How can Kinetic Reading help with language learning skills?
As we know, we all learn in different ways - do you know many children, or indeed adults, who can sit still through an entire class and just absorb information in one way? Kinetic Reading Techniques incorporate physical approaches to learning through movement, dance and text, utilising learning methods that help to engage learners through a variety of modes including, for example:
Visual aids
Auditory and verbal tasks
Text based exercises
Kinaesthetic awareness
Dance patterning
Syllabic scoring through gesture and percussion
#1 Exercise...
“ Many studies have suggested that the parts of the brain that control thinking and memory (the prefrontal cortex and medial temporal cortex) have greater volume in people who exercise versus people who don’t” Godman, Heidi (2018).
Kinetic Reading grew from a seed of research in dance and movement studies. Originally devised for dance undergraduates as a way of exploring choreography through text-based approaches, the technique offers ample opportunity to get the blood pumping and body shaking, whilst encouraging participants to move creatively in relation to the language and text resources at play.
#2 Repetition...
Through simultaneous physical and verbal repetition of gestures and text Kinetic Reading appears to enhance learners' ability to learn text and retain movement phrases. Whilst studies are ongoing, participants in workshops have all commented on the speed with which excerpts of text have been learned.
#3 Fun Fun Fun...
“ Brain research tells us that when the fun stops, learning often stops too.” Ellis, Julie (2007)
Kinetic Reading activities and resources have been designed to engage both child and adult learners of all ages through fun, yet challenging, activities that allow them to enjoy learning through group engagement, play and competitive creative tasks.
#4 Creativity...
Albert Einstein famously described creativity as 'intelligence having fun' and Kinetic Reading clearly allows for exploration of this theory. Whilst the KR techniques allow for structured and methodical approaches to language and text-based learning, the application of techniques allows the freedom for variation, creative interpretation and innovation. Group-based tasks also offer learners the opportunity to apply techniques depending on their existing level of language and movement skills - thus allowing each participant to learn in their own way.
#5 Social Interaction...
“ People in my country, don’t know [how to freely express] emotion so [Kinetic Reading offers a] good way to learn language and interact with other languages.” Workshop Participant from Vietnam, (2019)
The benefits of social interaction in learning contexts are ample - whilst Kinetic Reading exercises can be utilised independently as learning and creative tools - group work and collaboration lie at the heart of the technique. This enables participants to interact whilst exploring physical tasks, multi-lingual engagement and conversation through verbal and kinaesthetic approaches.