Teaching English to blind students

in #teaching7 years ago

download.jpgThroughout the years that I taught English to the blind I had to answer many questions asked by people who had no experience dealing with the blind.

How do you describe colours to the blind?
Are colours important to them? Are they fashion conscious?
How do you teach poetry to them?
How do they conceive concepts?
Can they learn science?
Do you know how to read Braille?
Of all the subjects teaching English to the blind is the easiest. Having said so there are one or two things teachers who are not trained to teach the blind may need to know before they can be an effective teacher to a blind student.

Understanding degrees of blindness
Understanding the background
Setting up a readers service
Technological help
In the classroom
Reactions of other students
Teaching tips
Conclusion
Understanding degrees of blindness
First and foremost the teachers have to understand the visual condition of their blind student. The teachers do not need to understand the medical implication of the blind student's blindness, just how much residual vision he or she has.

Is he or she totally blind?
Does he or she have some sight left that he or she may be able to read big print?
Eighty percent of learning is through sight.
Whatever amount of residual vision that is left of a blind person should be utilised to the maximum. So students with partial vision should be encouraged to read big print books.

Understanding the background
The next thing to do is to learn the background of the student. How and when he or she became blind. If the blind student became blind when he or she was, for example, at the age of eight or nine, he or she has certain visual memory. He or she will conceive ideas and images differently from someone who was blind at birth.

Setting up a readers service
When confronted with a totally blind student do not despair. Read teaching material to the blind student and get him or her to Braille the material before lessons. The problem of a shortage of material in Braille has always plagued teachers for the blind.

Textbooks could never be brailled in time for my blind students. I always had to cope with one chapter at a time. But from my experience I can say that setting up a readers service for the blind is never too difficult. Just spread the word that there is a need for a pool of volunteers to read books into tapes or to blind students and there will be many volunteers.

Technological help
Also, nowadays there is computer software that is able to download material and transcribe it into Braille dots. The machine for brailling out the dots is quite expensive though. Not knowing Braille is the least problem of teachers who are not specially trained to teach the blind. Technology can overcome that problem. Blind students can be trained to use the computer. There is sound synthesis software such as text to speech and voice recognition that can be installed on the computer. This software varies in price, but there are a number of programs which can be downloaded for free.

In the classroom
When in the classroom the blind student cannot see the board so the teacher has to be more vocal and say out every word he or she puts on the board including direction of where the words are. For example, teaching the format of a letter say out, 'On the left hand corner of your page you write the address. The address of this college is number twenty-nine, Green Lane'. Remember the blind student cannot see the board but he or she can hear well. When plans or diagrams are used, you can emboss them for your students by sticking string to cardboard. Here teachers may have to use their ingenuity.

Reactions of other students
I also tell teachers that the blind students in the class should not disrupt the lessons too much, meaning that the teacher should carry on as usual except for slight adjustments. Having a blind student in the midst of sighted students brings out the best of the sighted students. I have seen many sighted students come forward willingly to help their blind classmates and they even take the blind students on outings around the town. Things generally work out fine. One of my blind students was the top student of the graduating class.

Teaching tips

I have used talking books and taped dialogues for reading comprehension lessons.
I use real objects in my lessons. I brought in kites when the reading passage was about kites.
I took my students to the kitchen and we had a lesson on how to prepare sandwiches and how to make tea.
I took my senior students to a lower court to record the proceeding of court cases. I was able to do all these things because there were usually only eight to nine students in a class.
Blind students may be visually impaired but their other senses are intact, so teachers of the blind should utilise the other senses. Learning a language is very much tied up with culture, exposure and experiences. Blind students may not be able to acquire exposure and experiences the same way as sighted students. So teachers of the blind may have to do a little more than other teachers. Bring experiences and exposure to the blind students.

Conclusion
Well, basically, a blind student is a student first and blind or visually impaired second. Like many others things, blind students learn the importance of colours through their association with the sighted. The approaches towards teaching English to blind students are the same. When a blind student is out in the sighted world studying side by side with sighted students he or she is usually able to adapt to his or her environment. All the teacher needs to do is talk to the blind student and ask him or her whether there is any special requirement.

