Learn To Speak Chinese: 5 Learning Strategies For Visual Spatial Learners

Using Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences is a powerful way to design your Chinese Language learning strategy. The theory states that there are seven distinct types of learners, visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, linguistic, and logical-mathematical. When using the theory, you must understand that the particular learning styles best for you are the ones that you will gravitate towards naturally.

In addition, you must understand that you can, and should, use more than one style. Finally, only you can decide which learning styles are best for you. This article will not tell you how to design your learning strategy. Instead, it will present to you learning ideas that are suitable for visual-spatial learners. You should try out as many ideas as you can, eventually spending more and more time using the learning methods that work best for you.

What Are Visual-Spatial Learners?

Visual-spatial learners are people who are very aware of their physical surroundings. These people tend to like subjects like architecture, and they make great navigators. Reading maps is easy for them, and they quite enjoy using them. They are often visual daydreamers, and they enjoy activities such putting together jigsaw puzzles. They learn best when taught through drawings and verbal and physical imagery.

Learning Strategy 1

If you are a visual-spatial learner, you will be very comfortable working with photographs, models, drawings, videos, and various charts and graphs. One great technique for visual-spatial learners is to use vocabulary flash cards that have pictures instead of words. Take food vocabulary words, for example. Instead of using flash cards with the English word “apple” on one side and the Chinese word “pinguo” on the other side, as traditional flash cards do, find, or even better, make flashcards that have a picture of an apple on one side and the Chinese word “pinguo” on the other.

Learning Strategy 2

Make use of online vocabulary games that use pictures. You’ve most likely played these kinds of games before. What you do is click a square, which reveals a hidden picture. Then click on another square, which reveals a hidden word. The idea, of course, in the end, is to match all of the hidden pictures with their corresponding words using the least amount of clicks possible. You can find these types of games for free, and you can find them in Chinese language learning software programs. If purchasing an online course, find one that includes lots of these types of games and activities.

Learning Strategy 3

Yet another great Chinese language learning strategy for visual-spatial learners is to draw pictures. For example, draw a picture of a dining room. In this picture, include every relevant item you want to learn in Chinese. For instance, draw a table and include all dishes and utensils, such as chop sticks, plates, glasses and bowls, along with, of course, chairs and the table itself. As you’re drawing, think in Chinese, not in English. When you are finished, keep the drawing and refer back to it, viewing the items you drew and calling them by their Chinese names.

Learning Strategy 4

Models are everywhere. You can find models of cars, ships, buildings, human anatomy, and pretty much everything else. If you are a visual-spatial learner, get a hold of these models and use them as study tools. Your mind may not be great at making connections between written words, but when you look at a model, or doll, in the human form, you will be able to look at its different features, like a nose, for example, and easily be able to recall that feature in Chinese.

Learning Strategy 5

It may not feel like studying, but watching television may be a great way for you to learn. Visual-spatial learners, when watching television, have an innate ability to watch a program and understand what is going on, even if they can’t understand the language. Of course, you do want to know the language, and that is the point. Once you have built up a significant amount of vocabulary knowledge, you will be able to watch TV programs in Chinese, hear the vocabulary words and relate them to what is happening in the show, cementing their meanings in your mind.

Final Thoughts

When studying the Chinese language, or anything else, it is important to choose methods of instruction that are best suited for you. Visual-spatial learners learn most effectively using imagery, such as photographs, models, and drawings. If you are a visual-spatial learner, use the 5 techniques outlined above, and you will pick up Chinese quickly and easily.

Source by Ryan Wiley