Auditory learning

Auditory learning is a learning style in which a person learns most effectively by listening to information delivered orally, in lectures, speeches, and oral sessions. Auditory learners make up about 20% of the population. [Heller, Steven, and Terry Steele. Monsters and Magical Sticks. New Falcon. 55.] Auditory learners use phrases such as "Sounds good to me," and "It's starting to ring a bell." When describing memories they will often focus on the sounds they heard, or what people were saying.

It is believed that when an auditory/verbal (i.e. listening to information delivered orally) learner reads, it is almost impossible for the learner to comprehend anything without sound in the background. In these situations, listening to music or having different sounds in the background (TV, people talking, etc) will help learners work better.

Auditory learning can also be considered a different style of learning. Some students are visual learners, some kinesthetic learners, some tactile learners, and some are auditory learners. This is explained as a person who depends on hearing and speaking as a main way of learning. [Kostelnik, M.J., Soderman, A.K., Whiren, AP. (2004). Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum: Best Practices in Early Childhood Education (3rd ed.). Columbus: Pearson, Merrill Prentice Hall.] Auditory learners must be able to hear what is being said in order to understand and may have difficulty with instructions that are written. They also use their listening and repeating skills to sort through the information that is sent to them. [Vincent, A., & Ross, D. (2001). Learning Style Awareness. Journal of Research on Computing in Education, 33, 1-10.]

Characteristics of auditory learners

* good at storytelling
* solves problems by talking them through
* speech patterns include “I hear you; that clicks”
* moving their lips or talking to themselves to help accomplish tasks [Kostelnik, M.J., Soderman, A.K., Whiren, AP. (2004). Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum: Best Practices in Early Childhood Education (3rd ed.). Columbus: Pearson, Merrill Prentice Hall.]

Teaching auditory learners

* verbal direction
* group discussions
* verbal reinforcement
* group activities
* reading aloud
* putting information into a rhythmic pattern such as: rap, poem, or song [Kostelnik, M.J., Soderman, A.K., Whiren, AP. (2004). Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum: Best Practices in Early Childhood Education (3rd ed.). Columbus: Pearson, Merrill Prentice Hall.]

Techniques for the Auditory Learner

In the article Learning Style Awareness by Annette Vincent and Dianne Ross they explain techniques that auditory learners can use to information more effectively. They state, “Advice to auditory learners should include:
* Make tapes of class notes and then listen to them.
* Remember details by trying to "hear" previous discussions.
* Participate in class discussions.
* Ask questions and volunteer in class.
* Read assignments out loud.
* Whisper new information when alone [Vincent, A., & Ross, D. (2001). Learning Style Awareness. Journal of Research on Computing in Education, 33, 1-10.]

ee also

*Kinesthetic learning
*Visual learning

References

External links

* [http://www.studyingstyle.com/auditory-learners.html tips for auditory learners]