Author:
Chok Seng, Malaysia

Hide Tags
Methodology
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Comments
dellicarpini1988's picture dellicarpini1988 replied on 3 December, 2009 - 15:17 PERMALINK
TEACHING ENGISH TO BLIND PEOPLE
Hi I´m Michelle from Venezuela, right now I´m a Modern Language student doing my final work evaluation, I find very interesting base my thesis in teaching English to Blind students so I really don´t have a lot of information about this subject, is there any information that you can share with me? I have 2 disadvantages 1: I´m not blind so I don´t have the ability to read books in braille, 2: I don´t read Braille. Anyway I´m very willing to learn and to my best to accomplish this goal but I still need information about people who are involved with this kind of projects.
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chelyvalencia's picture chelyvalencia replied on 9 May, 2012 - 02:45 PERMALINK
HELLO MICHELLE...... I WOULD
hello Michelle...... I would like to have contact with you. I read that you were doing a thesis about teaching english to blind students.....in this moment I'm doing my thesis....the thing is that there are few information...I woul like to ask you more about this subject....I hope your answer.have a good day.....my msn is chely498@hotmail.com
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paige kline's picture paige kline replied on 14 April, 2011 - 01:04 PERMALINK
HOW CAN I APPLY FOR THIS?
how can i apply for this?!!
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Claire7413's picture Claire7413 replied on 22 September, 2011 - 13:25 PERMALINK
TEACHING TO A BLIND STUDENT
Hi, I've just read your article and I feel encouraged when reading it ! I 've one pupil who 's been almost blind since the age of 13. she is now 17 and she 's going to learn Braille this year, or next year, I don't know. I'm her English teacher and - I forgot to tell you that She is French - I don't think her English level is good. You talked about talking books in your article. Can you tell me what they are ? I was very pleased to read your article, and I'd be glad to read your tips and pieces of advices.Claire
Log in or register to post comments
chelyvalencia's picture chelyvalencia replied on 9 May, 2012 - 02:40 PERMALINK
HELLO! I THINK THIS ARTICLE
hello! I think this article is very interesting!.... I'm doing my thesis about how to teach english to blind students, I need more information. there are few information about this subject.I would have contact with you. can you write me to my email? chely498@hotmail.com or facebook: chely valencia.I would like to meet people interested in this subject. have a good dayI hope to have contact with you......
Log in or register to post comments
Angélica Ramírez's picture Angélica Ramírez replied on 13 October, 2012 - 18:09 PERMALINK
LEARNING HOW TO TEACH BLIND ADULTS
Hi, I really liked the way in which you explain about how to teach English to blind. I´m doing my thesis and it is about how to teach English to blind Adults, but I have a problem that there is not infomation for teaching Blind Adults, most of information is about teaching to children. Do you have some information or any experience that you can share with me about how to teach English to Blind Adults?
Log in or register to post comments
Tamhoang's picture Tamhoang replied on 1 July, 2013 - 04:14 PERMALINK
THANKS
Thanks. It's helpful! G
Log in or register to post comments
Josefa Pilares's picture Josefa Pilares replied on 13 September, 2013 - 09:59 PERMALINK
BLIND STUDENT.
I've just read this interesting article about teaching blind students.
This year, I have a seventeen pupil who can't see at all. I think I need every kind of help you can give me to teach her.
I would be most grateful if you could send me some information or advice to my email: josefapilares@gmail.com
Log in or register to post comments
samylaks's picture samylaks replied on 8 July, 2014 - 03:05 PERMALINK
HELP TO TEACH COMPUTER SKILL FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED
I am from Tamilnadu,India. My daughter is a graduate,knows English. She became blind after the college course at 22. She wants to learn computer skill with JAWS help. She wants to type and read through computer. Can anybody help me to find out either online resource or personal tutor help (Possibly in Chennai,India).
Or any other idea?
Log in or register to post comments
Pink2311's picture Pink2311 replied on 12 December, 2014 - 08:24 PERMALINK
BLIND STUDENT AND LESSON PLAN IDEAS PLEASE
I've just started teaching a student who is totally blind. I need ideas for lesson plans, where I can include other students in the class. The blind student is the only student in the class that has a visual impairment. Thanks.
Log in or register to post comments
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Complete poetry resuscitation
Creating an inclusive learning experience for English language learners with specific needs
Culture - the fifth language skill
David Crabtree: In one ear out of the other
David Crabtree: In one ear out of the other
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Throughout the years that I taught English to the blind I had to answer many questions asked by people who had no experience dealing with the blind.

