Buletinul Ştiinţific al Universităţii de Stat „Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu” din Cahul

№. 1 (7), 2018
Ştiinţe Umanistice

MULTISENSORY APPROACH IN TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Aliona MERIACRE, PhD candidate, university lecturer,

“Perspectiva-Int” University, Chisinau

Abstract: Statistics show that learning improves when teachers implement

multisensory instruction. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to help teachers
increase foreign language learning through multisensory approach by integrating
the 12 way of learning into instruction. It provides useful tips, techniques and
practical activities on how they can become multisensory teachers and improve
teaching foreign languages in their classroom.
Thus, the author engages the auditory into a series of practical connected
tasks, which are part of a poster-based activity and shows how it can work in the
classroom.
Key words: TFL, multisensory instruction, the 12 way of learning,
multisensory teacher, personal areas of strength, 21st century skills, poster-based
activity, proverbs and sayings.

Motto: “If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the
way they learn”. (Ignacio Estrada)

Introduction
Supporting individual needs is extremely important in education. It
contributes significantly to the development of the individuals as future fulfilled
human beings whose hobby, talent and work might become a unique universe of
their life purpose and living could reflect their way of being themselves. Maria
Montessori said, “It is true e cannot make a genius, e can only give to teach
child the chance to fulfil his potential possibilities”. Indeed, teachers play a
significant role in creating a personality with both personal and professional
integrity, hich is highly rated on the labour market. Actually, integrity is “one of
the fundamental values that employers seek in the employees that they hire. It is
the hallmark of a person who demonstrates sound moral and ethical principles at
ork”1.
So, how to support individual needs in foreign language (FL) instruction in
order to “produce” a well-educated personality capable to realize him/herself in
the life?
Improving learning through multisensory approach is considered one of the
most effective ways, which must be taken into consideration when teaching foreign

1
Heathfield, Susan M. What Is Integrity—Really? [accessed 10.06.2017]. Available:
https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-integrity-really-1917676
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№. 1 (7), 2018
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languages (TFL) as well.

As shown by statistics, learning improves when teachers implement
multisensory instruction. Therefore, this paper aims at helping language teachers
increase FL learning through multisensory approach. We provide useful tips,
techniques and practical activities on how you can become a multisensory teacher
and successfully integrate the 12 ways of learning into FL instruction.
Thus, we enumerate and define the 12 ways of learning. Also, we explain
and give some handy hints on how to engage students into a series of practical
connected tasks stimulating their areas of sensory learning strengths through a
project or poster-based activity and show how it can work in the classroom or/and
outside it. Above all, we focus our efforts on boosting knowledge and key
professional skills that make a successful FL teacher, and enable one to develop
teaching skills and acquire best practices as well needed for continuing
professional development in order to educate students so they have a cultural
identity while being part of the global community in the 21st century.
Multisensory approach – an effective way of supporting individual
needs in foreign language instruction
According to scientists, at the most basic level, our brains perceive stimuli
through the five senses - seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, and smelling. Some
people’s sensory perception is stronger in one area than another, and most of us
learn best when information and ideas are presented in a multisensory fashion, i.e.
when engaging as more senses as possible or more than one sense at a time (visual,
auditory, tactile or others). For example, visual presentation techniques can include
graphic organizers for structuring writing and pictures for reinforcing instruction;
auditory presentation techniques can focus on conducting thorough discussions and
reading aloud; tactile presentation techniques can use manipulating blocks and
creating paragraphs about objects students can hold in their hands etc.1

Besides, some learners’ senses may be affected by different illnesses.

Sometimes the child’s auditory processing may be eak. The child’s vision may
have difficulties with tracking or visual processing. Consequently, the solution for
these difficulties is to involve the use of other senses than these ones in order to
support students’ needs, motivate them and improve their learning.
As stated by researchers, many students have an area of sensory learning
strength as ell. For this reason, they claim, “ hen students are taught using

1
Landmark’s Six Teaching Principles. The Landmark School Outreach Professional
Development for Educators. [accessed 11.06.2017]. Available:
https://www.landmarkoutreach.org/strategies/landmarks-six-teaching-principles-tm/
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№. 1 (7), 2018
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techniques consistent with their learning styles (i.e. with their areas of sensory
learning strength - remark is ours), they learn more easily, faster and can retain and
apply concepts more readily to future learning. Moreover, most students, with a
difficulty or not, enjoy the variety that multisensory techniques can offer”1.
Indeed, David Varnes emphasises, “Multi-sensory learning has often been said to
be the wave of the future when it comes to learning. Books, paper, pens and pencils
have their places, but too often, they lead to boring classroom scenes (...). To really
get the most out of a learning experience, engaging as many of the five senses as
possible is key”2.
It is ell kno n that FL instruction often relies on a learner’s sight to look
at text and pictures and to read information. It also relies on a learner’s hearing to
listen to what the educator or a colleague is saying or explaining. Nevertheless,
multisensory approach of teaching is not just limited to reading, looking and
listening. Gradually, it focuses to use all of the senses by integrating different
learning skills. “Every lesson on’t use all of a child’s senses (taste, smell, touch,
sight, hearing and movement). But in most multisensory lessons, students engage
ith the material in more than one ay”3. These ways of learning are extremely
helpful as they stimulate senses, activate specific areas of sensory learning strength
and maximize student learning potential and success.
Which exactly are the ways of learning and what techniques and strategies
can help us apply them?
As stated by scholars, there are different ways of learning foreign languages.
Their integration in FL instruction is facilitated especially through multisensory
approach. Thus, Dr. Erica Warren, learning specialist and educational therapist,
asserts that multisensory approach, actually, involves integrating the 12 ways of
learning in instruction. A well-created infographic of her reviews the 12 ways of
learning and provides some statistics on how learning improves when educators
implement multisensory approach4. Thus, she supports that, multisensory teaching
accommodates the 12 ways of learning classified as shown in the Table No. 1.

