Over the years I’ve learned a little something about myself. When anybody calls me on the phone you must ask me what I’m doing at that exact moment. If I’m reading or looking at anything else I won’t really hear you until I close my eyes. My daughter calls me on a regular basis (she’s a nurse and is often driving to work) so I stay away from the computer during the time she normally calls. That way I can devote my whole being to the conversation.
There are three known ways of learning and absorbing material. In order of my preference those are Visual, Kinesthetic and Auditory. Each has its place. Each has its benefits. None are a perfect fit.
Visual
When I was five years old I received my first dictionary. It was a Webster’s. I had written a short story complete with crayon illustrations. It was “illastrated by Cheryl Mason” and my parents were all about correct spelling and grammar. I won lots of spelling bees after that, I don’t mind telling you. First prize for one of them was an Oxford Dictionary. Proud moment when I won that baby!
In the 70’s the long word every child learned to spell was “antidisestablishmentarianism” but not in our house. My father has a nursing background. He was a hospitalman in the Navy but during the Vietnam war he was attached to the Marines as a corpsman. Years later he returned to nursing as his profession. The first long word all of us were taught was “deoxyribonucleic acid.” Not as long as the other word but more appropriate.
I also write. When I was a teenager I would make up romantic stories about couples I knew. I read a lot of Harlequin romances back then. In my thirties I worked for an older, rather eccentric man. I wrote a murder mystery starring him and my coworkers. That got me an “A” in English class at the community college. A couple of years ago I wrote a children’s story based on a really weird dream I had had several years prior. Writing is definitely a visual (and kinesthetic) experience.
Kinesthetic
Learn by doing. On the job training starts early. The only way to learn piano properly is to put your fingers on the keys. The best way to do something is to DO something! We can watch videos (visual again) but unless you put practice to what you’re watching you won’t get any better at it (whatever IT may be.)
When I first learned Java I wrote a very simple script that popped up a box on the screen asking for my name. I screeched and called my (then) boyfriend to my room and said “Look! I did that!” It’s very exciting to get a result – even a silly one – if you’ve put in the effort.
Troubleshooting electronic equipment in the Navy was the same. Once I understood breakdown voltage on a diode (substitute teacher in A school) I called my parents to say “I get it now!” and then went back to work, troubleshooting, repairing, putting into service and seeing the lights come back on and hearing it make the right noises.
Auditory
This may be a tough pill to swallow but I loathe being read to. My sister is a professional voiceover actress and records short stories. I listen on Audible but I’ve never been good at processing what I’m hearing. It takes a couple of tries before I can understand the gist. (Sorry sis!) I would NOT do well in a call-center if I had to be persuasive or calming. I’m a “face-to-face” type of person. I can read emotions better that way. I have worked a help desk plenty of times but, given the opportunity, I would rather just drive to wherever the person is and help them out.
Back to what I said about “ask me what I’m doing right now”, I used to “listen” to the other person on the phone while reading whatever was in front of me – be it an article about getting rid of termites or a cereal box on the table. That’s when I figured out I couldn’t really hear you if I had anything with words on it in front of me. If you ask me what I’m doing at the moment we’re on the phone I now close my eyes. Not if I’m driving, of course. I would have my phone on speaker and be hands-free so it’s definitely safe to talk to me then. You’ll have my undivided attention.
If you’re reading something to me, it’s likely I won’t process it too well. You’ll definitely have to repeat yourself. But if I’m engaged (my sister’s short stories, tales of my grandbabies, etc.) I will be 100% focused. Otherwise, just write to me. Or talk to me on Zoom or Skype or whatever. Or even comment below. I’ll read those.