What type of learner are you and how can private tutoring help?

As human beings we are all unique, not just in our personalities, our likes, and dislikes, but in every aspect of ourselves. This is why, when it comes to work and careers, some people prefer to do a creative or manual job that involves working with their hands.

Others, however, will find success and enjoyment from working at their desks and using their minds to do the heavy lifting. These variations are also relevant to learning too. Did you know there are several types of learning styles that are all highly effective in their own way? Read on to see what kind of learner you are and how one to one tutoring can help you achieve in your GCSE exams.

What are the different learning styles?

Let’s explore some of the key styles of learning and highlight the best approach for tutoring each style.

Visual (spatial)

If you’re someone who prefers to learn using visual stimulators such as graphs, diagrams, and images, you’re most likely a visual learner. Visual learners find information is easier to comprehend when it is presented in visual formats. If this is your natural type of learning, you’ll probably find well organised and nicely presented notes and documents helpful. Here are some useful tips for visual learners:

• Use visually stimulating materials e.g., highlighters, underlining, and illustrations during your lessons and online tutoring.
• Keep a notepad or blank paper close by. You can absorb information in your visual memory with written repetitions, notes etc.
• Be aware of how information is presented to you. For visual learners it’s important that it is laid out in well written or carefully typed out documents.

How does tutoring support visual learning?

For students that are visual learners, tried and trusted tutoring might involve presenting information using visually stimulating materials including flash cards, images, colour-coded notes, videos, illustrations, and more.

Auditory

There’s a strong possibility that you’re an auditory learner if you understand and process information better when you hear it aloud, and if prefer listening to audio books rather than reading. This style of learner will be able to remember a piece of information better if they hear it rather than read it. So, they will easily be able to comprehend and memorise lessons with verbal lectures instead of reading long paragraphs and writing notes. If you’re an auditory learner, it’ll be helpful to:

• Record lessons and tutorials.
• Learn in a quiet space without any auditory distractions like TV or outside noises from an open window.
• Use memory techniques that rely on audio cues such as mnemonics, jingles, and rhymes.

How does tutoring support auditory learning?
A tutor who has a student with an auditory learning style may want to provide audio materials like verbal notes, audio books etc. Additionally, an advantage of tutoring online is that the student can just record the session and review it whenever they need to. This will provide a much clearer and easier to understand recording than one that is done in a classroom.

Kinesthetic

Those who are kinesthetic learners prefer to learn physically with hands-on lessons and activities. Instead of sitting in a classroom listening to lectures and reading notes, they find it easier to understand information with physical activities. Given that this style of learning is less traditional, kinesthetic learners normally struggle in lessons that utilise standard teaching models. You might find the tips below beneficial if you’re a kinesthetic learner.

• Build models or find other hands-on ways to lay out your revision material.
• Engage in physical activities such as pacing or spelling out words with your fingers whilst learning.
• Be animated and use drama or body movement to present information.

How does tutoring support kinesthetic learning?
Unlike school classrooms where teachers mostly use a traditional, visual approach, tutors can be creative and use different and physically stimulating tools and methods to keep their student fully engaged in their online tuition.

Logical (mathematical)

Mathematical skill is a strong indicator of a logical learner. If you’re good with numbers and can solve complex equations with ease, you’re likely a logical learner. Students in this category typically find it easy to work out patterns and puzzles and will find a way to apply deduction and reasoning in their lessons. They prefer to analyse how things work, draw connections, and form conclusions based on logical reasoning. The below advice is designed to help logical learners.

• Rather than trying to remember facts and figures, make up associations in your mind that will help with your recollection.
• Don’t fully rely on memory. When trying to absorb a piece of information, try to establish the whys and wherefores.
• Highlight key points when taking notes.

How does tutoring support logical learning?
For a logical learner, expert tutors will teach using puzzles and problem-solving exercises. Also, an experienced tutor will have in-depth knowledge to answer all the student’s queries and dive deeper into topics to enhance their learning experience with online lessons.

Verbal (linguistic)

Verbal learners often process information easily through reading and writing, with an enjoyment for learning new words and playing with words. If you have a broad vocabulary and like playing with words using puns, rhymes, tongue twisters, etc, you’re probably a verbal learner. These types of learners can make use of their skills with words to better comprehend and remember information in the following ways:

• Take part in verbal discussions and debates to widen your knowledge.
• Read, reread, and write. For someone who enjoys reading and words, reading and writing notes won’t feel like as much of a chore as it would for other types of learners.
• Use verbal learning methods like rhyming, mnemonics, role-play, etc.

How does tutoring support verbal learning?
If you’re a verbal learner, having a tutor that will engage in verbal discussions with you will benefit your learning experience. They can also help you create verbal memory devices such as rhymes and mnemonics as well as produce notes for you to read.

Where to find a private tutor

No matter what type of learner you are you can find a tutor to fit your style and needs at My GCSE Tutor. Our online GCSE tutors are specialists in their subject, are DBS checked, and all have teaching experience, so they can help make sure your one-to-one tutoring sessions will benefit you and help you achieve in your exams.