What is Auditory Learning or Verbal Linguistic Intelligence?

Auditory learners, those an auditory learning style or with “Verbal / Linguistic Intelligence” according to Gardner’s Model of Multiple Intelligences, prefer “to hear or read information. They look for explanations with words,” (Mindtools, n.d.).

“This intelligence, which is related to words and language both written and spoken, dominates most Western educational systems. Verbal linguistic intelligence is awakened by the spoken word, by reading someone’s ideas thoughts, or poetry, or by writing one’s own ideas, thoughts, or poetry, as well as by various kinds of humor such as “plays on words,” jokes, and “twists” of the language,” (Learning Styles).

According to Nusa Maal (2004), 20% – 30% of people are auditory learners. Even though less than one-third of the population prefers auditory learning, this is the way almost all schools provide instruction. Auditory instruction involves lecture, recalling information in sequence, and teaching through reading.

It is important to note, “Although reading might seem, on the surface, to be a ‘visual’ activity, research indicates that making sense of a string of syllables, words, sentences, and paragraphs is a left-brain (linear-sequential-analytical) function.

Other types of information such as pictures, images, maps, charts, diagrams, and melodies are primarily processed in the part of the brain that specializes in perceiving patterns and integrating component parts into a recognizable whole,” (Dalton & Farmer, 2002, p. 389).

Since reading processing takes place in the language center of the brain, reading is primarily an auditory learning activity, not a purely visual learning activity.

Auditory learners prefer to learn by having someone verbally teach them, or through reading. If your child is an auditory learner, standard curriculum materials and traditional teaching methods are likely to be effective for helping your child learn.

Auditory Learning Activities

Later in this tutorial, I provide a specific list of auditory learning activities you can use if your child has an auditory learning style.  I’d recommend going through the whole tutorial to better understand great ways of teaching your child, but if you are short on time and want to jump ahead to the list of auditory learning activities, you can do so.

Click the “Forward” button to continue to navigate forward through this tutorial.