Auditory/Tactile Learners

You are an auditory/tactile learner. This means you have traits of both auditory learners and tactile learners. In other words, you learn by hearing and by doing. You understand and remember things you have heard, but you also learn by touching, moving, drawing, or building as you learn.


You may find that the learning style you use will depend on the subject matter you are studying. For example, in history you may learn by listening or by reading out loud, while in science you may learn by doing hands-on experiments or activities. It will become important for you to understand which learning style works best for you in each subject area.


Here are some things that auditory/tactile learners like you can do to learn better:

• Be sure to sit where you can hear well.
   

• Have your hearing checked on a regular basis.
   

• Use flashcards to learn new material. Arrange the cards in groups to show relationships between ideas, and then read them out loud.
   

• Use hands-on activities to better understand things you have learned.
   

• Read stories, assignments, or directions out loud.
   

• Tape-record yourself practicing spelling, vocabulary or other questions, and then listen to the tape.
  
   

• Take frequent breaks (but not long breaks) during reading or study periods.
   

• Stay active when you read or study at home. Tap a pencil, chew gum, shake your foot, walk around, rock in a chair – but try to avoid distractions.
   

• Use a computer to reinforce the learning process.
   

• Remember that you learn best by hearing and doing.

As you can see, people learn in different ways. And, there are many different things you can do to help yourself along the way. Now it’s up to you to play it smart and use these tips in class and when you’re studying at home. You should also make sure that your parents know about your learning style, so tell them about this exercise you did today.


Remember, knowing HOW you learn will make it easier for you to learn and remember new information for the rest of your life.