Viva la difference! It’s what makes life interesting, right? The same goes for learning. We don’t all learn in the same way, not as kids and definitely not as adults.
Does understanding adult learning styles matter though?
Well, picture being a paso doble dancer stuck in a ballet class.
What about someone who enjoys fancy philosophical debates sitting in a lecture that merely reads out facts?
Not the most effective way for you to learn either.
That’s why, in case you’re wondering, certain lessons have stuck while others just slipped away, or why you can breeze through some tasks and struggle with others.
But what if every book you read, every class you took, and every new skill you attempted to pick up felt completely in sync with how you naturally learn? This is more attainable than you think! As someone who’s been teaching adults since 2012, I’m here to help you understand your unique learning style. This can be a game-changer, not just for academic pursuits but for your life-long learning.
So, let’s dive in and explore the fascinating world of adult learning styles.
What Are Adult Learning Styles?
Adult learning styles are diverse ways in which people absorb, process, and retain information.
There are many an adult learning theory. For example:
- David Kolb‘s “Experiential Learning” suggests that adults learn through reflection on doing.
- Howard Gardner’s “Multiple Intelligences” theory proposes that adults have different types of intelligences (linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, etc.) and they learn best when the teaching approach aligns with their dominant intelligence.
Differences between Adult and Child Learning
- Unlike children, adults bring a wealth of experience to the learning table.
- While children’s learning is driven by curiosity and exploration, adults are more goal-oriented in education. They want to know the relevance of what they’re learning; basically, how this can be translated into real-life skills.
- Adults are also self-directed learners. Unlike children, who rely on teachers and parents to guide their learning journey, adults take the initiative, making decisions about what and how to learn.
- There seem to be more limiting beliefs (= thoughts and assumptions that hinder the ability to learn effectively) associated with adult learning rather than child learning. My related “How to Overcome Learning Limiting Beliefs” post addresses this.
10 Adult Learning Styles
1. Visual Learners
Visual learners live by the saying, “A picture is worth 1,000 words.” They find it easier to retain information when it’s presented visually, rather than through speech.
Practical Tips
If you’re visual, use:
- images
- reading materials
- diagrams
- flip charts
- videos
- mind maps
- color-coding.
2. Auditory Learners
Auditory learners excel when hearing information. Some tend to recall conversations verbatim. Auditory learners also give very good presentations.
Practical Tips
If you’re auditory:
- listen to podcasts
- record lectures on specific topics for playback
- use mnemonic devices for memory (check out my related post on effective study tips for examples)
- read out loud when studying
- ask for spoken feedback
- take part in discussions to learn.
3. Kinesthetic Learners
These adult learners learn best through physical activity (touching, moving, doing). As kinesthetic learners prefer practicing a physical task rather than reading about it, they may find traditional classroom learning challenging.
Practical Tips
If you’re kinesthetic:
- focus on practical tasks
- do role-play exercises or act out scenarios
- use body language when presenting
- employ physical objects for learning
- take frequent short breaks during study sessions.
4. Logical Learners
These are the Sherlock Holmes of learners. They love solving problems using logical steps and reasoning, and they excel at recognizing (numerical) patterns.
Practical Tips
If you’re a predominantly logical learner:
- make lists
- create agendas or detailed plans
- conduct experiments
- engage in strategic games
- work through complex problems
- use bullet points and sequential information (like timelines).
5. Social Learners
If learning was a party, these interpersonal learners would be the social butterflies. They enjoy class discussions and learn best when collaborating with others.
Practical Tips
If you’re a social learner:
- use study groups (look for 1 if need be!)
- join discussion forums
- seek out mentorship.
6. Solitary Learners
Imagine a tranquil scene with a lone learner basking in the silence… that’s a solitary (or intrapersonal) learner. They prefer to learn on their own, often through self-study or online courses.
Practical Tips
As a solitary learner, you can benefit from:
- setting personal goals
- using self-study resources
- taking time for reflection.
7. Linguistic Learners
We now come to the wordsmiths. These adult learners are good at expressing themselves, both orally and in writing, and they tend to love reading and writing.
Practical Tips
If you’re linguistic, try:
- writing summaries of what you’ve learned
- experimenting with different writing styles
- playing word games
- taking notes when learning new concepts.
8. Holistic Learners
These learners are the big-picture thinkers. They prefer to have an overview of how each piece fits into the larger puzzle before delving into specifics.
Practical Tips
As a holistic learner, you’ll benefit from:
- overview sessions
- mind maps
- real-world applications of what you’re learning.
9. Activist Learners
These learners are the doers. They prefer to jump in, learn through experience, and enjoy new challenges and roles.
Practical Tips
As an activist learner:
- seek out new experiences
- role play scenarios
- apply what you’ve learned in real-life situations, preferably high-stakes ones.
10. Reflector Learners
Aah… the ponderers. They learn best by observing and reflecting on situations from different angles before coming to a conclusion.
Practical Tips
If you’re a reflector learner:
- keep a learning journal
- observe experts
- take time to reflect on what you’ve learned.
How to Identify Your Adult Learning Style
- Start by asking yourself some key questions:
- Do I remember information better when I see it or hear it?
- Do I prefer hands-on activities or theoretical discussions?
- How do I solve problems – through logical reasoning or creative brainstorming?
- Once you have this self-awareness (a great asset in itself), you should be able to find your predominant style by looking at the list above.
- Try the corresponding learning activities next.
Using Your Adult Learning Style in Language Learning
Learning a new language? First, you’ve come to the right blog. Thank you! Second, tailor your approach according to your learning style.
If you’re a visual learner, you might find flashcards or language apps helpful. For auditory learners, language podcasts or songs could be a great resource when acquiring new knowledge. And kinesthetic learners are bound to enjoy role-play scenarios or language immersion experiences.
Wrapping Up
Just as we all have unique fingerprints, our learning styles are also distinct.
But understanding your learning style isn’t about putting yourself in a box.
It’s about identifying your dominant style and using strategies that align with it. Afterward, you should experiment with different methods and fine-tune your approach to see what learning style works for you.
No matter your preferred style, here’s to a world where everyone dances to their own learning rhythm!
Also, if you’re an adult who’s keen to improve their handwriting, get my 11-step guide. Interested in grammar? See my best English grammar books recommendations. If you’re looking for the right English classes, my tips will help too. Or you might simply want to add funny phrases in English to your vocabulary.
This is the video version of this blog post:
FAQs
1. What are the three adult learning styles?
The most frequent adult learning styles are: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. Details about each above.
2. Which learning style is best for adults?
No such thing. It all depends on how YOU learn best. Learners process information in different ways, therefore no style should be imposed on you.
It’s up to you to identify the teaching methods that are suitable as far as you’re concerned. This blog post shows you how to do this.
3. What is adult learning called?
The methods and principles associated with adult education are called andragogy, a word that comes from the Greek ἀνδρ (= “adult male”) and ἀγωγός (= “leader of”). Therefore, andragogy means “leading men”, which is actually a reflection of sexism in language.
4. What is the most popular learning style?
Apparently, visual learners are predominant in the world. I am one of them.
About Rebeca Duriga
Well-versed teacher, passionate writer with Googleable work, Udemy instructor, and someone who can’t resist a good story. I’m here to infuse joy into your learning journey, be it improving English, tackling IELTS, overcoming limiting beliefs, or conquering uni assignments with a sprinkle of AI support. Need motivation and inspiration as a student, adult learner, wordsmith in the making? Look no further.
