written material. On the other hand visual learners will be able to memorize what they see and will prefer written instructions. These students are sight readers who enjoy reading silently. A good strategy is to present information to them with a video. They will learn by observing and enjoy working with the computer graphics, maps, graphs, charts, cartoons, posters, diagrams, graphic organizers, and texts with a lot of pictures. Tactile students learn best by touching. They understand directions that they write and will learn best through manipulative methods. Educators could try using the Language Experience Approach (LEA) when teaching these students to read. These students will also benefit from whole language approaches to reading. They'll learn best by drawing, playing board games, making dioramas, and making models. Kinesthetic learners also learn by touching or manipulating objects. They need to involve their whole body in learning. Total Physical Response is a good ESL method for them. They remember material best if they act it out. These students learn best by playing games that involve their whole body, movement activities, making models, following instructions to make something, and setting up experiments. Global learners are spontaneous and intuitive. They do not like to be bored. Information needs to be presented in an interesting manner using attractive materials. Cooperative learning strategies and holistic reading methods work well with these learners. Global learners learn best through choral reading, recorded books, story writing, computer programs, games and group activities. Last but not least are Analytic learners who plan and organize their work. They focus on details and are logical. They are phonetic readers and prefer to work individually on activity sheets. They learn best when information is presented in sequential steps, when lessons are structured and teacher-directed, when goals are clear and when requirements are spelled out. (Haynes, 2009) Overall, different learning styles and different intelligence has been identify as future teachers is our job to implement those different learning styles so students can have a positive learning environment and succeed academically. References Armstrong, Thomas (2000). Multiple Intelligence. Dr.Thomas Armstron. Retrieved from http:// ww.thomasarmstrong.com Haynes, Judie (2009). Teach to Students Learning Styles. Everything ESL. Retrieved from http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/learningstyle.php Wise, Julie (2001). Multiple Intelligence Theory. Serendip. Retrieved from http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/biology/b103/f01/web2/wise.html