Verbal Linguistic Intelligence Activities in the Classroom

Verbal Linguistic Intelligence Activities in the Classroom
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Verbal Linguistic Intelligence

The first thing you should realize about verbal linguistic learners is that they absolutely love words. They have an immense capacity to use language to express themselves, and to understand other people. They are good with both forms of language, written as well as oral. They enjoy reading, writing and learning languages. They think in language. Verbal linguistic intelligence is just one of the nine “intelligences” identified by Howard Gardner. Famous people of this type are: Mark Twain, Agatha Christie, Danielle Steele, Bill Clinton, J.K.Rowling and Winston Churchill. [caption id=“attachment_130513” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]People with verbal linguistic intelligence enjoy reading Reading is a common trait for individuals with verbal intelligence[/caption]

Identify & Encourage Your Learners

Along with students gifted with mathematical intelligence, students with the verbal linguistic intelligence type are best suited to the traditional school environment. These students learn well through listening, reading and writing, often making them excellent pupils. It is easy to identify them. Their characteristics are:

  • Enjoy Talking and Asking Questions
  • Love to read, write and listen
  • Enjoy rhymes and sounds
  • Good memory for general knowledge, names, places
  • Appreciate grammar and meaning
  • Good with spelling
  • Enjoy word games, jokes, puns, riddles
  • Are self reflective, understand philosophy and abstract reasoning
  • Like to acquire new words and new languages
  • Enjoy possessing books

These students will thrive if you find opportunities for them to work with other children in the classroom during class projects.

Exercises and Suggestions

It is easy and interesting to work with such learners as they respond to the slightest stimuli provided. Exercises can be undertaken at home and school to strengthen verbal linguistic intelligence. Some of them can be:

  • Reading, Writing, Narrating - Stories, Sequels, Poems, Drama, Jokes, Descriptions, News Reports
  • Encouraging - Debates, Declamations, Impromptu Speech (on current affairs, life, practically everything)
  • Starting - a Newsletter, Magazine, Journal
  • Conducting - Mock Interviews, Chat Shows, Role Plays, Dramas, Story Telling
  • Solve - Puzzles, Crosswords, Vocabulary Games
  • Preparing and Giving Presentations
  • Creating Slogans, Defense, Case Studies etc
  • Initiating Vocabulary Banks

Top Career Choices

Since verbal linguistic learners enjoy activities that include words in any form that are oral or written, their career choice should be made accordingly. They often pursue the following careers:

  • Actor/Actress
  • Advocates
  • Broadcaster
  • Editor
  • Interpreters
  • Journalist
  • Politician
  • Preacher
  • Public Speaker
  • Teacher
  • Tourist Guides
  • Writer
  • Writing Tutor

Help your verbal language learners recognize their own potential by emphasizing the huge variety of career options that lay ahead of them. Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

References