Discover Your Unique Learning Style for Mastering a Foreign Language

People acquire knowledge about themselves and the world around them by absorbing information through their senses. However, we each have a dominant sense through which we most easily acquire new knowledge. Some learn best through sight, some through hearing, and some through touch, smell, and taste, resulting in three learning styles:

•  Visual learning style (sense of sight)
•  Auditory learning style (sense of hearing)
•  Kinesthetic learning style (sense of touch, smell, and taste)

Identifying your dominant learning style allows you to apply it to learning foreign languages. This way, you can adapt your learning to the way that works best for you, instead of adapting yourself to learning.

The Visual Learning Style

Individuals who prefer this learning style absorb information most effectively through visual aids such as pictures, charts, and diagrams. As images register faster than thoughts, these learners tend to speak quickly, resulting in occasional errors despite their knowledge of rules. They often gesture while explaining concepts, as if drawing, as they believe this facilitates better understanding.

They respond best to instructors who use non-verbal communication and visual tools like presentations, mind maps, and graphs to convey information. Silence is crucial for them, and sounds during study can be a significant distraction. They prefer studying independently.

Visual learners remember and comprehend information best when it's presented visually. They're more likely to recall a word's pronunciation if they see it written than if they hear it spoken. They may experience difficulties spelling words, preferring to see them spelled out instead.

Highlighting with colored pencils and markers aids in their memory retention, as visual emphasis on essential details makes them easier to remember. When watching a movie in a foreign language, they prefer subtitles to relying solely on sound.

If you have a visual learning style and want to learn a foreign language effectively, try the following ideas:

• Sketch the corresponding term next to the word you're learning.
• Utilize mind maps and enhance them with colors to remember the information better.
• Take notes during class and make sure to write down everything the professor says.
• Use colored markers to categorize different parts of speech, such as pink for verbs, blue for nouns, and green for adjectives.

The Auditory Learning Style

This learning style is for those who absorb information most effectively through hearing. People with this dominant style are able to pick up new words or accents easily during conversations, even if they are only mentioned once.

Lectures are crucial for these learners because they can listen to the lecturer and retain a lot of information. Reading the material aloud in class or while studying can also be beneficial because it allows them to hear themselves, repeat, and internalize the knowledge.

While they may struggle with spelling, they can often correctly pronounce words. Watching movies without subtitles is usually not a problem for them and can even be preferred.

Audiobooks, podcasts, and other audio materials are enjoyable and effective learning tools for auditory learners. They prefer structured speech and moderate pacing when speaking themselves.

Good ideas for learning a foreign language with an auditory learning style:

• Actively participate and engage in classes
• Practice listening to native speakers and repeating what they say out loud
• Record yourself speaking and listen back to identify areas for improvement
• Avoid potential auditory distractions, such as TV or music with lyrics, but consider listening to instrumental music if it helps you concentrate.

The Kinesthetic Learning Style

People with the kinesthetic learning style absorb information best through movement, touch, and experience. They are most effective in learning when they go through an experience themselves.

They thrive in group work, especially if it involves physical activity, as they may have difficulty sitting still during lectures. When asking them a question, it's crucial to give them enough time to answer as rushing them can cause them to block and resist speaking. Eye contact isn't as important to them as having enough time and space to concentrate and process new information.

It's essential for them to change their study environment frequently, and sometimes they find it easiest to learn while walking around.

They also like to underline important points, but the feeling of underlining is more important to them than the color, unlike dominant visual learners. 

Good ideas for learning a foreign language with a kinesthetic learning style:

• Use flashcards or other physical props to associate vocabulary with gestures or actions
• Act out conversations or role-play with others to reinforce language learning
• Engage in physical activities while learning, such as walking or stretching while listening to language lessons
• Incorporate hands-on activities like drawing or building while learning new vocabulary or grammar

Adapt Learning to Suit Your Style, Not the Other Way Around

After learning about the different learning styles, you may have an idea of which style you belong to and how you best absorb information.

It's common to have characteristics of several styles, but one will usually be more dominant. By matching your foreign language learning activities with your dominant learning style, you can make the learning process easier, faster, and more enjoyable for yourself.

Remember to adapt learning to suit your style, not the other way around.