Job Discussion Forums

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Need some help. An applicant to our TEFL program wants to come to Latin America, but she is blind (registered blind, as she put it). She asked if this is a problem. I have zero experience in this area, and my first instinct is to say 'impossible'.

I've never heard of such a case, nor do I think that anyone here has study materials in braille or completely on audio. Or am I missing some other medium?

Help...no idea here...any stories to share?

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 4:38 am Post subject:

Sorry, I have no experience with blind teachers but the one thing I would do is to apply the question "Is there any reason for thinking this applicant would not be able to complete the course?" to her case just as you would for any other applicant.

I'm sure that it's possible for blind people to teach EFL, although without the medium of sight then their options would be drastically limited. Not only would they not be able to use the whiteboard as effectively for sighted students but they also wouldn't be able to use pictures, flashcards, certain types of realia such as menus, timetables etc... and wouldn't be able to participate in some of the group activities with other applicants as effectively.

I think you may also find yourself forced into a double standard between her and other applicants. You would expect and advise some of the course members to use certain methods and could question them when they don't but if you can't do the same with your blind course member then it may cause resentment.

Personally, I would look into schools which offer courses to blind applicants and forward the details to the applicant and regrettably inform her that you are not qualified to take her on.

Unless of course you are interested in a very big challenge. In which case you have to ask yourself if it is fair on this applicant to teach her TEFL.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Guy, I think you have to see if there is a realistic chance this person could teach (I really don't know). It would not be right to take their money knowing they have a snowball's chance of getting a job.
How blind are they? Registered blind may still give them some vision. My mom become blind about 6 years ago (95% blind) and there is little she can't do around the house. Most people who meet her have no idea she can't see.

saint57 · Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 8:22 am Post subject:

Is she Canadian? If she is, then I'd pass the buck. Tell her that she should train here:

http://www.wdw.utoronto.ca/index.php?fuseaction=academicprograms.tesl

Let them sort out this mess.

P.S. I literally stared blankly at the computer for twenty minutes about this one and now I realize that my advice was already given by furiousmilksheikali.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

It sounds mean but it is realistic. How would she teach reading and writing?

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Thanks for the help...the issue isn't so much a TEFL course..we aren't equipped for this person. I don't know much else about her yet except that she's already taught at an orphanage in Costa Rica and is now teaching in France somewhere. The issue is the teaching job...and what 'registered blind' means exactly.

darkside1 · Joined: 16 Feb 2005 Posts: 86 Location: Glasgow, Scotland

(Realise I am a bit late in posting this now but here's my tuppence worth anyway):

There are two issues here: 1) can you provide the training; and 2) will she get a job afterwards?

1) As has already been pointed out, 'registered blind' doesn't necessarily mean 'can't see anything'. Does she read braille? Can she get the materials copied to braille/ audio if it's not feasible cost- wise for you? What is your normally classroom set- up? Is it adaptable to meet her needs?

2) A colleague of mine experienced rapid sight loss- he's still in school but works in pupil support rather than taking full classes. He has developed an expertise in enabling technology for disabled students and is a valued member of staff. (I work in a specialised school so we need that expertise).

Does this person envisage herself as a classroom teacher? Then I personally would make some of the same points that have been raised on this thread. Does she want to do the course, travel and maybe do some teaching/ tuition? Then it goes back to 1)

Bottom line, in the UK (and I'm guessing Canada too) there are obligations on schools/ training agencies to be as inclusive as possible with regard to providing education and training for disabled students but you have to assess whether that is realistic in your situation.

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 1:54 pm Post subject:

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

What I mean is, how easily will we be able to assist her in finding a job teaching in Latin America. I don't believe there are many teaching situations in Latin America where a blind teacher would have the resources needed to perform the job, and probably even fewer teaching situations where a school would be willing to accommodate her by investing in any extra resources. France is a first-world country and probably has such opportunities or the legal framework to assist. Latin America does not.

An assistant...didn't think of that.

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 2:28 pm Post subject:

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 3:29 pm Post subject:

OK, my own view on this is that if you want to help out this student of TEFL then no one should get in your way.

I have a friend whose father was a blind teacher and said that they were an excellent teacher and one who had a very good idea about what was going on in the classroom. It happened that he had an assistant that later became his wife with him to make certain things easier for him.

I believe that it is quite possible for a blind person to teach English, but the onus is on you as to whether you feel you can provide a course that is applicable to blind students.

Personally, I have taught English to students who are deaf, or mentally handicapped and I know such things are possible. Good luck to whatever you decide.

DainaJ · Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 62

As another poster said above, "legally blind" (the term I have heard in the US) does not mean "can't see anything." I have a friend who is legally blind, but she just has limited vision. She can read books with a magnifying device and use a computer with certain adaptations (really I think she just magnifies the font size a lot). She also gets around her large US city on foot or by bus successfully. This would be a completely different situation, I think, than someone who had no sight at all.

Why don't you just be honest with the applicant and tell her you have little experience with her situation. If you get more specifics, you would be able to tell her honestly what the prospects would be in Latin America.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

keepwalking · Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 194 Location: Peru, at last

I'd agree with that. Tell her what kind of support she can expect from you, mentioning the limited resources at your disposal, and explain your concerns about her finding work after completing the course. I'd be completely up front with her - she has asked for you opinion so must be prrepared for some questions and discussion. Once you are both more fully informed, then a decision can be made.

As for registered blind, and what it means, I guess that varies from country to country, whoever is doing the registering.

Good luck with this one. Let us know how it pans out.