Recent neuroscience research reveals the benefits of handwriting for both children & adults, in terms of literacy & memory.
Brain imaging studies by Karin James & Virginia Berninger show that teaching handwriting positively impacts letter learning, word reading, spelling, & composing. Remarkably, the ability to write the alphabet quickly & legibly from memory predicts spelling & composing skills up to grade six!
For preschoolers & early elementary students, learning to grip a pencil & write their name kickstarts neural circuitry crucial for developing reading & spelling skills. It also builds essential foundational literacy knowledge.
Key findings from the original research:
1. Four-year-olds who learned letters through printing showed activation in the “reading network” of the brain, while those who learned through “see & say” methods did not.
2. Only handwriting (not typing or tracing) activated the letter recognition/reading network in children’s brains.
3. Handwriting creates functional connections between visual & motor brain regions crucial for literacy development.
4. Learning variable instances of letters through handwriting enhances categorization & understanding of letter forms.
5. Self-generated letter production is crucial for creating the perceptual-motor network underlying reading.
Interestingly, handwriting benefits extend beyond childhood. For adults, writing by hand slows us down, forcing deeper processing of information. This can lead to better retention & understanding of material.
The complexity of handwriting engages multiple brain systems simultaneously, enhancing cognitive development. This multifaceted engagement isn’t replicated when typing on a keyboard.
A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that college students who took handwritten notes outperformed those who used laptops in both conceptual & factual learning (Mueller & Oppenheimer, 2014). Interestingly though- a 2020 study which sought to replicate the results suggests the benefits of longhand note-taking over laptop note-taking for learning and retention may be less clear or robust than the original study indicated.
That’s science for you- but I’m gonna go out on a mini-limb here & declare that handwriting tends to slow people down, which allows for more time to process information as it’s received.
While the studies don’t directly address foreign language learning, it’s not much of a stretch to assume that many of the principles & supposed benefits could equally apply to second language acquisition.
Teacher Takeaways?
1. For VYLs & younger YLs: actively teach letter formation.
2. Actively encourage & give students time to take handwritten notes during lessons or while reading.
3. Consider specifying that some assignments ‘must’ be handwritten [creative writing or personal reflection tasks perhaps].
Do you still prioritize handwriting in your language classroom?
How do you balance it with digital literacy skills?
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