One of my personal goals this year is to learn sign language. I do not know anyone who uses it, but I find the idea of learning it incredibly important. You never know when you might meet someone who relies on sign language to communicate, and I would love to be able to bridge that gap and make someone feel understood.
Since I do not have anyone to practice with, I am learning on my own. I started with a book and some flashcards, but soon after, I switched to YouTube videos. Watching someone sign and being able to pause, rewind, and practice has made a huge difference. That shift made me wonder about the way I learn best. What is my learning style?
We all learn differently, and understanding how you process information is key to improving your ability to retain and apply new knowledge. There are four main learning styles: visual, auditory, reading and writing, and kinesthetic. Most people naturally lean toward one or two dominant styles, but research has shown that combining multiple methods often leads to better understanding and retention.
So, let’s explore these learning styles, how to identify your own, and how you can use this knowledge to become a more efficient learner.
The four main learning styles
1. Visual learning – learning through sight
Visual learners process information best when they can see it. If you naturally gravitate toward color-coded notes, mind maps, or diagrams, you probably lean toward this style.
• Visual learners often benefit from charts, infographics, and organized outlines.
• Highlighting key points in different colors helps reinforce memory.
• Drawing or creating visual representations of information can make complex ideas easier to understand.
• Watching videos or looking at images while learning helps engage this learning style.
When I was in university, I realized how much visual learning helped me. I would create detailed outlines with headings and subheadings, use different colored highlighters, and make flowcharts to organize my thoughts. Even now, if I see a diagram summarizing information, I am immediately drawn to it.
2. Auditory learning – learning through sound
Auditory learners retain information best when they hear it. This style is common among people who love listening to podcasts, prefer group discussions, or find it easier to remember something after hearing it explained.
• Listening to lectures or audiobooks is helpful.
• Repeating information out loud or discussing it with others strengthens memory.
• Recording yourself summarizing key points and replaying them can improve understanding.
• Participating in group discussions or study groups allows for deeper engagement.
When I was younger, I leaned heavily on this style. During university, I would attend lectures, take notes, and then read those notes out loud to myself, then repeat them to my mum as a final step to test my knowledge. Listening to my voice helped me process the information better. Even now, I find that explaining something to Pietro or the kids helps me remember it more clearly.
3. Reading and writing learning – learning through words
This style is all about text-based learning. People who thrive with this method are often those who love reading and writing.
• Taking detailed notes while studying reinforces memory.
• Summarizing key points in your own words helps retain information.
• Creating lists, writing essays, and reading books are effective learning methods.
• Rewriting notes and organizing them improves understanding and memory retention.
I have always loved writing things down. Even now, I have notebooks and loose sheets of paper filled with notes. When I am learning something new, writing it down helps me feel like I have processed and absorbed the material. It is almost like the act of putting pen to paper makes it stick in my mind.
4. Kinesthetic learning – learning through doing
Kinesthetic learners retain information best when they engage physically with the material. This style is common among people who enjoy hands-on activities and learn best through movement.
• Experiments, role-playing, and interactive activities work well.
• Using hand gestures or movement while learning reinforces memory.
• Tying new information to a physical activity or real-life experience improves retention.
• Building, touching, and creating enhances understanding.
This is the style I have come to appreciate the most as an adult. Learning sign language has highlighted this for me. Watching someone sign and then physically repeat the gestures makes the learning process more natural and memorable.
I saw the power of kinesthetic learning firsthand when my kids attended school in England. They rarely brought home books, but their teachers incorporated so much hands-on learning. When Elisa studied World War II, they didn’t just read about it; they experienced it. A veteran visited the class with artifacts, they played games to understand wartime strategies, and they even built a tent to simulate a wartime shelter. Learning through experience gave those lessons a depth that pure memorization never could.
Why it is important to know your learning style
Understanding how you learn can transform the way you approach new information. When you know what works for you, you can tailor your learning strategy to make it more effective and enjoyable.
However, learning styles are not static. They can shift over time or change depending on the subject. As a child, I was primarily an auditory and reading/writing learner. Now, I find that combining kinesthetic learning with visual aids and some auditory reinforcement works best for me.
When I first started learning sign language, reading about it wasn’t enough. Watching videos and mimicking the signs made the process much smoother. I could pause, rewind, and practice as many times as I needed. The combination of seeing and doing helped me retain the information far better than just reading about it.
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Combining learning styles for better results
While most people have a dominant learning style, research shows that combining methods leads to better retention and understanding. This is why classrooms often include a mix of visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic activities.
- If you are a visual learner, try adding some auditory reinforcement by listening to a podcast or discussing the material with someone.
- If you are an auditory learner, try summarizing what you heard in writing to strengthen retention.
- If you are a kinesthetic learner, combine hands-on activities with visual diagrams or written notes to deepen understanding.
- Mixing strategies prevents learning from feeling repetitive and engages different parts of the brain.
For me, watching YouTube videos to learn sign language is primarily visual and kinesthetic. But taking notes about how to make the signs afterward and reviewing them combines the reading/writing and auditory styles. This mix helps me absorb the material more thoroughly.
The Italian learning style
In Italy, the school system leaned heavily on memorization. History and geography lessons were based on repeating facts rather than experiencing them. In contrast, my kids’ school in England emphasized experiential learning. When they studied measurements, they physically measured water in containers. When they learned about history, they acted out historical events.
This difference made me realize how powerful combining learning styles can be. Memorizing facts may help in the short term, but connecting information to an experience makes it stick for life.
Learning styles are not one-size-fits-all. What works for me may not work for you, and what works for one subject may not work for another. The key is understanding how you learn best and being flexible enough to adapt when needed.
Learning sign language has been a humbling experience, but discovering how I learn best has made the process smoother and more rewarding. Whether you are picking up a new skill or helping your kids with homework, knowing your learning style is like having a roadmap; it makes the journey clearer and more efficient.
Thank you for spending time with me today!
See you next time.
Valentina
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