How do you describe colours to the blind?
Are colours important to them? Are they fashion conscious?
How do you teach poetry to them?
How do they conceive concepts?
Can they learn science?
Do you know how to read Braille?
Of all the subjects teaching English to the blind is the easiest. Having said so there are one or two things teachers who are not trained to teach the blind may need to know before they can be an effective teacher to a blind student.

Understanding degrees of blindness
Understanding the background
Setting up a readers service
Technological help
In the classroom
Reactions of other students
Teaching tips
Conclusion
Understanding degrees of blindness
First and foremost the teachers have to understand the visual condition of their blind student. The teachers do not need to understand the medical implication of the blind student's blindness, just how much residual vision he or she has.

Is he or she totally blind?
Does he or she have some sight left that he or she may be able to read big print?
Eighty percent of learning is through sight.
Whatever amount of residual vision that is left of a blind person should be utilised to the maximum. So students with partial vision should be encouraged to read big print books.

Understanding the background
The next thing to do is to learn the background of the student. How and when he or she became blind. If the blind student became blind when he or she was, for example, at the age of eight or nine, he or she has certain visual memory. He or she will conceive ideas and images differently from someone who was blind at birth.

Setting up a readers service
When confronted with a totally blind student do not despair. Read teaching material to the blind student and get him or her to Braille the material before lessons. The problem of a shortage of material in Braille has always plagued teachers for the blind.

Textbooks could never be brailled in time for my blind students. I always had to cope with one chapter at a time. But from my experience I can say that setting up a readers service for the blind is never too difficult. Just spread the word that there is a need for a pool of volunteers to read books into tapes or to blind students and there will be many volunteers.

Technological help
Also, nowadays there is computer software that is able to download material and transcribe it into Braille dots. The machine for brailling out the dots is quite expensive though. Not knowing Braille is the least problem of teachers who are not specially trained to teach the blind. Technology can overcome that problem. Blind students can be trained to use the computer. There is sound synthesis software such as text to speech and voice recognition that can be installed on the computer. This software varies in price, but there are a number of programs which can be downloaded for free.

In the classroom
When in the classroom the blind student cannot see the board so the teacher has to be more vocal and say out every word he or she puts on the board including direction of where the words are. For example, teaching the format of a letter say out, 'On the left hand corner of your page you write the address. The address of this college is number twenty-nine, Green Lane'. Remember the blind student cannot see the board but he or she can hear well. When plans or diagrams are used, you can emboss them for your students by sticking string to cardboard. Here teachers may have to use their ingenuity.

Reactions of other students
I also tell teachers that the blind students in the class should not disrupt the lessons too much, meaning that the teacher should carry on as usual except for slight adjustments. Having a blind student in the midst of sighted students brings out the best of the sighted students. I have seen many sighted students come forward willingly to help their blind classmates and they even take the blind students on outings around the town. Things generally work out fine. One of my blind students was the top student of the graduating class.

Teaching tips

I have used talking books and taped dialogues for reading comprehension lessons.
I use real objects in my lessons. I brought in kites when the reading passage was about kites.
I took my students to the kitchen and we had a lesson on how to prepare sandwiches and how to make tea.
I took my senior students to a lower court to record the proceeding of court cases. I was able to do all these things because there were usually only eight to nine students in a class.
Blind students may be visually impaired but their other senses are intact, so teachers of the blind should utilise the other senses. Learning a language is very much tied up with culture, exposure and experiences. Blind students may not be able to acquire exposure and experiences the same way as sighted students. So teachers of the blind may have to do a little more than other teachers. Bring experiences and exposure to the blind students.

Conclusion
Well, basically, a blind student is a student first and blind or visually impaired second. Like many others things, blind students learn the importance of colours through their association with the sighted. The approaches towards teaching English to blind students are the same. When a blind student is out in the sighted world studying side by side with sighted students he or she is usually able to adapt to his or her environment. All the teacher needs to do is talk to the blind student and ask him or her whether there is any special requirement.

