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delphian-domine · Joined: 11 Mar 2011 Posts: 674

Can anyone point me in the direction of any resources about learners with dyslexia and learning foreign languages? I've got a meeting next week about one particular learner who has just been diagnosed - but I know really next to nothing about the subject.

NilSatis82 · Joined: 03 May 2009 Posts: 110

delphian-domine · Joined: 11 Mar 2011 Posts: 674

Wow, thank you! It's really appreciated Smile

I'm thinking about opening a specialist MFL dyslexia class in my school (extra-curricular), but despite several colleagues being specialists in dyslexia, not one of them has any experience with it in relation to learning foreign languages. One of them is fortunately fluent in English, so... we'll see.

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

I taught a dyslexic agnostic insomniac a while back. She used to show up for the lessons absolutely exhausted. She had had been up all night the night before wondering if there was a dog.

Sorry, everyone. I have to do a couple of those every year to stay sane.

stonethecrow · Joined: 04 Jun 2013 Posts: 43

delphian-domine · Joined: 11 Mar 2011 Posts: 674

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Dyslexia, like ADHD, is an invention of mad psychologists.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 12:43 pm Post subject:

Too right. An invention to excuse teachers and educators from taking responsibility for their failures...

delphian-domine · Joined: 11 Mar 2011 Posts: 674

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

I did an online special educational needs course a month ago.

There's a new -xia word in town and it's called dyspraxia. It's a 'developmental coordination disorder' and the symptoms are basically being a spacey klutz - constantly forgetting things you need, having terrible penmanship, taking ages to tie your shoes and being crap at sports.

I think it's a catch all for behaviors which didn't fit in with ADHD or dyslexia.

Why can't people just be clumsy dorks anymore?

ecocks · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 899 Location: Gdansk, Poland

At least with ADD and ADHD I have always believed the food connection is underestimated. Sugar, starch, soy, tofu, probably even some of the GMO by-products seem to be obvious contributors. Then you consider them in combination with environmental factors at home such as TV- and video-game baby-sitters and changing social standards regarding cultural sensitivity and lowered expectations with regard to behavior and....

We are reaping the "benefits" of chemical additives to the food chain and a sort of insanity of social change under the guise of progressivism.

I got tired of kids acting out and the idiocy of parents alternating between passive-aggressive interatcions with teachers and complete apathy. It screwed up the system, the kids and the learning process.

Dyslexia may be more real. I personally never saw an actual case although a lot of children and a few adults claim it. My opinion was that many use it to cover their ignorance and poor education.

delphian-domine · Joined: 11 Mar 2011 Posts: 674

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

This is where you can find the course: http://courses.britishcouncil.org/teachertraining/

It's called the SEN (special educational needs) course. There might be a free version available. My school paid for me to do it, but it wasn't that expensive anyway.

The course isn't exactly riveting, but it's definitely more interesting than reading about the problems/disorders on Wikipedia.

delphian-domine · Joined: 11 Mar 2011 Posts: 674

Thank you!

I'm very much in the good books with my boss right now, so she should pay up Smile