Opportunities provided in language textbooks to develop learners\' multiple intelligences

Abstract

This article is a report on a study that investigated the opportunities provided in
language textbooks to develop learners\' full potential. Howard Gardner\'s theory of
multiple intelligences, which is used as a theoretical framework, claims that learners
have different combinations of intelligences and that the various intelligences can be
developed. Thus learners are developed in their totality as knowledgeable, skilful and
balanced adults. By giving them a variety of activities which accommodate the different
intelligences, learners have the opportunity to use their most strongly developed
intelligences in the language classroom. At the same time, learners are given the
opportunity to expand their less developed intelligences. In this study, eight selected
Afrikaans and English language textbooks were analysed to determine how the different
intelligences are covered. The study brings to light that only some intelligences receive
attention in the analysed language textbooks, while other intelligences get little or
no attention.

Journal for Language Teaching vol Vol. 41 (2) 2007: pp. 16-33