Multiple Intelligences: Language Learning Styles.

In the world of pedagogy, and in teaching in general, we must take into account children's learning profiles. We are faced with a wide range of preferred strategies in children. These tendencies constitute their learning style and are closely related to their personality, how they approach knowledge, how they interact with objects, which inputs provide the most information—in short, all the things that most attract their attention and motivate them to learn.

Have you heard of the Multiple Intelligences? Multiple Intelligences define our children's learning styles, and understanding them will help us foster their greatest possible progress. This will make us much more effective when planning any learning process or providing assistance with any learning difficulties.

There are different types of intelligence that define children's profiles and how they naturally approach learning… 

• Verbal 
  1. Excels in letters, numbers, reading, writing, storytelling, memorizing dates, thinking in words.
  2. They like to read, write, tell stories, talk, memorize, do puzzles
  3. They learn best by reading, listening to and seeing words, speaking, writing, discussing and debating.

• Logical/Mathematical 
  1. They excel in mathematics, logical reasoning, problem solving, and patterns.
  2. They like to solve problems, question, work with numbers and experiment.
  3. They learn best by using patterns and relationships, classifying, working with the abstract.

• Space
  1. They excel at reading maps, graphs, drawing, mazes, puzzles, imagining and visualizing things
  2. They like to design, draw, build, create, daydream, look at drawings
  3. They learn best by working with drawings and colors, visualizing, using their mind's eye.

• Kinesthetic/Bodily
  1.  They excel in activities and sports: dance, drama, crafts, and tool use.        
  2. They like to move, touch and talk, experts in body language.  
  3. They learn best by touching, moving, and processing information through bodily sensations.

• Auditory/Musical
  1. They excel at singing, recognizing sounds, remembering melodies and rhythms.        
  2. They like to sing, hum, play instruments and listen to music.        
  3. They learn rhythm and melodies best by listening to music and melodies.

• Naturalists
  1. They excel in understanding nature, making distinctions, classifications, and identifying flora and fauna.
  2. They like to participate and be in natural environments.
  3. They learn best when working in the natural environment, exploring and learning about nature-related topics.

• Emotional
  1. They stand out for their empathy, recognition of their own emotions and those of others.
  2. They like to be immersed in situations that test their emotions and the involvement of their own and other people's feelings.
  3. They learn best when they transfer knowledge to an emotional framework, with examples that associate learning with feelings, sensations, and emotional experiences they have experienced.

• Interpersonal
  1. They excel in their ability to understand people, lead, organize, communicate, resolve conflicts, and reconcile.
  2. They like having friends, talking and being surrounded by people.
  3. They learn best by sharing, comparing, relating, questioning, and cooperating.

• Intrapersonal
  1. They stand out for their introspection or ability to understand themselves, recognizing their strengths and setting their goals. 
  2. They like to be alone and work alone, reflect and follow their interests.
  3. They learn best by working alone, doing projects at their own pace, having space and reflecting.

These modalities are not exclusive but rather combine and complement each other, enriching the integration of information between one or more modalities and adjusting them to the specific learning objective. Derived from these Multiple Intelligence modalities, we find the Mental Representation Systems that enhance some and underutilize others. Using more than one representation system is important because representation systems develop more the more we use them, and because they are not neutral; each has its own characteristics.

In the next articles we will focus on the 3 main mental representation systems derived from these types of intelligence: 

• Visual/Spatial
• Musical/Auditory
• Bodily/Kinesthetic

We are sure that you identify your child with some of these systems and with different abilities in various intelligences.. Auditory, visual and/or kinesthetic? We hope you'll tell us if any of this resonates with you. Regardless of the starting method, it will be a window into your little one's future development, their language, and understanding of how all communication interactions work. 

Don't miss the following articles Because they will be oriented toward these three major systems of mental representation of information and will help you have a clear idea of the best way to help your children approach any learning process.

Cristina Oroz Bajo