Author:
Chok Seng, Malaysia

Hide Tags
Methodology
Need a little more help with your professional development? Find a training course for your needs.
Comments
dellicarpini1988's picture dellicarpini1988 replied on 3 December, 2009 - 15:17 PERMALINK
TEACHING ENGISH TO BLIND PEOPLE
Hi I´m Michelle from Venezuela, right now I´m a Modern Language student doing my final work evaluation, I find very interesting base my thesis in teaching English to Blind students so I really don´t have a lot of information about this subject, is there any information that you can share with me? I have 2 disadvantages 1: I´m not blind so I don´t have the ability to read books in braille, 2: I don´t read Braille. Anyway I´m very willing to learn and to my best to accomplish this goal but I still need information about people who are involved with this kind of projects.
Log in or register to post comments
chelyvalencia's picture chelyvalencia replied on 9 May, 2012 - 02:45 PERMALINK
HELLO MICHELLE...... I WOULD
hello Michelle...... I would like to have contact with you. I read that you were doing a thesis about teaching english to blind students.....in this moment I'm doing my thesis....the thing is that there are few information...I woul like to ask you more about this subject....I hope your answer.have a good day.....my msn is chely498@hotmail.com
Log in or register to post comments
paige kline's picture paige kline replied on 14 April, 2011 - 01:04 PERMALINK
HOW CAN I APPLY FOR THIS?
how can i apply for this?!!
Log in or register to post comments
Claire7413's picture Claire7413 replied on 22 September, 2011 - 13:25 PERMALINK
TEACHING TO A BLIND STUDENT
Hi, I've just read your article and I feel encouraged when reading it ! I 've one pupil who 's been almost blind since the age of 13. she is now 17 and she 's going to learn Braille this year, or next year, I don't know. I'm her English teacher and - I forgot to tell you that She is French - I don't think her English level is good. You talked about talking books in your article. Can you tell me what they are ? I was very pleased to read your article, and I'd be glad to read your tips and pieces of advices.Claire
Log in or register to post comments
chelyvalencia's picture chelyvalencia replied on 9 May, 2012 - 02:40 PERMALINK
HELLO! I THINK THIS ARTICLE
hello! I think this article is very interesting!.... I'm doing my thesis about how to teach english to blind students, I need more information. there are few information about this subject.I would have contact with you. can you write me to my email? chely498@hotmail.com or facebook: chely valencia.I would like to meet people interested in this subject. have a good dayI hope to have contact with you......
Log in or register to post comments
Angélica Ramírez's picture Angélica Ramírez replied on 13 October, 2012 - 18:09 PERMALINK
LEARNING HOW TO TEACH BLIND ADULTS
Hi, I really liked the way in which you explain about how to teach English to blind. I´m doing my thesis and it is about how to teach English to blind Adults, but I have a problem that there is not infomation for teaching Blind Adults, most of information is about teaching to children. Do you have some information or any experience that you can share with me about how to teach English to Blind Adults?
Log in or register to post comments
Tamhoang's picture Tamhoang replied on 1 July, 2013 - 04:14 PERMALINK
THANKS
Thanks. It's helpful! G
Log in or register to post comments
Josefa Pilares's picture Josefa Pilares replied on 13 September, 2013 - 09:59 PERMALINK
BLIND STUDENT.
I've just read this interesting article about teaching blind students.
This year, I have a seventeen pupil who can't see at all. I think I need every kind of help you can give me to teach her.
I would be most grateful if you could send me some information or advice to my email: josefapilares@gmail.com
Log in or register to post comments
samylaks's picture samylaks replied on 8 July, 2014 - 03:05 PERMALINK
HELP TO TEACH COMPUTER SKILL FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED
I am from Tamilnadu,India. My daughter is a graduate,knows English. She became blind after the college course at 22. She wants to learn computer skill with JAWS help. She wants to type and read through computer. Can anybody help me to find out either online resource or personal tutor help (Possibly in Chennai,India).
Or any other idea?
Log in or register to post comments
Pink2311's picture Pink2311 replied on 12 December, 2014 - 08:24 PERMALINK
BLIND STUDENT AND LESSON PLAN IDEAS PLEASE
I've just started teaching a student who is totally blind. I need ideas for lesson plans, where I can include other students in the class. The blind student is the only student in the class that has a visual impairment. Thanks.
Log in or register to post comments
Pages
1 2
next ›
last »
Add new comment
Log in or register to post comments
A - Z of Content
A B C D E G H I K L M N O P R S T W Y
sort descending
A day in the life at an English school for learners with Special Educational Needs
A Personality Orientated Approach to EFL Teaching
Art in the classroom
British Council survey of policy and practice in primary English language teaching worldwide
Complete poetry resuscitation
