FIVE LEARNING STYLES

There are five basic learning styles that affect how information if processed by individuals based on their level of literacy. This is crucial in making certain the Gospel is "heard" by those to whom we desire to communicate God's truth.

Illiterate:

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  • Cannot read or write
  • Has never "seen" a word
  • Words have no exact meaning
  • Words are bits of sound pictures, not objects
  • Oral communicator
  • The story is their dominant communication style.

 

FUNCTIONAL ILLITERATE:

  • Began to read, dropped out of school by 8th grade, stopped reading and writing
  • Two years later may read and write simple materials but no longer receive, recall, concepts, precepts, or principles, even if they did originally
  • Values or not transmitted through literate means
  • They are considered to be literate by every country
  • The story is their dominant communication style - they are Oral Communicators

SEMI-LITERATE:

  • Progressed to 10th grade, usually a high school graduate
  • Function in gray transition zone between orality and literacy
  • May only use marginal skills in one context (work for instance)
  • Considered to be literate by every country and every school system
  • Prefers oral to literate communicatioin
  • Learns best and most comfortably through oral presentation style

Literate (or Functional Literate):

  • Continued to use reading and writing beyond 10th grade
  • Can summarize what they read or heard and list important points
  • Does not depend on number of years of schooling
  • Comfortable with information presented in literate format
  • Learns and handles concepts, precepts, and principles presented in this manner
  • Still retains and appreciationi for oral communication and responds to it  with understanding

HIGHLY LITERATE:

  • Spends much time daily developing and using reading and writing skills
  • Has usually attended college
  • Are often professionals in liberal arts fields
  • Has surrenered oral communication skills
  • THOROUGHLY WORD-CULTURE PEOPLE, LITERATE COMMUNICATOR
  • Still retains appreciation for oral communication and responds to it with understanding