Language Learning with Dyslexia
What is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a learning disability that affects one's ability to interpret written symbols, usually letters, but sometimes also numbers. It can coincide with other learning disabilities like language delays, developmental disorders, ADHD etc. The misinterpretation of letters can be mentally mirroring or flipping letters or mixing up the sound associated with a letter. Learners that have dyslexia often have trouble processing written language and they also might have trouble remembering how to spell words.
How does it affect language learning?
Often, learning another language can be stressful for people that have dyslexia because they face the same challenges with reading and writing that the faced in their native language. In addition, it might be difficult for them to sound out written words or to memorize new vocabulary. If they started learning the target language in an academic context, they may have been told they just were never going to learn the second language, that they were stupid or unable. This just isn't true! There are many strategies for helping students with dyslexia (or yourself!) learn a new language.
Strategies for Dyslexic Learners
- Ask for explicit instruction on the phonetics of your target language
- In the case of languages that have complex spellings (Hi there French, English, etc...) ask for explicit instruction on how sound relates to spellings.
- If you have choice in the language you are learning, pick one that has a relatively phonetic spelling system (Spanish, Italian...) Or a language that doesn't use a phonetic alphabet (Chinese) because they use a different part of your brain to decipher the written words.
- Start with speaking and listening, NOT with reading and writing.
- Get to know the rhythm of the spoken language by playing a podcast or web streaming radio in the background while you do other activities.
- Ask your teacher to teach you "minimal pairs" , or words that differ by only one similar sound (bat/pat)
- Be more preoccupied with fluency (communication) than with accuracy (perfect grammar and spelling).
- It is possible to download fonts with letter shapes that help dyslexics have fewer problems decoding written language.
- Ask your teacher to record your lessons so you can play back the lesson and listen again later. Additionally, you can use audio recordings to practice learning vocabulary instead of taking written notes.
- Use color coding to organize your written notes if you do use them.
- Ask for the teacher to write out the word phonetically and with separated syllables as in UN-DER-STAN-DA-BLY
- When learning vocabulary, read it, say it and write it or type it out to help memorize it.
What other strategies do you use? Comment below!
3 de octubre de 2019
