Do you prefer listening to lectures over reading texts? Do you learn best when someone is talking to you? If so, then you are likely an auditory learner. Being an auditory learner has both advantages and disadvantages. In this blog post, we will discuss all that you need to know about being an auditory learner. We will also provide some helpful auditory learning strategies that will help you succeed in your academic career!
What is an Auditory Learner?
Auditory learners are those who learn best through listening. It was first described in a 1992 scientific study by Fleming and Mills.
This learning style is often associated with music learners, as they often need to hear a melody in order to remember it. However, auditory learners are not just limited to music. Many people who prefer to listen to lectures or have someone explain something to them are likely auditory learners.
Common traits of visual learners include:
- Enjoying listening to lectures or audiobooks
- Learning best when someone is talking to them
- Easily remember melodies and songs
- Noticing the sound of words and their pronunciations
- Excellent communication abilities
- Excellent listening skills
- Excelling at oral examinations
Advantages of Being an Auditory Learner
There are many advantages to being an auditory learner. One of the most obvious is that you do not need to spend as much time reading texts. This can be extremely helpful if you find reading difficult or boring. Additionally, auditory learners often have good memories. This is because they are able to remember information that they have heard better than information that they have read.
Another advantage of being an auditory learner is that you tend to have good communication skills. This is because you are used to listening and taking in information. Additionally, auditory learners often excel at oral examinations as they are used to hearing lectures and talking about the information that they have learned.
Disadvantages of Being an Auditory Learner
While there are many advantages to being an auditory learner, there are also some disadvantages. One of these reasons is that you need to be in a quiet environment in order to learn effectively. This can be difficult if you have a busy lifestyle or if you live with others who make noise. Additionally, auditory learners often have difficulty learning if the material is presented in a visual format such as a graph or chart.
Finally, auditory learners can often be easily distracted. This is because they are used to taking in information through their ears and anything that makes noise can interfere with their learning.
Auditory Learning Strategies
There are many strategies that auditory learners can use to learn effectively.
- Pay attention to how words sound: This can be helpful when you are trying to remember vocabulary words.
- Repeat information out loud: Repeating information out loud can help you to remember it better.
- Record lectures: If you are having trouble focusing during a lecture, try recording it and listening to it later.
- Listen to audiobooks: Audiobooks are a great way to learn new information.
- Use mnemonic devices to remember information: A mnemonic device is a technique that helps you to remember information. A common mnemonic device is the use of rhymes or songs to remember information.
- Participate in Group Discussions: Group discussions are a great way to learn new information and practice your communication skills.
- Have someone explain information to you: If you are having trouble understanding something, ask a friend or family member to explain it to you.
- Talk about the information you have learned: Talking to others about what you have learned can help you to remember the information better.
You can check out our full list of study habits here.
Auditory Learning Strategies for Teachers
If you are a teacher, there are many strategies that you can use to help your auditory learners.
- Use verbal instructions: When giving directions or assignments, be sure to use verbal instructions.
- Encourage group discussion: Group discussion is a great way for auditory learners to learn new information.
- Read aloud: Reading texts aloud can help auditory learners to better understand the material.
- Use rhymes and songs: Rhymes and songs can be helpful for auditory learners to remember information.
- Provide verbal feedback: Be sure to provide verbal feedback when your auditory learner students are working on assignments. This will help them to know what they are doing well and what they need to work on.
- Record Lectures: If you are giving a lecture, try recording it and allowing your auditory learner students to listen to it later.
Other Learning Styles
In total there are three main learning styles that students will fall under. For a holistic view of all learning styles click here. Alternatively, if you’re interested in an in-depth analysis of any of the following learning styles, click the link below: