9 Different Types of Learners: Which Are You? (+ Learning Tips)

Wondering what linguistic learners are?

By reading the types of learners below, you can quickly figure out which one you are and start working on to improve your learning and memorization skills.

If you learn by looking at pictures, you are a visual learner. If you learn by other people in a community, you are an interpersonal learner and so on.

The characteristics of each kind of learner help you distinguish them and discover your type.

This article will also help you identify which kind of learner you are.

1. The Linguistic Learner/Verbal Learner

Linguistic skills such as reading, writing, speaking, and listening are some of the foundational characteristics of a linguistic learner.

They like to speak up and communicate verbally. A linguistic learner is confident and expressive!

As linguistic learners like to speak more; hence they should learn new words and vocabulary to use while speaking. Some students and professors, too, are verbal learners.

2. The Kinesthetic/Tactile Learning

These students tend to learn through physical activities. They like to have hands-on experience.

Kinesthetic learners don’t like to listen to lectures; they get restless and impatient. They want to get engaged. They show up as volunteers when asked for physical activities.

They enjoy arts, farming, carpentry, athletics swimming, dancing, running, etc. rather than classroom lectures.

Tactile learners don’t speak much rather show by actions and prefer not to sit.

3. Aural (auditory-musical)

There are different types of learners in the classroom. Auditory students prefer hearing directions and show characteristics like they directly speak up the answer.

They observe and analyze the surrounding around them; they like to feel and touch. By the tone and volume of voice, aural students express their feelings and response. A person into a computer, IT, a programmer or computer engineer is an auditory person.

Some children would instead learn through online lectures than reading it in the book. They get a better concept this way and are better at writhing responses after listening.

They like to give practical and oral exams. Moreover, they are great storytellers too. They involve in study groups and are bright students as they want to speak up.

“Life gives us experiences for personal development. Appreciate the lessons and be a learner.”

― Lailah Gifty Akita

4. Visual (spatial)

These students learn from diagrams and pictures. They visualize things and usually find their careers in engineering fields or arts and other creative fields.

They understand and comprehend the graphs and charts deeply rather than listening to an entire lecture related to the topic.

They don’t really like presentations or to speak up but rather imagine. E.g., A map or chart reader develops a scenario in their mind while reading.

They are better at seeing than hearing. Spatial can remember graphical information rather than written text and also remember graphical directions.

5. Logical or Mathematical Learner

These students make logic out of things and try to solve them logically and linearly. They ask for reasons from their teachers.

Engineers, scientists, and mathematicians observe and find over the cause and effects regarding a particular matter.

Mathematical learners often think critically and scientifically for solutions. They like to perform scientific experiments and investigations practicals to find the answers to what, why, and how.

They use data, equations, numbers, abstract and visual images. They try to connect things and are good at organization. Albert Einstein was a logical learner.

6. Musical or Rhythmic Learner

Musical learners have a god gifted talent. They give an immediate response to music. These people like to engage themselves in activities like choir, orchestra, poetry, and singing songs.

They want to be appreciated by the music and sounds they created. They enjoy playing different instruments and creating new songs and tones through drums, violins, guitar, and piano.

They understand the rhythms, beats, and rhymes they like to play with beats and try random things at home to make a tune or with their hands and feet.

They learn by rhyming words, humming, whistling, or listening to background music. They can remember lyrics this way. e.g., they can learn the formulae and definitions by a particular genre; this helps them focus and memorize a specific topic.

7. The Interpersonal Learner

These people have the qualities of leadership, understanding others, and sorting out. A marketing coordinator, teacher, beautician, tattoo artist, anchor politician radio broadcaster, and event coordinator are some of the professions which come under interpersonal learning.

They show interest in social sciences and psychology. You can figure out an interpersonal learner as they like to narrate stories do teamwork as they cooperate.

These learners listen and observe others, opinions and preferences. They don’t want to work alone and often receive feedback. They wish to learn new things with people, and it is a fact that you enjoy their company!

8. The Intrapersonal Learner

They like to study alone and use their thinking powers only. They don’t want other opinions and pieces of advice, thoughts, ideas, and are self-motivated and introvert.

They aim at goals and entirely depend on themselves until completion without external help with self-achieved results.

They like appreciation for their efforts. They don’t want other involvement and group work. They would instead complete the project themselves.

Intrapersonal learners learn from their own experiences and have their learning styles.

They don’t like to be directed and instructed. They learn the best in their ways and styles. Never guide them; this makes them angry! E.g., an entrepreneur or the boss of industries and fields.

