Mandarin Chinese Language Learning Strategies for Body Kinesthetic Learners

Learning the Chinese language can be difficult, so it is important that you develop a proper learning strategy before diving into your studies. Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences is a great theory to reference when developing your learning strategy. The theory states that there are seven different types of learners: visual-spatial, corporal-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, linguistic, and logical-mathematical. This article will focus on learning strategies for body kinesthetic learners.

What are Bodily Kinesthetic Learners?

Bodily-kinesthetic learners are people who are very in touch with their bodies. They are good with their hands and enjoy using movement, doing things, and touching objects. They can be found in a variety of professions, from dancers to surgeons. These are the type of people who tend to communicate with both their body language and spoken words. If you are one of these students, you will learn well through physical activity, role play, acting, and many other types of hands-on learning. You must incorporate physical objects and tools into your learning strategy.

Learning strategy 1

If you are a body kinesthetic learner, you need to hold real objects in your hands, so when you learn basic vocabulary words, do that. For example, if you want to learn the names of basic kitchen items, start collecting those items and using them as study tools. Instead of using flashcards to memorize, for example, the names of eating utensils, get real knives, forks, and chopsticks and put them in a box. Memorize their names by reaching into the box, pulling out an item, and reciting their name in Chinese.

Learning Strategy 2

Role play is a powerful tool for anyone learning a foreign language. However, it is especially powerful for body kinesthetic learners. If you are one of these students, you need to find a partner as soon as possible. There is an endless supply of role-play activities when learning Chinese. For example, you can act as if you are in a restaurant, a travel agency, or a hotel. They may ask each other for directions or have mock business meetings. You can even spend a whole day together acting as tourists or tour guides, or whatever else you want. The important thing is to communicate as much as possible in Chinese.

Learning Strategy 3

If you are a body kinesthetic learner, you are good at acting, which means you will most likely make passionate speeches. You may or may not be a great speechwriter, but that’s not important here. The important thing is delivery. So what you can do is go online and search for famous speeches that have been translated into Chinese (there are a lot of them). Memorize the speeches and then present them to your friends and family.

Learning strategy 4

Building things is a powerful way for body kinesthetic learners to remember things. How can this help you learn a language? Well, let’s say you want to learn how to talk about family in your target language. In fact, you can build a family tree. It doesn’t have to be too fancy or slow. You can use paper and other objects, or just draw a picture. It is the act of creating something with your hands that will help you learn.

Resume

If you are a body kinesthetic learner, you need to be active. Don’t just sit at a desk and memorize vocabulary words. If you do, you will get bored and lose interest in your studies. Instead, collect physical objects and use them as study tools. Make sure you stay active, building, creating, and acting as you learn.