Creating an inclusive learning experience for English language learners with specific needs
Culture - the fifth language skill
David Crabtree: In one ear out of the other
David Crabtree: In one ear out of the other
Drilling 1
1 of 7
next ›
Popular
Champion Teachers Peru
Assessing young learners
The image in English Language Teaching
Celebrate World Teachers' Day!
International Literacy Day
COURSES
Find an online teacher training course
BACK TO TOP
TwitterFacebookRSSEmail
Terms of Use
Privacy
Freedom of information
Frequently asked questions
Accessibility
Cookie policy
Site map
Contact us
© British Council, 10 Spring Gardens, London SW1A 2BN, UK
© BBC World Service, Bush House, Strand, London WC2B 4PH, UK
Teaching English to blind studentsSkip to content Search form Search You are here Home » Articles » Methodology Teaching English to blind students Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5 Average: 3.8 (49 votes) 5673 Submitted 13 years 4 months ago by admin. Printer-friendly version Throughout the years that I taught English to the blind I had to answer many questions asked by people who had no experience dealing with the blind. How do you describe colours to the blind? Are colours important to them? Are they fashion conscious? How do you teach poetry to them? How do they conceive concepts? Can they learn science? Do you know how to read Braille? Of all the subjects teaching English to the blind is the easiest. Having said so there are one or two things teachers who are not trained to teach the blind may need to know before they can be an effective teacher to a blind student. Understanding degrees of blindness Understanding the background Setting up a readers service Technological help In the classroom Reactions of other students Teaching tips Conclusion Understanding degrees of blindness First and foremost the teachers have to understand the visual condition of their blind student. The teachers do not need to understand the medical implication of the blind student's blindness, just how much residual vision he or she has. Is he or she totally blind? Does he or she have some sight left that he or she may be able to read big print? Eighty percent of learning is through sight. Whatever amount of residual vision that is left of a blind person should be utilised to the maximum. So students with partial vision should be encouraged to read big print books. Understanding the background The next thing to do is to learn the background of the student. How and when he or she became blind. If the blind student became blind when he or she was, for example, at the age of eight or nine, he or she has certain visual memory. He or she will conceive ideas and images differently from someone who was blind at birth. Setting up a readers service When confronted with a totally blind student do not despair. Read teaching material to the blind student and get him or her to Braille the material before lessons. The problem of a shortage of material in Braille has always plagued teachers for the blind. Textbooks could never be brailled in time for my blind students. I always had to cope with one chapter at a time. But from my experience I can say that setting up a readers service for the blind is never too difficult. Just spread the word that there is a need for a pool of volunteers to read books into tapes or to blind students and there will be many volunteers. Technological help Also, nowadays there is computer software that is able to download material and transcribe it into Braille dots. The machine for brailling out the dots is quite expensive though. Not knowing Braille is the least problem of teachers who are not specially trained to teach the blind. Technology can overcome that problem. Blind students can be trained to use the computer. There is sound synthesis software such as text to speech and voice recognition that can be installed on the computer. This software varies in price, but there are a number of programs which can be downloaded for free. In the classroom When in the classroom the blind student cannot see the board so the teacher has to be more vocal and say out every word he or she puts on the board including direction of where the words are. For example, teaching the format of a letter say out, 'On the left hand corner of your page you write the address. The address of this college is number twenty-nine, Green Lane'. Remember the blind student cannot see the board but he or she can hear well. When plans or diagrams are used, you can emboss them for your students by sticking string to cardboard. Here teachers may have to use their ingenuity. Reactions of other students I also tell teachers that the blind students in the class should not disrupt the lessons too much, meaning that the teacher should carry on as usual except for slight adjustments. Having a blind student in the midst of sighted students brings out the best of the sighted students. I have seen many sighted students come forward willingly to help their blind classmates and they even take the blind students on outings around the town. Things generally work out fine. One of my blind students was the top student of the graduating class. Teaching tips I have used talking books and taped dialogues for reading comprehension lessons. I use real objects