Auditory learning is the aural channel of the linguistic intelligence, listening to, interpreting, and responding to the spoken word. Everyone knows someone who is good at listening. They do really well in structured environments, and usually prefer planning or organizing to manual labor. In terms of infant development, linguistic intelligence emerges after the foundations in listening, movement, and vision are laid. Original cultures developed the written channel of language from pictures, but with alphabets and writing of words, this channel is also considered to have an auditory connection. In our modern era, world-wide news, the entertainment industry, and especially the internet could not have occurred without linguistic intelligence. Today, people who are good auditory learners find careers in broadcasting, journalism, and teaching. In my class, I lecture and discuss issues every day in order to help improve student writing. I don't invite my students to write the Great American Novel, but I am always sharing my writing (curriculum, songs, stories) in class! The best way to activate auditory learning in a writing class is by teaching and talking about voice. This real connection to the basis of language helps to keep writing fresh, alive, personal, and meaningful.
