In 1993, a man called Gardner published a theory called "multiple intelligence theory".  He explained that the child as a thinker is a multi-faceted person.  This means that there are many different parts to intelligence.  He referred to different aspects of their intelligence and said that all these different intelligences are important. For example, emotional intelligence, (how we relate to other people and how we understand them)  is more important than  mathematical intelligence for certain professions.  This theory is sometimes quite a shock to teachers who have always thought that only maths and language skills were indicative of intelligence. It should be noted that everyone possesses different degrees of each of these intelligences.

Summary of intelligences

Everyone possesses the ability to use language. Some learners struggle to master even their own mother tongue when trying to communicate. Others master not only their mother tongue, but also the language of other people, to an extraordinary extent. Even deaf people will develop their own unique language when they are not offered an alternative. A person's ability to construct and comprehend language may vary, but everyone has that basic ability.

When Yehudi Menuhin was three he heard a symphony performed for the first time. He begged for and received a violin and by the time he was ten, he was performing internationally. Many children with learning or hearing problems have achieved very well in the musical field. Everyone has a unique musical ability, but some people express themselves most easily through music.

Each person possesses a certain control of his or her movements, balance, agility and grace. Outstanding athletes have a natural sense of how their body should act and react in demanding physical situations. Some people may be able to express themselves better in movement than in other ways. They have more kinesthetic  intelligence.

This is one of the traditional intelligences that every one acknowledges. It represents our ability to solve logical problems and equations. It often does not require any ability to express things verbally. Often, people who have high logical-mathematical abilities are able to process logical questions quickly. Sometimes they do not have exceptional language skills.

This is most commonly demonstrated when we recognise shapes and images in three dimensions. Our ability to read maps, follow directions, understand diagrams and pictures falls into this category.

People are social beings and will develop more readily when they are in the company of others. This ability to interact sensitively with others, understand them, motivate them and manage  them is a particular form of intelligence that is important to develop in learners.

This is similar to interpersonal intelligence, but refers to our ability to understand our "self." It allows us to understand feelings, and what makes us feel that way. It helps us understand our strengths and weaknesses, develop appropriate behaviours and responses.

People are still adding to Gardner's list. Naturalist intelligence is the most recent addition.  It refers to a person's ability to identify and classify patterns in nature.