The Aboriginal Method of Learning

When I lived on country, in a remote Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory, my mother who is no longer among us, talked about the importance of the Aboriginal method of learning. It wasn’t until years later that it all made sense to me.

Mum talked about Look, Listen and Learn. She explained it to me in detail time and time again. Here’s how it works –

• Look – is watching what is to be learnt. This could be a dance, making something or learning a dreaming or anything else.
• Listen – is listening to the story about what is being taught.
• Learn – is the doing or a role play or following along.
• How it is used – for example if my grandfather wants to show me how to make a boomerang, I sit near him and watch what he is doing, I listen to the story of what he is doing and then he will hand me what I need to do what he is doing. Alternatively If I need to learn a dance. I look at the dance being performed by my brothers or cousins or who ever, I listen to the story of what’s being done and then I get up and join in.

This method combines the auditory, the visual and the kinesthetic, into a single method. In other words, some people say they are visual learners. Some say they like to learn through reading and some say they prefer to learn by doing. Look, Listen and Learn combines all three.

What are the benefits – Look, Listen and Learn reduces shame. Its culturally sensitive, safe and secure. It incorporates mentoring and coaching. It’s strength based and learner focussed. It’s cost effective. Each aspect can be adjusted to suit the learner and it validates and rewards the achievement through group recognition and praise. There are many more benefits.

How can Look, Listen and Learn be used in health – I was once given the task of tackling poor ear health in a remote Aboriginal community. English was not always a first language and traditional lifestyle was dominant. I gained approval from management to buy a video otoscope that could be connected to a TV. I then spoke to the community clinic staff and teachers then headed out to the community. In a classroom at the local school we attached the video otoscope to a TV and asked the students if they wanted to sit on a chair and have their ears examined in front of the other students. This was the Look. As clinic staff were examining ears, we were talking about ears and healthy ears. That was the Listen. Staff then demonstrated how to clean ears and then we got the students to follow along. That was the Learn. We also talked about cleaning bedding, pillows etc. This example was a group setting and shows how Look, Listen and Learn can easily be modified to suit the situation. Ear health in that community improved dramatically and within a relatively short time.

How can you use Look, Listen and Learn?

If you want to learn more just contact me. I can speak at conferences, I can provide tailored training and I am available for consulting.