Multiple Intelligences Theory Applied To Foreign Language Instruction In Primary Schools

People have studied the meaning of intelligence for many years. But Howard Gardner introduced the theory of multiple intelligences including eight aspects in 1983, which changed the traditional view of intelligence a lot. In recent years, a number of educators have discovered that Gardner's theory is very useful to the English language teaching profession. It helps us understand the diversity we observe in our students and provide a framework for addressing these differences in our teaching. Hence, the primary aim in this thesis is to give a general introduction and interpretation of the Multiple Intelligences Theory in the first place, and in the second, in light of the second language acquisition research, to apply this theory to the foreign language instruction in primary schools.By conducting an empirical research into the application of MI theory to the primary EFL class, in which two classes in a primary school were chosen as samples, the author found that Multiple Intelligences Theory contributed significantly to language learning in at least three aspects: (1) It improved the pupils' memory in English class. (2) It motivated the pupils to learn English and boosted their confidence. (3) It enhanced the pupils' ability of solving problem and creativity.Meanwhile, the author believed the theory gives educators a multitude of approaches with which to reach a student, in addition to giving students a number of ways in which they might possibly best learn with the given curriculum material.