Multiple-inteligences based activities to promote vocabulary learning in students of 3rd level at Abraham Lincoln Center

Abstract

This study describes Multiple Intelligences theory and its impact on vocabulary acquisition. Howard Gardner, psychologist and professor at Harvard University, believes that there are multiple and different ways of learning. Through this belief, he has created the Multiple Intelligences (MI) Theory, which states that there are eight different ways of learning (Gardner 5). This project looks at this theory as the possible solution for one of the biggest problems in education in Ecuador: The poor level of English in young learners due to lack of vocabulary. Therefore, this study considers MI theory as an effective tool for learning vocabulary, which is the foundation of any language. As this work pretends to have an impact on students´ vocabulary learning and acquisition, this research carries on a case study which compares results between a “traditional” way of teaching vocabulary to young learners, Control group, and a Treatment one by using MI activities. This impact is going to be measured by the application of several vocabulary written tests.