Our brains process input from a variety of sources. We get information from two main sensory organs, our eyes and ears, which provide what we see and what we hear, and often the combination of both at once. Having two different inputs at the same time can actually improve your ability to learn and remember, which is why children are often taught new words by looking at them written on a chalkboard while the teacher reads each word out loud, pointing to them in turn. That’s also why we encourage you to say new words out loud to yourself when you’re learning, so that you’ll reinforce the word in your memory, along with its pronunciation, spelling, and definition. If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know that we also recommend writing the word out several times. This also helps you get familiar with the word’s spelling, and writing sample sentences lets you practice using the word in context. But there’s another reason we recommend doing this, and it’s because of the importance of adding yet another source of input to your brain, by giving you a tactile way to experience the word.

The adjective tactile (TAK-tile) means “related to the sense of touch” or “perceived through the sense of touch.” You might enjoy the tactile sensation you get when petting a cat’s soft fur, for example. Tactile sensations are transmitted through our largest sensory organ, the skin. When you write out a word, the sensation of holding a pen or pencil and the feeling of the way your hand moves to shape each of the letters are sent via your nervous system to your brain, where that information is added to what your eyes see as you trace the letters and – if you’re also saying the word out loud – what your ears are hearing.

The process of “learning through doing” is often referred to as tactile learning or kinesthetic learning. Some people seem to learn more quickly if they use this method as much as possible, and anyone who adds this technique to the process will both speed up learning and increase memory retention. If you’re not sure whether you benefit most from a tactile learning method, or if you’re more of a visual or auditory learner, try adding active handwriting to your vocabulary study program, and see if it makes a difference. We’re sure you’ll find it adds just the right touch.