“Nothing will work unless you do.”

–Maya Angelou

9. Naturalist

Naturalists like to experiment and experience, and as so usually called scientists, they collect excellent information and knowledge.

They like to stay close to the animals and plants and observe how people react with them.

These learners are compassionate about animals. They learn this way by hiking, walking camping and other outdoor activities, naturalists get refreshed this way and start to think with a new and positive point of view as and are much inspired.

Furthermore, naturalists enjoy the weather and seasons climatic changes and like to spend time in gardens, parks, or zoos.

They occupy professions like Farmer, Park Ranger, Geologist, Horticulturist, Landscaper, Marine Biologist, Veterinarians.

How to Identify Which Are You? Learning Styles Test Recommended

There should be a learning style quiz in the classroom so that students can discover themselves. There should be a questionnaire given to the students.

The teachers should come up with new kinds of quizzes and tests for every individual to willingly and efficiently.

Learning Tips for Each Type

1. The Linguistic Learner/verbal learner

Linguistic learners can quickly learn through audio, video, and reading through workshops, seminars, conferences, and debates.

Anything that includes an individual verbally communicating can increase a linguistic learner’s knowledge.

Noting down essential texts and reading them aloud can further contribute to precise learning.

2. Kinesthetic/tactile learning

This type of learner is very productive in environments where there is not too much silence that makes them anxious or uneasy about their free or noisy way of learning.

They learn even better when they teach others as it helps tactile learners to retain knowledge in their brains. Taking regular intervals during education may help as well.

3. Aural (auditory-musical)

These learners learn best when they repeat a concept, a definition, or their critical study related points again and again. 

They may read text aloud and create a rhythm or relate it to a music sound to remember the version well and for a long time. Vocalizing thoughts can help learn too.

4. Visual (spatial)

Using flashcards and cameras and having hands-on experience on that specific object helps these students.

They understand better and can memorize by imaginations and drawings and creating pictures in mind. They don’t like to communicate, so provide them paints and other artworks.

Spatial can learn bright and colorful charts, tables, and graphs. They enjoy creative activities rather than reading an entire chapter.

If they see a presentation on how to do a particular project, they can do it better than someone directing them, which make them angry. Let them explore the word physically.

5. Logical or Mathematical Learner

Numerical, data and word problems are easy to solve for them as they find common sense and think outside the box to find the answer. They believe the other way can work too and make logic out of it.

They play with numbers, and the practice makes them experienced with time. They tend to make a reason and then proceed towards the solution.

6. Musical or Rhythmic Learner

Pneumonic, rhymes and songs help the rhythmic learner remember topics. Encourage them by appreciating them and getting involved yourself if you are the student’s teacher. This way, they can learn nicer with a long-lasting memory of the particular topic.

7. The Interpersonal Learner

Try to be their mentor and tutor. Guide them. Talk to them as they like making new friends, talking over issues, arguments, problems, opinions and listening to others.

Interpersonal learners like to spread their circle. They should receive admiration.

Moreover, interpersonal learners are also known as social learners. They want to study in groups with others sharing their views too. They usually counsel, teach or coach.

8. The Intrapersonal Learner

They don’t like to share. Therefore they should write their memories and their days’ descriptions in their diaries.

They have personal interests and don’t like the involvement of others. Intrapersonal learners should be taken to the places they like and let them learn according to their style.

They don’t get distracted by others as they don’t welcome others indulgence in their work; hence they stay focused.

As they like to lead and also perform the best in solitary. Start advising them and try to make them do pair work or putting into brainstorm activities. 

9. Naturalist

Their teachers should take them to botanical gardens so that they get to discover, learn and see new plants and flowers. Take them to the beach and zoos for field trips and more practical activities.

If you are the parent, then let them have pets. Take them out for jogging or running. As a coach, select them in sports.

Please encourage them to tour, explore, adventure, and discover. They can jot down and note the essential things they see or preserve the memories in their cameras. It is also a fun activity, and they enjoy it.

Listen to them and about their feelings towards other living creatures, new and different kinds of animals, and how they react and respond to God’s creativity.

They are talented in their way, which requires appreciation, so they continue their exploration.

Conclusion

Every student is different and has their method and techniques of learning and grasping onto things.

 As a teacher, make them share their learning styles so that others get inspired by new and different thoughts and ideas.

This way, they can think out of the box and share their creativity and skills.

God has gifted a different mind to everyone and every child is unique. We should also listen, respect, motivate, inspire, and cheer others and encourage their ways.