Learning modalities was proposed in 1979 by Walter Burke Barbe and colleagues and it is based
on perception, sensation and memory where three learning styles are formed: visual, auditory and
kinaesthetic (i.e. recently known as VAK theory) as cited by Alduais, A. (2018). According to the VAK
theory, we assume that anything realised through eyes, then this would go with the visual learning style
and anything realised through listening, this would go with the auditory learning style, and finally
anything that is realised through physical acts would go for the kinaesthetic learning style. This would
match visual aids, audio aids and action aids, respectively. These various learning activities will create a
learning atmosphere that is conducive, fun, and in accordance with the needs and abilities of students
(Chen et al., 2020). Mind a, S. & Perdana, P. (2023) highlighted that appropriate learning activities with
the students’ preferred learning behavior will surely affect the quality of students’ understanding.
Furthermore, each person has his or her own best way to learn, governing how they prefer to receive
and process the knowledge. Some learners may rely on visual image or presentation (visual), others
prefer listening to the music while learning or learning better through their hearing (auditory), and
others may respond better to hands-on activities (kinesthetic) (Mgfirah, T., 2018).
Visual learning style refers to a preference for learning through vision and visual learners rely on their
sight to take the information. They typically like to be able to read the textbook, journal, article, or
newspaper on their own to increase their understanding. Auditory learners tend to like to read plays and
dialogues, but they will have trouble reading silently and with speed when not allowed to vocalize. For
students who have auditory style, they tend to always rely on the success of learning through hearing.
Kinesthetic learners tend to like to read books and action-oriented books, but they will have trouble
sitting still or listening for more than four minutes. Student who has kinesthetic style will learn through
movements as a way to get information and transfer it into brain (Rachma, N. et al., 2015).
REFERENCE
Alduais, A. M. S. (2018). Teaching and learning vocabulary: Insights from learning styles and learning
theories. Journal of Child & Adolescent Behavior, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.4172/2375-4494.1000370
Chen, H., Yin, C., Li, R., Rong, W., Xiong, Z., & David, B. (2020). Enhanced learning resource
recommendation based on online learning style model. Tsinghua Science and Technology.
https://doi.org/10.26599/TST.2019.9010014
Minda, S., & Perdana, P. R. (2023). Learning styles and vocabulary achievement. Lingua: Jurnal Bahasa
dan Sastra, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.34005/lingua.v19i1.2773
Magfirah, T. (2018). Students’ reading and listening comprehension based on their learning styles.
International Journal of Education, 10(2), 107–113. https://doi.org/10.17509/ije.v10i2
Rachma, N. S., Sutarsyah, C., & Yufrizal, H. (2015). The effect of learning style on students’
reading comprehension achievement.
https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/96801864/5607-libre.pdf
