短期大学部では、英語教育に力を入れているのはもちろんですが、学生一人一人が自分の長所を見つけ、さらに伸ばすことができるよう多重知能理論というものも活用しています。知能というと知能テスト (IQ) を思い浮かべる人が多いかと思います。紙と鉛筆のテストで測れる知能以外にももっと多くの種類があるだろうということで、多重知能理論（Theory of Multiple Intelligences = MI理論）が、アメリカの心理学者であるハワード・アール・ガードナー (Howard Earl Gardner) によって1983年に提唱されました。MI理論では人間が持っている知能を以下の8つに分けて考えます。
・空間的知能
・身体運動的知能
・音楽的知能
・言語的知能
・論理数学的知能
・対人的知能
・内省的知能
・博物的知能
今回はそれぞれの知能がどういうもので、どのように開発すればよいのかブライセチ先生に分かりやすく解説してもらいましょう。
[空間的知能]
Spatial Intelligence is the ability to be “picture smart”. For example, to be able to take good photos, you need to be able to judge space well. That is, you need to be able to judge the ideal distance from what you are photographing to take a good photo. You also need to think about the best angle to take the photo, how to center your camera and think about the light and the background, and so on. With this intelligence, we can create photo blogs, newsletters, newspapers or magazines with your photos. We can also create photo books with captions, poems, or inspirational phrases. If you prefer to speak more, we can do a photo presentation or record a photo show in a video such as YouTube. If you have a talent for drawing, we can do most of the activities I talked about with drawings instead of photos. We can also create a storybook for children using your drawings.
[身体運動的知能]
Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence (body smart) is the ability to use your body to create. At school we can play sports, dance, go hiking and so on. Of course, these activities can be done together with other intelligences such as musical intelligence, linguistic intelligence by using English and nature intelligence while hiking.
[音楽的知能]
Musical intelligence (music smart) is the ability to produce, remember, and make meaning of different patterns of sound. Musical intelligence can be developed through using music in the classroom in the form of listening to music and/or songs, playing musical instruments, singing, and performing musical plays. This intelligence can be combined with English (linguistic intelligence). For example, when learning English through music, students can study the lyrics of songs for a variety of purposes such as to learn pronunciation, word stress, rhythm, vocabulary, grammar, and various social and global issues.
[言語的知能]
Linguistic intelligence (word smart) is the ability to analyze information and create using spoken and written language such as conversation, speeches, and essays. To develop linguistic intelligence, we can focus mainly on reading, writing, speaking and listening with some extra emphasis on pronunciation, vocabulary, written and spoken grammar, test taking, language and culture, and so on. A few of the activities we can do together include academic reading, reading for pleasure (extensive reading), literature appreciation, process writing, academic writing, writing for pleasure, creative writing (including essays and poetry), journalistic writing/journalism, extensive listening, presentation/ public speaking, discussion, debate, extensive speaking, fluency practice (four skills) and so many other language-based activities.
[論理数学的知能]
Logical-mathematical (logic smart). As we now live in what is sometimes called the “information age”, analyzing data and numbers is more important than ever. People need to know what the data and numbers they read or see mean and be able to apply that knowledge to their everyday lives, study and work. When making presentations, students can learn how to present and explain data clearly so that viewers and listeners can understand it easily.
[対人的知能]
Interpersonal intelligence (people smart) is the ability to recognize and understand other people’s moods, desires, motivations, and intentions. The ability to communicate is more than just linguistic skill. A person needs to be able to connect with others in meaningful ways and that is where interpersonal intelligence comes in. As a speaker of English as a foreign language, interpersonal intelligence allows a student to communicate naturally in several types of social settings. One such social setting, or social situation, involves the ability to make “small talk”. Small talk could be defined casual verbal communication and can include topics such as the weather, sports, news and the like. Small talk allows people to make the meaning social connections in life and meaningful relations varying from lifelong friendship to business partners or even marriage partners. Some formal settings in which social intelligence and interpersonal intelligence is valuable include job interviews, various types of speeches in various social settings, and meetings with customers or clients, and so on. A person with a higher level of interpersonal intelligence might be called "a people person" or "the life of the party". In the classroom, interpersonal intelligence can be practiced and developed through pair work or group work with various partners using a variety of activities and conversation or discussion topics.
[内省的知能]
Intrapersonal intelligence (self smart) is the ability to recognize and understand your own moods, desires, motivations, and intentions. Intrapersonal intelligence is what can also be called Emotional Intelligence (or EQ). EQ is important to develop because it allows people to control themselves, and therefore be able to function well in society and with other people. Knowing yourself, or being self-aware, and being able to find your purpose in life and improve yourself is vital not only for success in life, but, more importantly, find true happiness. There are several ways students can do this. They can read books or watch videos on the subject of intrapersonal intelligence. They can meditate, pray or do yoga. They can spend time in nature. They can also get involved in various volunteer activities serving others.
[博物的知能]
Naturalistic intelligence (nature smart) is the ability to identify and distinguish among different types of plants, animals, and weather formations that are found in the natural world. Nature includes all living things, for example, birds, fish, plants, trees and the ecosystems they live in like oceans, rivers, and the mountains. Activities to develop naturalistic intelligence can include nature walks, hikes in natural settings, camping in nature, planting trees, maintaining gardens, wildlife conservation volunteering, and so on.