1
Praveen A.V. What is Multisensory Teaching Techniques? [accessed 11.06.2017].
Available: http://www.lexiconreadingcenter.org/what-is-multisensory-teaching-techniques/
2
Varnes, D. How to add excitement to your EFL activities: Multisensory Learning.
[accessed 11.03.2017]. Available: http://www.fluentu.com/english/educator/blog/esl-efl-
learning-activities-multisensory/
3
Morin, Amanda. Multisensory Instruction: What You Need to Know. [accessed
16.06.2017]. Available: https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/partnering-with-
childs-school/instructional-strategies/multisensory-instruction-what-you-need-to-know
4
Warren, Erica. Multisensory Teaching Accommodates the 12 Ways of Learning (2015).
[accessed 20.06.17]. Available:
http://learningspecialistmaterials.blogspot.md/2015/06/multisensory-teaching-
accommodates-12.html
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Table No. 1. The 12 ways of learning accommodated in multisensory

instruction

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According to researchers, there are special techniques used to employ

senses and assist students in accommodating their appropriate ways of learning.
For example, A. Logsdon, a school psychologist,1 shares a part of them (see Table
No 2).

Table No 2. Multisensory techniques to assist students in accommodating their

appropriate learning styles
I. Visual II. Auditory III. Tactile IV. Kinaesthetic
reasoning and techniques teaching methods methods
learning
These Multisensory Multisensory Multisensory
techniques techniques that techniques that methods using
often include focus on sound involve using the body movements
visual and stimulate sense of touch are called
teaching verbal reasoning are called tactile kinaesthetic
methods and are called methods. Tactile methods. These
strategies. auditory methods include involve fine and
techniques. strategies such gross motor
 Text and/or Auditory as: movements.
pictures on techniques
paper, posters, include strategies  Sand trays,  Games
models, such as using: raised line paper, involving
projection textured objects, jumping rope,
screens,  Computerized finger paints and clapping or
computers or text readers, puzzles to other
flash cards; augmentative improve fine movements
communication motor skills; paired with
 Use of colour devices; auditory activities while
for highlighting, trainers; hearing  Modelling counting and
organizing aids; books on materials such as singing songs
information or tape, podcasts, clay and related to
imagery; and peer-assisted sculpting concepts;
reading; materials;
 Graphic  Any large
organizers,  Video, film, or  Using small movement
outlining multi-image materials called activity for
passages; media with manipulatives to students

1
Logsdon, Ann. Make Multisensory Teaching Materials [accessed 20.05.2018]. Available:
https://www.verywell.com/make-multisensory-teaching-materials-2162327
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accompanying represent involving

 Student created audio; number values to dancing, bean
art, images, text, teach math bag tossing,
pictures and  Music, song, skills. basketball or
video. instruments, other activities
speaking, rhymes, involving
chants and concepts,
language games. rhythmic recall
and academic
competition
such as quizzes,
flash card races
and other
learning games
etc.

In a nutshell, as part of multisensory learning, all these and other

techniques used appropriately focus on students’ special needs and accommodate
their ways of learning. When applying these multisensory methods and strategies,
teachers effectively engage multiple senses to enhance students’ FL learning and
develop their 21st century skills.
For instance, let us say FL students are studying fruits and vegetables.
Based on scholars’ ideas related on multisensory approach, they must have the
chance to visually examine, hold, touch, smell and taste some/all fruits and
vegetables - instead of just reading and listening to their teacher speaking about
how and where they grow. Then, learners could cut in half some of them and count
the number of seeds inside, one by one, investigate their pulp and describe it and so
on an so forth. Moreover, the teacher can have her/his students organize a
group/pair or individual project as well, where they have the mission to create a
poster, a presentation, an infographic, a video project about one/some of fruits and
vegetables or prepare a favourite dish, for example, by recording the procedure. In
addition, they might look for poems and songs about fruits and vegetables or
different interesting stories written by famous authors or created even by them etc.
Through this project, they will get totally engaged by stimulating more than one
senses and, as a result, will improve their learning skills and strengths.
As shown above, one of the best way to improve the level of FL learning is
gradually employ multisensory teaching methods and techniques by
accommodating the 12 ways of learning. Thus, teachers would manage to find the
appropriate learning style for their students and, consequently, maximize the FL
learning opportunities.