in my lessons. I brought in kites when the reading passage was about kites. I took my students to the kitchen and we had a lesson on how to prepare sandwiches and how to make tea. I took my senior students to a lower court to record the proceeding of court cases. I was able to do all these things because there were usually only eight to nine students in a class. Blind students may be visually impaired but their other senses are intact, so teachers of the blind should utilise the other senses. Learning a language is very much tied up with culture, exposure and experiences. Blind students may not be able to acquire exposure and experiences the same way as sighted students. So teachers of the blind may have to do a little more than other teachers. Bring experiences and exposure to the blind students. Conclusion Well, basically, a blind student is a student first and blind or visually impaired second. Like many others things, blind students learn the importance of colours through their association with the sighted. The approaches towards teaching English to blind students are the same. When a blind student is out in the sighted world studying side by side with sighted students he or she is usually able to adapt to his or her environment. All the teacher needs to do is talk to the blind student and ask him or her whether there is any special requirement. Author: Chok Seng, Malaysia Hide Tags Methodology Need a little more help with your professional development? Find a training course for your needs. Comments dellicarpini1988 replied on 3 December, 2009 - 15:17 PERMALINK TEACHING ENGISH TO BLIND PEOPLE Hi I´m Michelle from Venezuela, right now I´m a Modern Language student doing my final work evaluation, I find very interesting base my thesis in teaching English to Blind students so I really don´t have a lot of information about this subject, is there any information that you can share with me? I have 2 disadvantages 1: I´m not blind so I don´t have the ability to read books in braille, 2: I don´t read Braille. Anyway I´m very willing to learn and to my best to accomplish this goal but I still need information about people who are involved with this kind of projects. Log in or register to post comments chelyvalencia replied on 9 May, 2012 - 02:45 PERMALINK HELLO MICHELLE...... I WOULD hello Michelle...... I would like to have contact with you. I read that you were doing a thesis about teaching english to blind students.....in this moment I'm doing my thesis....the thing is that there are few information...I woul like to ask you more about this subject....I hope your answer.have a good day.....my msn is chely498@hotmail.com Log in or register to post comments paige kline replied on 14 April, 2011 - 01:04 PERMALINK HOW CAN I APPLY FOR THIS? how can i apply for this?!! Log in or register to post comments Claire7413 replied on 22 September, 2011 - 13:25 PERMALINK TEACHING TO A BLIND STUDENT Hi, I've just read your article and I feel encouraged when reading it ! I 've one pupil who 's been almost blind since the age of 13. she is now 17 and she 's going to learn Braille this year, or next year, I don't know. I'm her English teacher and - I forgot to tell you that She is French - I don't think her English level is good. You talked about talking books in your article. Can you tell me what they are ? I was very pleased to read your article, and I'd be glad to read your tips and pieces of advices.Claire Log in or register to post comments chelyvalencia replied on 9 May, 2012 - 02:40 PERMALINK HELLO! I THINK THIS ARTICLE hello! I think this article is very interesting!.... I'm doing my thesis about how to teach english to blind students, I need more information. there are few information about this subject.I would have contact with you. can you write me to my email? chely498@hotmail.com or facebook: chely valencia.I would like to meet people interested in this subject. have a good dayI hope to have contact with you...... Log in or register to post comments Angélica Ramírez replied on 13 October, 2012 - 18:09 PERMALINK LEARNING HOW TO TEACH BLIND ADULTS Hi, I really liked the way in which you explain about how to teach English to blind. I´m doing my thesis and it is about how to teach English to blind Adults, but I have a problem that there is not infomation for teaching Blind Adults, most of information is about teaching to children. Do you have some information or any experience that you can share with me about how to teach English to Blind Adults? Log in or register to post comments Tamhoang replied on 1 July, 2013 - 04:14 PERMALINK THANKS Thanks. It's helpful! G Log in or register to post comments Josefa Pilares replied on 13 September, 2013 - 09:59 PERMALINK BLIND STUDENT. I've just read this interesting article about teaching blind students. This year, I have a seventeen pupil who can't see at all. I think I need every kind of help you can give me to teach her. I would be most grateful if you could send me some information or advice to my email: josefapilares@gmail.com Log in or register to post comments samylaks replied on 8 July, 2014 - 03:05 PERMALINK HELP TO TEACH COMPUTER SKILL FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED I am from Tamilnadu,India. My daughter is a