be your own teacher - Business Spotlight

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■ LANGUAGE LEARNING STYLES
BE YOUR OWN TEACHER
Jste spokojeni se svým postupem při učení jazyků, nebo jste ještě nenalezli učební metodu, která by
vám vyhovovala? CAROL SCHEUNEMANN vám pomůže zjistit, jaký jste učební typ.
I
magine that you want to bake a cake. Would you
a) choose one that looks good in a picture, b) discuss recipes with a friend, or c) use the recipe of
a cake you’ve baked before? Your answer might
represent the way you tend to perceive objects or
experiences, and it could tell you something about how
you learn.
For example, if you chose answer (a), you might be
someone who prefers illustrations to explanations and
who learns more effectively when material is presented
visually. In other words, you might be classified as a visual learner. If you chose answer (b), you tend to understand information quicker when hearing it, making you
an auditory learner. If your first choice was (c), you
probably like “hands-on” experiences and are a kinaesthetic learner, who assimilates information best using
the senses of touch and movement.
These three learning styles — visual, auditory, kinaesthetic (often shortened to “VAK”) — have been popular in education circles for decades. Supporters agree
that people do not perceive information in just one way,
nor do they have a single learning style, but a combination, with one style typically stronger than the others.
Also, some tasks require you to use several senses. Writing, for example, combines sight and movement.
As well as the three VAK styles, many other types are
said to exist. Some are explained by theories that look
at how learners process information, such as in the right
half of the brain (creativity and feelings) or in the left
half (logical thinking, analysis, speech and language
processing). Other ideas look at learners’ character or
assimilate sth. [E(sImIleIt]
attitude [(ÄtItju:d]
auditory [(O:dItEri]
bang the table [)bÄN DE (teIb&l]
fidget [(fIdZIt]
gesture [(dZestSE]
hands-on [)hÄnds (Qn]
I get the picture
[aI )get DE (pIktSE] ifml.
I hear what you’re saying
[aI )hIE wQt jO: (seIIN] ifml.
kinaesthetic [)kIni:s(TetIk]
perceive sth. [pE(sI:v]
process sth. [(prEUses]
recipe [(resEpi]
tend: ~ to do sth. [)tend]
that rings a bell
[DÄt )rINz E (bel] ifml.
tick sth. [tIk]
12 Business Spotlight
přijímat, vstřebávat
postoj, přístup
sluchový
bouchnout do stolu
vrtět se, ošívat se
gesto, pohyb ruky
praktický
chápu, co myslíte
chápu, co myslíte
kinestetický, založený na
pocitu pohybu a doteku
vnímat
zpracovat
recept
mít sklon něco dělat
to mi něco říká, připomíná
zaškrtnout
medium
“Many adults have
never really thought
about how they like
to learn English”
Marie Kavanagh, product-development
manager, Audi Akademie, Ingolstadt
behaviour: whether they prefer to work alone or in
groups, are curious or are willing to take risks. And
there are also theories that look at the effects of a person’s attitude towards learning, which can be playful or
serious, passive or active, and so on. Before reading on,
try the test in the box below:
See me, hear me, touch me
Read the statements and tick all those that describe your behaviour and preferences. Then turn to page 14 for feedback, suggestions of different activities for learning business
English and more ideas from the experts.
Visual
■ I use expressions such as: “I see what you mean”, “I get
the picture”, “That doesn’t look right”.
■ I tend to remember faces, but not always names.
■ It’s important to me to dress well.
■ I like to have pictures on my walls and colour around me.
■ I take time choosing birthday cards.
Auditory
■ I use expressions such as: “That sounds good”, “I hear
what you’re saying”, “That rings a bell”.
■ I enjoy speaking and think I have a pleasant voice.
■ I enjoy communicating on the phone.
■ I often talk to myself when alone.
■ I like to have noise and music around me.
Kinaesthetic
■ I use expressions such as: “I don’t feel that way”, “I
don’t get it”, “I can’t handle that”.
■ I use a lot of gestures when I speak.
■ I like shaking hands and touching people.
■ I find it difficult to sit still and not fidget.
■ I bang the table or throw things if I’m angry.
Source: Audi Akademie (shortened)
3/2010
12-17 _036-041_BS 18.5.10 10:13 Stránka 13
What do I do now?
Think about ways to
use sight, sound or
movement to help you
remember words
Profimedia
You might be someone
who prefers pictures
to written explanations