In last week’s Tuesday Tips article, we looked at some suggestions for auditory learners. This week, let’s look at some tips for visual learners.
1. Use flashcards to remember new vocabulary. At a basic level, just looking at words with a picture next to them is a great way to associate the vocabulary with real life.
This can be really good fun if you want to practise English with your kids, too. Looking through a big picture book and talking about the pictures with your child can be a great bonding activity and help him learn a lot of English words before he even gets to school.
2. Read catalogues in English. If you want to become familiar with specific words for things you see around you, pick up a catalogue related related to that area. For example, here are some unusual words you could learn just reading through a household goods catalogue:
- tea cosy – a cover to keep a teapot warm
- coaster – a piece of material to put under a class and stop it damaging the table
- peg – the clip you use to stop washing falling off a clothes line
Seeing the vocabulary directly under a real-life picture of it is something that will help visual learners remember it. Catalogues are free and you can get them related to almost any part of your life, work or hobbies.
3. Use Google images as a dictionary. If you find an English word you are not sure about, type it into Google images. If it’s a noun, chances are, there will be loads of pictures of it to help you understand. Try it now with an unusual word like ‘blunderbuss’.
4. Draw spider diagrams. Get a large piece paper and write one word in the middle of it. Draw a circle around the word.
Now, write all the words you can think of that are related to that word around it and draw circles around them. Now, write all the words you can think of related to those words around them. Carry on until the paper is full.
This is a good way to see just how big your vocabulary really is.
5. Find your special place. Close your eyes and remember a time when you felt really happy and contented. When was it? Can you create an image of that time in your mind?
If you can, this can be your ‘special place’ try spending a few seconds remembering this image before you learn and you will find it helps you to clear your mind and concentrate on studying.
Can you think of any other ways for visual learners to study?
This is part of my ‘Tuesday Tips‘ series. Every Tuesday, I share a simple tip on how to improve your language skills. Some of these are techniques I use with students in class and others are things I’ve found work well when learning languages myself. If you decide to try them out, let me know how they went by leaving a comment below the article. Click here to see some more tips on how to improve your English.