graduate,knows English. She became blind after the college course at 22. She wants to learn computer skill with JAWS help. She wants to type and read through computer. Can anybody help me to find out either online resource or personal tutor help (Possibly in Chennai,India). Or any other idea? Log in or register to post comments Pink2311 replied on 12 December, 2014 - 08:24 PERMALINK BLIND STUDENT AND LESSON PLAN IDEAS PLEASE I've just started teaching a student who is totally blind. I need ideas for lesson plans, where I can include other students in the class. The blind student is the only student in the class that has a visual impairment. Thanks. Log in or register to post comments Pages 1 2 next › last » Add new comment Log in or register to post comments A - Z of Content A B C D E G H I K L M N O P R S T W Y A day in the life at an English school for learners with Special Educational Needs A Personality Orientated Approach to EFL Teaching Art in the classroom British Council survey of policy and practice in primary English language teaching worldwide Complete poetry resuscitation Creating an inclusive learning experience for English language learners with specific needs Culture - the fifth language skill David Crabtree: In one ear out of the other David Crabtree: In one ear out of the other Drilling 1 1 of 7 next › Popular Champion Teachers Peru Assessing young learners The image in English Language Teaching Celebrate World Teachers' Day! International Literacy Day COURSES Find an online teacher training course BACK TO TOP TwitterFacebookRSSEmail Terms of Use Privacy Freedom of information Frequently asked questions Accessibility Cookie policy Site map Contact us © British Council, 10 Spring Gardens, London SW1A 2BN, UK © BBC World Service, Bush House, Strand, London WC2B 4PH, UK Skip to content Search form Search You are here Home » Articles » Methodology Teaching English to blind students Give it 1/5 Give it 2/5 Give it 3/5 Give it 4/5 Give it 5/5 Average: 3.8 (49 votes) 5673 Submitted 13 years 4 months ago by admin. Printer-friendly version Throughout the years that I taught English to the blind I had to answer many questions asked by people who had no experience dealing with the blind. How do you describe colours to the blind? Are colours important to them? Are they fashion conscious? How do you teach poetry to them? How do they conceive concepts? Can they learn science? Do you know how to read Braille? Of all the subjects teaching English to the blind is the easiest. Having said so there are one or two things teachers who are not trained to teach the blind may need to know before they can be an effective teacher to a blind student. Understanding degrees of blindness Understanding the background Setting up a readers service Technological help In the classroom Reactions of other students Teaching tips Conclusion Understanding degrees of blindness First and foremost the teachers have to understand the visual condition of their blind student. The teachers do not need to understand the medical implication of the blind student's blindness, just how much residual vision he or she has. Is he or she totally blind? Does he or she have some sight left that he or she may be able to read big print? Eighty percent of learning is through sight. Whatever amount of residual vision that is left of a blind person should be utilised to the maximum. So students with partial vision should be encouraged to read big print books. Understanding the background The next thing to do is to learn the background of the student. How and when he or she became blind. If the blind student became blind when he or she was, for example, at the age of eight or nine, he or she has certain visual memory. He or she will conceive ideas and images differently from someone who was blind at birth. Setting up a readers service When confronted with a totally blind student do not despair. Read teaching material to the blind student and get him or her to Braille the material before lessons. The problem of a shortage of material in Braille has always plagued teachers for the blind. Textbooks could never be brailled in time for my blind students. I always had to cope with one chapter at a time. But from my experience I can say that setting up a readers service for the blind is never too difficult. Just spread the word that there is a need for a pool of volunteers to read books into tapes or to blind students and there will be many volunteers. Technological help Also, nowadays there is computer software that is able to download material and transcribe it into Braille dots. The machine for brailling out the dots is quite expensive though. Not knowing Braille is the least problem of teachers who are not specially trained to teach the blind. Technology can overcome that problem. Blind students can be trained to use the computer. There is sound synthesis software such as text to speech and voice recognition that can be installed on the computer. This software varies in price, but there are a number of programs which can be downloaded for free. In the classroom When in the classroom the blind student cannot see the board so the teacher has to be more vocal and say out every word he or she puts on the board including direction of where