The document discusses the challenges that students with dyslexia face when learning a foreign language in the classroom. It provides definitions of dyslexia and explains how it can impact memory, word comprehension, sequencing, and other skills important for language learning. The document also discusses teachers' perceptions of challenges like time pressures when accommodating these students. Finally, it provides numerous examples of educational technologies and strategies that teachers can use to help support students with dyslexia in the foreign language classroom, such as audio resources, videos, games, and adaptive software.
3. What is Dyslexia?
A very simple definition would be that dyslexia is a specific
learning difficulty which makes it hard for some people to learn
to read, write and spell correctly.
Dyslexia affects:
•Memory
•Comprehension of words
•Sequencing (putting things in order)
•Speed of information processing
•Visual comprehension
•Auditory perception (the sounds of words)
•Writing
•Spelling
•Grammar
Siobhán Daly
4. Dyslexia and MFL
Students with dyslexia may
experience problems with a new
language, since second language
learning builds on native language
learning (Birch, 2007; Cummins,
1984).
Variations in language and in structure
can challenge the student as pre-
learnt rules are not always
transferable to the new language.
Siobhán Daly
5. (Wadlington & Wadlington, 2005)
“Dyslexia should not be a condition
that disables a learner, nor should it
be a condition that disables a teacher
in the classroom”
Siobhán Daly
7. Challenges for MFL Teachers
“time for planning”, “time to prepare
resources” and “time pressure of
creating individual learning resources.”
“Their voice should be sought, they
should be asked about methods that
help them.”
Siobhán Daly
8. Dyslexia and Motivation
Students with dyslexia risk losing their
motivation to learn foreign languages
(Kormos & Kontra, 2008a), and
develop symptoms of foreign
language anxiety (Sparks &
Ganschow, 1991).
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9. Dyslexia and MFL
The Dyslexia Association in Ireland
(2014) suggests that dyslexia affects
one in ten people, so it is likely that all
MFL teachers will have such learners
in their classes.
All Junior Cycle students will study a
foreign language by 2021 (Minister for
Education and Skills, Richard Bruton
TD, 19/4/2017).
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10. MFL and Dyslexia
French: Silent endings, irregular
verbs, many different sounds on
words
German: Similar roots as English
although many long words pose
problems
Spanish: Similar sounds as English
language, less irregular verbsSiobhán Daly
11. Exemptions
Wheelden (2001, page 2) “is an easy
solution that ignores the problem and
may deprive the student of important
educational experiences”.
Since MFL is not a core subject,
parents of students with dyslexia are
often reluctant to support the
acquisition of a new language, opting
instead to concentrate on English and
Maths (McKeown, 2004),
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12. Dyslexia and MFL-
Exemptions
Almost 4,000 students were exempt
from Gaeilge in the Leaving Cert
2015, but 60% of these students sat
another language exam
It has been suggested that teachers
describe language classes as “the
most disruptive subject on the
curriculum” (Macaro, 2008, page 105).
Siobhán Daly
13. Dyslexia and MFL Strategies
Exaggerating word separation
Using visual handouts and resources
Audio resources/ reading aloud
Flashcards
Rhyme, games, songs
Multisensory approach to vocabulary
Visual resources to show sequencing
of grammar
Siobhán Daly
14. Audioboom
The app “Audioboom” is a free app that
enables learners to record sentences in
the classroom.
The student speaks and records their
sentence.
The teacher then corrects it (this can
also be recorded).
This can be emailed to students.
Useful for: Oral Work, Sentence
Formation
Siobhán Daly
15. WriteReader (Free)
This is an online book creator
This allows audio recording
Partnered with Sesame Street to
enable learners to create stories
based on this.
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16. WriteReader
The keyboard can also be set to
pronounce either the name of the
letter or sound of the letter or nothing
when pressing the keys.
Useful for: Spelling, Vocabulary,
Sentence Formation, Grammar
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17. WriteReader
Lego and Sesame Street images can
also be used to encourage writing
ideas.
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18. Storyboard That €9
Monthly
Storyboard is a sequence of pictures
typically with some directions and
dialogue.
It represents the shots planned for a
film/ TV programme.
Useful for: Reinforcing grammar and
vocabulary.
Siobhán Daly
20. Phonétique (Free)
http://phonetique.free.fr/
This is used to aid students with
recognising MFL phonics.
Students can hear common sounds
and complete exercises afterwards to
consolidate learning.
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23. Mindmapping
Mindmaps are useful for
brainstorming.
It is a visual resource that breaks
down information.
This engages the student, thus
improving concentration.
Useful for: Written production
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25. Pronunciation Videos
(Youtube)
Learners should watch the video and
repeat the pronunciation after the
speaker.
This breaks down the challenge of
phonics for the student.
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26. Etwinning (Free)
This is a wonderful initiative that
enables MFL teachers to create a
project (for example, penpals) with
other schools in Europe.
This may be useful in
encouraging enjoyment
of the language as tasks
can be creative.
Siobhán Daly
27. Stopmotion Studio (Free)
This is a film making website that
allows students to create animated
videos.
Students create a story, create the
video and then narrate the videos.
This is useful for oral and aural work,
as well as reinforcing grammar and
vocabulary. Siobhán Daly
29. Spelling City (Free)
This makes learning spelling and
vocabulary words fun by having users
play engaging games using a word
list.
This is very useful for vocabulary
learning and spelling.
Siobhán Daly
31. Quizlet.com
Quizlet is a website that is designed to
aid vocabulary learning through
flashcards and games.
Students can also hear the audio of
the word and test their spelling of
vocabulary.
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32. Quizlet
Teachers can create their own class
sets and monitor the progress of
students.
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33. Alain Le Lait (Free)
This Youtube channel has a variety of
catchy songs and videos to aid the
learning of vocabulary topics and
verbs.
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35. OpenDyslexic
This application allows teachers to
convert Word documents into a
Dyslexia Font that will increase
readability for students.
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36. Ttsreader (Free)
TTS Reader allows students to copy
written text into the website.
The text will then be read out in the
target language.
Useful for: Sequencing, Oral Work,
Phonological Awareness
Siobhán Daly
37. LiveScribe Smartpen (Price
Varies)
Can be used to record class audio-
reduces time spent writing.
It records students written notes-
meaning that students with poor
handwriting can access their notes
typed on a computer.
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38. Mindsnacks (Free)
Mindsnacks is an app that makes
learning MFL a game.
Games are based on specific topics-
for example food and school.
Useful for: Vocabulary
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39. Memrise (Free)
Memrise is another website that aims
to teach languages through games.
This is particularly useful in aiding
students with dyslexia to overcome
memory issues.
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41. Prizmo €10.99
This app is used to scan documents
and then read them in the target
language.
This is very useful for aural and oral
work.
Available in over 40 languages
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42. Read&Write App (Free)
Users can hear French text read
aloud in a document or webpage,
write in French with the help of word
prediction, or get support for French
vocabulary with a dictionary and
picture dictionary.
Useful for: Writing, Reading, Aural
Siobhán Daly
44. Class QR App (Free)
This application allows students to
record themselves orally on a QR
code.
They can then give the QR code to
teacher.
The teacher uses their phone to scan
the QR code and can then hear the
playback. Siobhán Daly
45. Class QR App (Free)
This is useful if students are reluctant
to complete written homework.
It is obviously also useful for oral work,
as well as an assessment tool.
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46. OpenDyslexic (Free)
This is a downloadable typeface app
that uses a dyslexia- friendly font.
Class notes can be adapted to use
this.
Useful for: Reading
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47. Conclusion
One head of department stated that
we “should teach every child as if they
have dyslexia....”
Siobhán Daly