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With this in mind, the scholars A. Morin and A. Logsdon confirm the
positive effect of using multisensory techniques in instruction. They underline that
multisensory teaching methods and strategies stimulate learning by engaging
students on multiple levels. They encourage students to use some or all of their
senses by developing and integrating their learning skills, and facilitating such
activities like:
 Gathering information about a task;
 Linking information for ideas they already know and understand;
 Perceiving the logic involved in solving problems;
 Learning problem-solving steps;
 Taping into nonverbal reasoning skills;
 Understanding relationships between concepts;
 Learning information and storing it for later recall1 etc.
We would like to point out that a main strength of multisensory instruction
is taking into account the different ays students can learn. Thus, “it helps meet the
varying needs of all kids—not just those with learning and attention issues. And by
providing multiple ways to learn, it gives every kid in the class a chance to
succeed”2.
Implementing multisensory approach in the classroom to
accommodate different ways of learning
Multisensory approach helps teachers develop 21st century skills as well.
Interaction activities in the classroom facilitate multisensory instruction through
collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking. It adds fun in the
classroom and stimulates learning. A well-structured game or interaction activity,
which activates multiple senses, has a great impact on learning outcomes. “The
safe, pleasurable environment of a good game motivates players to test their
physical, social, mental, or - in the case of a language learner - communicative
skills, thus preparing them for the application of these skills to reality. (…)Yet, a
game has just as much potential for furthering skill acquisition as any other activity
hen carefully constructed”3.
Confucius said, “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I
understand.” This piece of isdom highlights the potential role of multiple senses
when being activated through multisensory approach as well as different student-
centred techniques and interactive activities. It is well known that in the classroom,
an interactive activity that mobilizes the minds of participants in multiple ways

1
Morin A., Logsdon A., ibidem.
2
Morin A. ibidem.
3
Kim, Eui Jung (Ana) and Petersen, Sarah. In Pursuit of the Excellent Game [accessed
18.03.2018]. Available: http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/tesolc/issues/2012-10-
01/3.html
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affords greater opportunity for them to exercise their diverse intelligences in the
reinforcement of concepts and skills. In short, the more intelligences that are
addressed, the more effective the activity.
As an example, I recommend a poster-based activity with proverbs and
sayings, which I created to help teachers implement multisensory approach in the
classroom and accommodate different ways of learning.
 Poster-based activity
Materials: a list of proverbs and sayings, pictures that illustrate them,
markers, poster paper, coloured paper, plasticine, textile, seeds, grains, coloured
pencils, glue, realia.
Prepare a list of proverbs and sayings on different or one topic and pictures
that illustrate them (there are different online resources on illustrated proverbs and
sayings you can choose). Divide the class in groups. Ask groups to choose one of
them. Have them follow the given steps:
1. Choose a proverb or a saying from those given. Use your favourite
colour (s) to write it as a headline to your poster.
2. Find its equivalent in your native or other foreign language (s).
3. Explain its meaning.
4. Choose a key word of this proverb or saying and decorate it using
different materials (coloured paper, plasticine, textile, seeds, grains etc.)
5. Draw the proverb.
6. Match the proverb to a suitable picture that illustrates it and compare
with yours.
7. Choose a realia connected with this proverb and act it out/use role-play.
8. Write a small story by using the proverb in it.
9. Check the story for mistakes. Use colours and letters to underline them.
10. Create a rhyme pattern/ a short poem/ melody with your proverb and
tell/ sing it.
Post-activity discussion/ reflection:
 What senses do you engage through this activity?
 Have we accommodated all 12 ways of learning?
 What would you change/ add?
I would like to mention that teachers can skip some steps to avoid
overwhelming students or group these steps differently in order to use them during
another lesson or even another similar activity, thus, enabling gradually different
groups of senses or ways of learning foreign languages as well as increasing and
sustaining learners’ motivation during FL instruction.
As can be seen, this interactive activity stimulates senses, assists students
in accommodating their appropriate learning styles, and helps teachers and students
develop 21st century skills. As a result, it motivates students and benefits FL
learning.
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Conclusion
On this basis, we conclude that, multisensory teaching conveys information
through things like touch and movement (also called tactile and kinaesthetic
elements), as well as sight and hearing or smelling and tasting. The more senses
stimulated the more we remember, retain information more effectively and learn
better. Multisensory approach of teaching enables learners to use their personal
areas of strength, sometimes called a learning style, to help them learn, acquire
useful knowledge and develop the necessary skills.
Implementing the multisensory approach to teaching foreign languages is
not difficult at all. On the contrary, it is beneficial to our learners and our society,
as a result. What is important is to be aware of the sensory modes, to plan to
integrate them gradually every day and provide students with an ongoing,
consistent review of learned skills in order to increase learner awareness toward
their individual learning goals.

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