Use your Thinking Style to Choose your Learning Strategies
How you think does affect how you learn. How you think is called your learning style.
There are three main styles that contribute to language learning. These are:
- Verbal-Linguistic
- Visual-Spatial
- Tactile-Kinesthetic
But, the “street-wise” language learner uses all their senses.
These sensory-subject-based kinds of thinking, and we use many of them, are often referred to as “Multiple-Intelligences.”
But learning a language, especially a modern and live language such as Spanish, involves more than academic learning. Language learning is…
- Concept Learning
- Application Learning
- Performance Learning
- Habit Development
- Skill Training
And, one other factor affects your ability to learn (and use) a modern language; i.e., languages are imbedded in specific cultures. You cannot master a language without learning the culture of the people that are speaking that language. (And with Spanish, there are a lot of cultures that rely on the language. Spanish speaking cultures span the globe…east to west, top to bottom. And the art, music, literature, drama, dance and heritage of the Spanish language should lead to an appreciation of the contribution of Spanish upon our world stage. Add a taste of the cuisine with its savory smells, and you should sense a bit of the “flavor” of the many cultures that comprise the Spanish World.
If the magnificence of the language leaves you with a sense of wonder and admiration, if learning Spanish brings the joy of interpersonal communication and the pleasure of accomplishment; then you have integrated your learning styles correctly.
If you just memorize vocabulary, memorize spelling rules and memorize grammatical conventions; then cram for tests, parrot verbal responses…you will miss the richness that the Spanish language has to offer, and your experience will be “culture-poor” instead of “culture-rich .”
If you approach your study of Spanish with all the enthusiasm, excitement and curiosity of a little child; your language learning experience will grow up to a surprise sophistication that will amaze your family, friends and colleagues.
Choose learning strategies that enrich your life, and you will master Spanish with ease.
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