General Learning Style (ENFJ)

Students with this learning style learn best by reading, exchanging ideas and role play.

To them, learning is a way of expanding their horizons and a path towards growth and development, and this acts as a strong motivation. They prefer to learn in a structured manner, and a friendly, co-operative atmosphere in which exploration and discovery are encouraged is a prerequisite of their success. They enjoy playing with ideas, experimenting with possibilities and thinking around their subject, but need to have a clear purpose for doing so.

They enjoy having access to a wide variety of information and bring together disparate ideas to create new models and concepts to support their fundamental beliefs.

They learn better with others than on their own, and seek approval from their peers and teachers. For them to become fully involved, their imagination needs to be stimulated, as a result of which they benefit from reading, multi-sensory presentations, inspiring lectures, workshops, group discussions, role playing exercises and games. Exercises, routine, detailed tasks and analysis de-motivate them.

As learners, they:

• are stimulated by ideas and quick to grasp possibilities
• need to know why they are learning something
• are motivated to learn in order to further their own and other people's development
• benefit from allowing their creativity and inspiration free reign
• are insightful, especially concerning people
• may need to develop discrimination, criticism and objectivity
• may need to think about how they can use what they have learnt
• enjoy teamwork and group activities

They learn best when:

• presented with challenges or being set long-term goals
• emotionally engaged by a subject, or can relate it to their personal interests and values
• given positions of leadership or visibility, for example giving presentations, organising team members etc.
• there are plenty of opportunities for co-operative interaction, dialogue and group discussion
• encouraged to link what they are learning to their personal goals and ambitions
• there are a wide range of activities to participate in
• what they learn can be shown to benefit people's lives
• ideas are presented imaginatively or in an inspiring manner, for example using role-play, dramatisation or multi-sensory presentations
• their teacher sets a good example or is respected for his/her leadership abilities

They are challenged when:

• the learning is essentially passive, i.e. reading, observing others, listening to how something 'should' be done, taking notes
• the focus is on analysis, detail or facts and figures
• having to collate large amounts of data
• required to work alone, for example reading, writing or reflecting
• presented with too many choices or possibilities
• accuracy, precision, thoroughness and adherence to rules are valued above enthusiasm, creativity and initiative

College Learning Styles

Students with this learning style arouse support and enthusiasm for new projects. They express themselves well, especially in front of a group. They radiate concern for others and will work hard in their behalf. Their actions are usually guided by an idealistic vision that they believe is possible for people.

Choosing a Major Subject

• Say an ideal career is one that lets them use their special abilities
• Tend to decide early on a major and stick with it
• Tend to choose people-oriented majors that require co-operation, such as teaching, ministry, counselling, or selling

Learning Preferences

• Report that the most important goal of education is to learn how to get along with different kinds of people
• Interested in literature and tolerant of theory
• Do their best thinking aloud, bouncing ideas off others
• Achieve through perseverance and hard-work
• Want learning to pertain to human values and growth

Reading, Writing, Studying

• Need harmony to study or to achieve potential
• Prefer to study with others and often organise study groups
• Prefer to read about human interest rather than technical subjects
• Would rather talk than write, and often dictate their first drafts
• Need to revise final draft to make it more logical and sequential
• Need to revise final draft to remove too many references to personal convictions

Playing

• Often involved in campus activities helping others or providing some service, often as a leader
• Initiate many get-togethers in the halls of residence but first ask what others want to do
• Say they have no trouble dating once a week or more
• Throw themselves into work but enjoy it if they are helping others

Possible Causes of Stress

• May try to take care of others more than themselves
• May over-idealise others
• May be oversensitive to indifference and personalise it
• Their need to socialise may interfere with work
• May try to live by others' "shoulds"

Dealing With Stress

• Like going to movies with friends to relieve tension
• Naturally rely on friends for support
• Naturally give their personal best to any task
• Learn to identify and take care of own needs
• Must make time for studies in busy social schedule