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Multiple intelligencesPeople, by nature are skilled in different areas, have a preference for working in a particular way or seem to have a natural ability in certain areas. The way lessons are presented to students should enhance these abilities so that they can be used as a tool toward learning. The use of multiple intelligences can support teachers in considering whether they are providing for the needs of all learners in their class and can provide ideas of how to present topics in new and varied ways, in order to maintain an interest in the learning process. Howard Gardner lists the intelligences as ? Logical-mathematical ? Spatial ? Linguistic ? Kinesthetic ? Musical ? Interpersonal ? Intrapersonal ? Naturalistic ? Existential Logical mathematical students show a preference for working with numbers and enjoy participating in activities that involve logic and reasoning. students who show a preference for spatial activities tend to have good visualization skills and can demonstrate a preference for art or design activities. These students may also enjoy working with puzzles. students who have strong linguistic skills typically do well learning languages. They enjoy talking, reading and writing. students who show strengths in kinesthetic intelligence can control their body and tools skillfully and are generally good at physical activities. They may enjoy acting or performing, and often learn best through action. Musical intelligence is shown by students who enjoy working with sounds, rhythms and music. Typically they are able to sing and play musical instruments, and compose music. There is a strong auditory component so these students typically enjoy songs and rhythms. students with strong interpersonal skills enjoy interacting with others and demonstrate strengths working in a group. Typically these students enjoy discussions and debates. Intrapersonal students demonstrate an understanding of themselves as a person and the reasoning behind decisions they make. They show the ability to create a personal plan towards improvement and how they might go about achieving these goals. Naturalistic students enjoy discovering the world and natural phenomena they find around them. Existential learners continually ask the question ?why?? in order to understand the world around them. They are natural inquirers. The challenge for teachers is to provide a range of activities that considers all these types of learners and plan activities and lessons accordingly, so that students can draw on their strengths to assist their language development. It is important to also remember that students are not confined to one particular learning style and can receive reinforcement and enjoyment by being involved in activities that involve all preferences as well as develop skills that may have been unexplored in prior learning. It is also worthwhile to share with students the theory behind the idea of multiple intelligences so that students can be involved in the learning process. Raising awareness of the different styles of learning and ways students can enjoy learning can help students evaluate their own approach to learning, where they consider their strengths to lie and strategies they can employ in order to draw on their personal strengths.
