LCE 115

HOW WE LEARN
In this session, you will:
(1) Discover your preferred learning style, and
(2) Assess your stress level and learn ways of dealing with stress.

WHAT IS YOUR LEARNING STYLE? Auditory, Visual or Kinesthetic?

 Are you the kind of person who works best at night or during the day?
 What kinds of things are most likely to cause stress in your life?
 Each of us is an individual with particular strengths and weaknesses.
 If you want to do well at university you must learn how to use your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.

The following test will help you determine your learning style.
Keep in mind that there are no right or wrong answers.

Directions: Read each question and place a check mark on the appropriate line. If the question doesn’t directly apply
to you, think of a similar situation that might apply to you.

Often Sometimes Seldom

1. I need to see a map or written
directions to drive to someone’s house. ……… ………. ……….

2. I remember material from a lecture

without studying, or I have to tape the
lecture and play the tape. ……… ……… ………

3. I feel comfortable touching others,

shaking hands, etc. ……… ……… ………

4. I would rather learn a new recipe

from a TV show than from a
recipe book. ……… ……… ………

5. When I watch sports on TV,

I pay more attention to the play than to
the explanation of the play by the
announcers. ……… ……… ……..

6. I enjoy swimming, cooking, gardening

or working with tools. ……… ……… ………

7. I remember a news event best

by reading about it in a newspaper
or magazine. ……… ……… ………

8. I am good at making and interpreting

graphs and charts. ……… ……… ………

9. In order to learn material, I write

notes over and over again. ……… ……… ………
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10. Without writing them down,
I remember oral directions
for assignments well. ……… ……… ………

11. I smoke, chew a gum, or play with

coins or keys in my pockets. …….. ……… ………

12. In order to learn material,

I read notes out loud to myself. …….. ……… ………

13. When taking a trip, I would

rather drive than be responsible
for giving directions or reading
a map. ……… ……… ………

14. When I encounter a new word

while I am reading, I usually
sound it out. ……… ……… ………

15. When I am trying to learn something,

I form pictures in my mind. ……… ……… ………

16. When I am studying for a test,

I can visualize my notes on the page. ……… ……… ……..

17. I frequently tap my pencil or my pen. …….. ……… ………

18. When oral introductions are made

at a party, I am likely to remember the names
of people I have not met before. ……… ……… ………

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 Now score your test below. For each question, give yourself 5 points if you answered “often”, 3
points if you answered “sometimes”, and 1 point if you answered “seldom”. For example, if you
answered “often” to question 1, you would place a 5 on the line next to the questions. When
you have finished, add up the points for each column.

VISUAL AUDITORY KINESTHETIC

1. …3….. 2. …5….. 3. …1…..

5. …3 4. …1 6. …5…..
7. …1 10. …5…. 9. …1…..
8. …3…. 12. …5 11. …3….
15. …5… 14. …5…. 13. …3….
16. …3… 18. …1…. 17. …5….

TOTAL: …. TOTAL:…. TOTAL: ….

Eye-smart: What does it mean to be a visual learner? A visual learner is one who learns
best by seeing. Visual learners like to use textbooks, course outlines, maps, diagrams, and charts.
Their goal is to be able to visualize the subject hey are trying to learn. Visual learners prefer
teachers who use a whiteboard, an overhead projector, or PowerPoint slides over ones who
primarily talk. Visual learners often have a superior ability to visualize pages of print. Thy learn
material well by highlighting key points and by copying and recopying their notes. Most people are
visual learners.

Ear-smart: What does it mean to be an auditory learner? An auditory learner is one who
learns best through hearing. Auditory learners have a superior ability to hear and remember
sounds in their mind. Auditory learners like to listen, and they prefer teachers who lecture and
encourage discussion. They learn material well by talking to themselves and repeating words and
phrases out loud. If you are an auditory learners, you might learn best by reading your textbook
out loud or by studying with a friend and talking through the key points. Auditory learners might do
very well in class group activities. Many people are auditory learners.

Action-smart: What does it mean to be a kinesthetic learners? Kinesthetic learners, who

are the smallest group, learn best by doing and performing. They are hands-on, or tactile,
learners. They have a superior ability to remember their actions. Kinesthetic learners like to be in
movement while learning. Their special talent is in associating ideas and concepts with motion.
When learning material, they may prefer to gesture or walk around. These students need to take
frequent short study breaks. It is a good idea for kinesthetic learners to take notes and underline
key points as they read. Kinesthetictic learners might benefit from taking part in classroom skits
and role-playing activities.

Source: McCarthy, R., (2006), Reading and All That Jazz, Third Edition, McGraw-Hill.