In my previous experiences as a language learner, I would say that I enjoyed being able to speak and interact with the language the most. When I studied Italian, my tutor would use a lot of examples from cartoons like The Simpsons and Family Guy to help me understand the language in a more casual and conversational context. In high school Spanish class, I really liked it when I was asked to read a section of the books that we were reading. Being able to actively engage with the language through reading and interactive activities helped me retain vocabulary more effectively. It also made the learning process more fun. Another activity that I enjoyed was playing Kahoots and Blooket, where we would do quizzes on the language, culture, and geography of Spanish-speaking countries. Playing these games was less anxiety-inducing than traditional tests and allowed me to test my understanding in a more relaxed setting.
What I disliked the most was learning the conjugations and grammar because it’s more difficult to adjust to the changes in the sentence structures, and it takes me a lot of time to remember them. Looking back at my experience with language learning, I feel like I put the least effort into learning the conjugations and grammars out of everything, and that might be why it was difficult to move to the next level with the language. But, I did find that practicing conjugations through drills and exercises helped me improve over time. And I feel like watching movies and films in Spanish also helped me pick up on the natural flow of the language and how words are used in context. So when my teacher made us answer all the exams in Spanish, I felt like I was able to showcase my understanding of the language and culture in a more authentic way.
The learning style survey told me that I’m a tactile learner, but I also scored high in visual (however, low in audio), which made a lot of sense because I’ve always struggled with verbal instructions. I never seem to understand how something works just by listening to the instructions; I've always only figured out how to actually do something when I physically do it. So I think the type of learning activities that suit my learning style the most are writing down the words, workbooks, speaking/reading, and maybe doing a project. In terms of expanding my learning activities, I could try incorporating more visuals into my study sessions, such as flashcards or drawings, to help reinforce my understanding of the material. Regarding audial learning, I think that listening to music or podcasts related to my interests could also be beneficial in enhancing my learning experience.
Additionally, learning from online resources other than language partners. This could be finding a tutor, speaking with friends who are native speakers, and using language learning apps. These additional resources can provide different perspectives and methods of learning that may better align with my visual and tactile learning preferences. Furthermore, participating in language exchange programs or attending cultural events related to the language can also enhance my learning experience.
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