What is Your Spanish Learning Style?

In this post: Designing your Spanish study activities around your unique language learning style - visual, auditory, reading/writing, kinesthetic - can help you learn Spanish faster.

Have you ever asked yourself how you learn best — in general.

And what about in your Spanish practice?

Catering to your unique learning style can catapult your progress in Spanish. Why? Because it’s fun, more engaging, and simply a more effective way for you to learn Spanish as an adult.

So today, I want you to discover a new way of learning. I hope you’ll begin to focus on what you’re great at when you learn Spanish. And start to learn in a way that makes you feel confident.

That’s why learning Spanish as an adult is so liberating. You get to choose how you learn best. And then pick the best Spanish learning strategies and materials for you. And it turns out that most people already know intuitively what learning styles work best for them.

Today, it’s time for you to discover your own unique Spanish learning style. So you can intentionally begin to focus on the kinds of practice and learning experiences you can use to help you learn Spanish faster.

Ready to give it a try?

While reading this post, consider these questions:

• What are some of the usual ways you typically study Spanish? (For example, books, written practice, an app?)

• Did you mindfully choose those methods or strategies — or were they chosen for you?

• Are there any ways of studying Spanish or practicing that you realize you don’t enjoy?

First…what are the 4 learning styles, and how do they help you learn Spanish?

The theory of learning styles is very popular with learners and educators alike. The idea, in a nutshell, is this:

You have your own unique learning style. And if you take the time to discover it, you can use that information to learn more effectively. And I can tell you, from personal experience, that it really works when you’re learning Spanish.

As a person that learns through reading, writing, and visual models, I thrived in my Spanish immersion classes in Barcelona. Seeing things visually on a worksheet or written on the board in a formal setting, combined with writing down detailed notes in my journal, helped me solidify new words and concepts quickly.

Later on, I started incorporating chapter books into my learning, where I took extensive notes in the margins. You can bet that my vocabulary and comprehension shot way up.

One of the most popular learning style systems is the VARK system.

It has 4 main learning styles. They are: visual, aural or auditory, reading/writing, kinesthetic

So how do you use this to learn Spanish more effectively as an adult?

There are a few things to keep in mind.

First, what makes each of us truly unique is our combination of several dominant learning styles. In fact, many people learn best when using strategies from multiple styles in order to feel really confident in something.

Are you wondering about your own learning style? Read on and see which these learning styles sound like you. And see if you can identify which suggestions for Spanish practice appeal to you the most.

Remember, you are an adult learning Spanish, which means you can choose to center your learning around methods that work best for you.

How you should study and practice Spanish based on your learning style?

Spanish learning tips for Visual Learners

Do you remember what you see? Or find that you understand new concepts when you use visuals?

As a visual learner, you thrive when you learn from what you see.

You will want to make sure you include high-quality visuals as you learn, such as:
Graphs, tables, diagrams, charts, drawings, mind maps, graphic organizers, and comics.

• You’ll need visuals when you are learning new concepts. For example, if you’re listening to an explanation of how to use ser and estar, you’ll want the person explaining it to you to use a presentation, whiteboard, or other visuals so you can follow along better.

• As you learn Spanish, you’ll need to see how ideas are related. For example, you need a chance to look at verbs conjugated in visually appealing and organized ways.

• You may also need to see new information to remember it. For example, you might want to use flashcards with new information as a way to review.

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Spanish learning tips for Auditory learners

Are you someone who remembers what you hear? Maybe you ‘record’ bits of songs and conversations in your mind? You may be an auditory learner!

You can play to your strengths by making sure you have a rich variety of high-quality listening materials.

Such as…

• Videos or audio that explain how to use key grammar points in Spanish or new expressions, for example.

• Podcasts and music that let you use your learning style to pick up accents and learn expressions. In my ALAS course, you’ll find several lessons that come with an accompanying audio — because I know how important these materials can be for auditory learners.

• Chances to attend events, conversation practice, or language meetups where you have opportunities to hear high-quality Spanish often.

Spanish learning tips for Reading/Writing learners

When you listen to a talk or watch a video, do you like to have the transcript? Do you love learning through books and stories? Do you ever feel that if you write something down, you’ll remember it?

Reading and writing might be key to your learning style.

Your goal as an adult may be to actually speak Spanish, not just read and write it. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use reading and writing to improve more quickly.

The truth is you acquire language through reading and listening, and you develop fluency through speaking and writing.

Here are some ideas for you:

• Reinforce what you hear and see by taking notes: this is true as you watch videos or listen to explanations.

• Use high-quality written materials to help you practice Spanish through writing, like worksheets that build in degrees of difficulty or writing prompts.

• Consider reading books and stories in Spanish…or even **joining a Spanish book club to make your Spanish learning more effective.

• Write before you speak! If you’re getting ready to join a conversation group — or even an informal conversation, consider journaling about it first. Write down how you imagine the conversation will go.

• Look for interactive opportunities to write to communicate: like Facebook groups or conversation groups where you have the chance to read and write on a given theme before you speak.

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Spanish learning tips for Kinesthetic learners

Do you love to move? Do you learn by doing something and trying it? Even when you’re sitting still, do you find that you’re not really holding still at all?

You may be a kinesthetic learner — and sometimes kinesthetic learners find traditional education to be a little…painful. Because you don’t get to move! And you don’t get to learn through experience. But you can fix that now that you’re an adult.

If you’re a kinesthetic learner, look for learning opportunities where you can be on the move and learn by doing.

• Watch Spanish videos while you’re on your elliptical machine.

• Listen to language podcasts while you take a walk or dance to some really great music.

• Sign up for a dance class or cooking class…in Spanish.

• Find a local language partner who will go for a walk with you!

And even if you’re not technically a kinesthetic learner, you would be surprised at how getting up to move can keep your brain fresh and alert — so you can learn.

Give it a try — and have fun.

Your key takeaways as an adult Spanish language learner

You have your own Spanish language-learning style. And as an adult learning Spanish, you’re free to use your new understanding of that style to become the most effective Spanish learner you can be.

Your own unique style is probably a combination of more than one of the learning styles you read about above.

And remember, you don’t have to think of everything on your own. There are many well-designed programs, materials, and classes to help you marry your learning style with learning Spanish.

Now that you know exactly what to look for, you’ll have many exciting opportunities to learn Spanish — your way.

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