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Applying Multiple Intelligences Theory in Undergraduate EFL Classroom

Posted By Galih Ariffansyah

In Gardner?s theory of Multiple Intelligence, we can conclude that each person is unique and has a blend of intelligences. The article is aimed to find out the probability of adjusting Gardner?s theory to undergraduate EFL classroom in China with main focus on lesson designing, choosing materials, class activities and assessment, aiming at promoting MI instruction and facilitating foreign language and whole person development.

People have their own intelligences which can be extended through training and exercise. People can obtain more than one intelligences if she/he wants, because intelligences are educable. Back to Gardner?s theory, the intelligences are categorized into eight; Linguistic, logical-mathematic, spatial, musical, kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalist. The applications in undergraduate EFL classroom include; lesson designing, class activities (eight activity corners and student project work), choosing material, and assessment.

Based on the applications, integrating the MI theory into undergraduate EFL student will facilitate English acquisition and behavior.

How do Multiple Intelligences affect students? motivation in learning English?

As a teacher, we should show our student what is the most interesting activity. There are some students who are absorbed learning by looking at picture/caption. Some likes to do outside. In that case, we must see the interest of our students. Because when the interest is supported by appropriate teaching material and teaching activity, it can motivate the students to learn. The example is when someone likes to read, write, or tell stories, and then the suitable material is story book. Then the teacher can teach using linguistic intelligence by storytelling them. As a result, the students will fell happy and may be highly motivated to learn English.

According to Gardner, the intelligences are various and unique among human. In linguistic intelligence, it includes such skills as the abilities to remember information, to convince others, and to talk about language itself. Logical-mathematic involves the ability to analyze problems logically carried out by the mathematic operations. Spatial refers the ability to sense form, space, color, line, and shape. Musical entails skill in performance, composition, and appreciation of musical patterns. Kinesthetic shows the potential of using one?s whole body or part of body to express idea and to solve problem. Interpersonal indicate a person?s capacity to understand the intentions. Intrapersonal refers to the ability to understand oneself and to have an effective working model for oneself. Naturalist refers to the ability to recognize and classify flora and fauna.

Thus, some teachers feel that they need to create activities that draw on all eight, not only to facilitate language acquisition amongst diverse students, but also to help them realize their full potential with all eight. One way of doing that is to think about the activities that are frequently used in the classroom and to categorize them according to the intelligence type.

Do you find the article useful or not?

This article is very useful, because by knowing the concept and framework of multiple intelligences, I might create an interesting activity and atmosphere when I teach later. Students have different style in learning English, so as a teacher we need to create innovation to improve the student?s motivation in learning English, such as using word games for students who like writing or we can play song if the students like to sing or listen to the music. This article should be known for modern teacher in order to revise the traditional method, so the teaching-learning process will be more interesting.

Download the full article of Multiple Intelligence here

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