|
ESL Forum:
Techniques and methods
in Language Teaching
Games, activities
and teaching ideas
Grammar and
Linguistics
Teaching material
Concerning
worksheets
Concerning
powerpoints
Concerning online
exercises
Make suggestions,
report errors
Ask for help
Message board
|
ESL forum >
Techniques and methods in Language Teaching > teachinga blind student
teachinga blind student
|
dublinschool
|
teachinga blind student
|
Hello everybody!!
I have been asked to teach English to a blind lady. She �s my age more or less and she has never done English before. I haven �t spoken to her yet, and I do not know if she reads Braille or not. I do know she can see very very little if it �s something written on a small blackboard that she can near to her eyes. She �s planning to go to India and spend some months there, so I guess she �s going to be needing English to get herself understood and be able to comunicate with others.
Any ideas on how to get started? material.. resources...etc
thanks a lot!!
jen
|
29 Jan 2010
|
|
|
|
ELOJOLIE274
|
Hi,
i �ve never worked with blind students, however I think you should work a lot on oral comprehension, since indian prononciation can be quite hard. try to find a couple of easy soundtracks of indian people presenting themselves. have a look at the website www.elllo.org.
good luck!
|
29 Jan 2010
|
|
|
anitarobi
|
|
Use lots of listening activities and speaking as well. That �s what she �ll need. You can use a recording in the same way as a written text sometimes - e. g. for a fill-in task, just turn down the volume at the place you want her to be active. As for vocabulary, you �ll see how much she knows when you start, but use real objects and the sense of smell and sounds to teach stuff you would normally use flashcards for (e. g. let her touch and feel a bag and teach the word for it, let her smell some food and provide a word). You can �t really provide lists of vocabulary for her to study by heart, but sensory learning is long-lasting. As for resources, try googling listening and speaking activities, and there are lots of sounds you can download for free (sounds you have in a normal cell phone - e. g. nature, animals, transportation). It may seem to you too child-like, but believe me - she will retain vocabulary much better using her senses, because that �s how she lives and manages in everyday life. Songs are also a fun way, because you can choose from what she likes and she can remember whole phrases. As for ESL materials, go to the search engine and look for speaking, listening activities and even games. You can read them, if she can �t, and they will help you a lot. There are also lots of free online or downloadable audio books and short stories she might enjoy. |
29 Jan 2010
|
|
|
izulia
|
|
I have to admit that I have never thought of teaching English to blind people. I can understand it can �t be easy and I just wanted to say well done to dublinschool who is going to do that.
I was also impressed by anitarobi who gave so many useful suggestions! What a wonderful community this is! |
29 Jan 2010
|
|
|
dublinschool
|
thanks a lot. You have been really helpful!! I �ll let you guys know how I �m doing as soon as I get started! feel free to email me if you have more ideas or you know of any resource website
thanks! 
|
29 Jan 2010
|
|
|
