The weekly column

Article 5, March 2000

HOW TO CATER FOR INTRAPERSONAL INTELLIGENCE

By Michael Berman

Multiple Intelligences Theory accounts for why certain learners object to pairwork despite the fact that it clearly increases STT in class – Student Talking Time. Gardner defines Intrapersonal intelligence as the capacity to understand oneself – including one’s own desires, fears, and capacities – and to use such information effectively in regulating one’s own life. Learners with high Intrapersonal Intelligence prefer having an opportunity to look within first before discussing their thoughts with others and failure to cater for this fact in class can only lead to resentment. The following activity is designed with this aim in mind as it gives the learners time to work independently before group work takes place:

20 WAYS TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE:

Have a look at this list and decide which suggestions you would be willing to take up. Then add five suggestions of your own. Now get into groups to share your ideas:

 1. Wear bright clothes once a week. It will cheer everyone up.

2. Telephone or write to someone you haven’t seen for five years.

3. Take a plant into your office or take a packet of biscuits and buy everyone a cup of tea.

4. Turn off your TV and do something less boring instead.

5. Keep a bowl of fruit on your desk at work.

6. Pray. Not necessarily to God, just say a short prayer offering thanks at the end of each day.

7. Risk ridicule – smile at strangers, talk to shop assistants.

8. If you see someone lost, show them the way.

9. Don’t push in crowds.

10. Stop yourself saying "I".

11. Take action on things you think are wrong or offensive.

12. If you have any clothes you haven’t worn for a year, give them away – to friends, relatives or charity shops.

13. Plant a tree. Put one in your garden or a local communal space.

14. Listen to children as you listen to adults – give them as many rights as you give yourself.

15. Take responsibility for your problems and don’t blame others for the situations you find yourself in.

16. …………………………………………………………………………

17. ……....…………………………………………………………………

18. …………………………………………………………………………

19. …………………………………………………………………………

20. ……...…………………………………………………………………

Intrapersonal intelligence indicates the ability to look within for causes and to find solutions to problems and is perhaps the most neglected Intelligence type for teaching purposes. Circle-time provides an ideal way of catering for it in class – a group working together in a safe situation where there are agreed rules, working on personal contributions, affirmations, active and reflective listening and celebrations. Essay titles such as Mistakes I Won’t Repeat, My Life in the Future, How I’d be different if I’d grown up in a different culture, How a Martian might explain me etc can also help to facilitate looking within. Another technique that can prove to be effective is pole-bridging - having students describe aloud what they are doing as they do it. Encourage them to reflect on what has been done and to speculate on what is to come.

Creative writing, especially poetry, involves looking within and appeals to the intrapersonal intelligence type. The following poem by Emily Dickinson can be used for work on conditionals. The students can be invited to write their own version of the poem, starting with the words "If I can …" and ending with " … I shall not live in vain."

Earl Stevick makes the point that something learnt from an experience that includes deeper and wider purposes will be more readily and more fully available for future performance than an item from an experience that has included only shallower, smaller-scale purposes. The following activity that springs from a poem can be used to reinforce the teaching point that the zero article is employed when talking about a subject in general. Moreover, it is being dealt with indirectly – the conscious attention of the learner is being deflected from the goal – another reason why the information is more likely to be retained in the long term memory:

Now write a parallel poem, using the same format, on the subject of Money or Work:

The activity can be adapted to fit into a topic-based approach. Other subjects to write parallel poems about could include Love, Food, Sleep, Sunshine and Rain.

Two activities are presented below which can be used to facilitate creative writing. They are not only non-threatening but also good fun and can provide a lead-in to more ambitious projects:

For each letter of the alphabet, write a word that starts with that letter. Then write at least three sentences that use words from your list in sequence. Use as many of the words in combinations as you can, then compare results with the person sitting next to you.

Write four sentences following the format below:

Switch the parts around so each WHO has a new WHAT and WHERE, then compare results with the person sitting next to you.

All materials © Michael Berman, 2000. To learn more about Michael please click here.