the words are. For example, teaching the format of a letter say out, 'On the left hand corner of your page you write the address. The address of this college is number twenty-nine, Green Lane'. Remember the blind student cannot see the board but he or she can hear well. When plans or diagrams are used, you can emboss them for your students by sticking string to cardboard. Here teachers may have to use their ingenuity. Reactions of other students I also tell teachers that the blind students in the class should not disrupt the lessons too much, meaning that the teacher should carry on as usual except for slight adjustments. Having a blind student in the midst of sighted students brings out the best of the sighted students. I have seen many sighted students come forward willingly to help their blind classmates and they even take the blind students on outings around the town. Things generally work out fine. One of my blind students was the top student of the graduating class. Teaching tips I have used talking books and taped dialogues for reading comprehension lessons. I use real objects in my lessons. I brought in kites when the reading passage was about kites. I took my students to the kitchen and we had a lesson on how to prepare sandwiches and how to make tea. I took my senior students to a lower court to record the proceeding of court cases. I was able to do all these things because there were usually only eight to nine students in a class. Blind students may be visually impaired but their other senses are intact, so teachers of the blind should utilise the other senses. Learning a language is very much tied up with culture, exposure and experiences. Blind students may not be able to acquire exposure and experiences the same way as sighted students. So teachers of the blind may have to do a little more than other teachers. Bring experiences and exposure to the blind students. Conclusion Well, basically, a blind student is a student first and blind or visually impaired second. Like many others things, blind students learn the importance of colours through their association with the sighted. The approaches towards teaching English to blind students are the same. When a blind student is out in the sighted world studying side by side with sighted students he or she is usually able to adapt to his or her environment. All the teacher needs to do is talk to the blind student and ask him or her whether there is any special requirement. Author: Chok Seng, Malaysia Hide Tags Methodology Need a little more help with your professional development? Find a training course for your needs. Comments dellicarpini1988 replied on 3 December, 2009 - 15:17 PERMALINK TEACHING ENGISH TO BLIND PEOPLE Hi I´m Michelle from Venezuela, right now I´m a Modern Language student doing my final work evaluation, I find very interesting base my thesis in teaching English to Blind students so I really don´t have a lot of information about this subject, is there any information that you can share with me? I have 2 disadvantages 1: I´m not blind so I don´t have the ability to read books in braille, 2: I don´t read Braille. Anyway I´m very willing to learn and to my best to accomplish this goal but I still need information about people who are involved with this kind of projects. Log in or register to post comments chelyvalencia replied on 9 May, 2012 - 02:45 PERMALINK HELLO MICHELLE...... I WOULD hello Michelle...... I would like to have contact with you. I read that you were doing a thesis about teaching english to blind students.....in this moment I'm doing my thesis....the thing is that there are few information...I woul like to ask you more about this subject....I hope your answer.have a good day.....my msn is chely498@hotmail.com Log in or register to post comments paige kline replied on 14 April, 2011 - 01:04 PERMALINK HOW CAN I APPLY FOR THIS? how can i apply for this?!! Log in or register to post comments Claire7413 replied on 22 September, 2011 - 13:25 PERMALINK TEACHING TO A BLIND STUDENT Hi, I've just read your article and I feel encouraged when reading it ! I 've one pupil who 's been almost blind since the age of 13. she is now 17 and she 's going to learn Braille this year, or next year, I don't know. I'm her English teacher and - I forgot to tell you that She is French - I don't think her English level is good. You talked about talking books in your article. Can you tell me what they are ? I was very pleased to read your article, and I'd be glad to read your tips and pieces of advices.Claire Log in or register to post comments chelyvalencia replied on 9 May, 2012 - 02:40 PERMALINK HELLO! I THINK THIS ARTICLE hello! I think this article is very interesting!.... I'm doing my thesis about how to teach english to blind students, I need more information. there are few information about this subject.I would have contact with you. can you write me to my email? chely498@hotmail.com or facebook: chely valencia.I would like to meet people interested in this subject. have a good dayI hope to have contact with you...... Log in or register to post comments Angélica Ramírez replied on 13 October, 2012 - 18:09 PERMALINK LEARNING HOW TO TEACH BLIND ADULTS Hi, I really liked the way in which you explain about how to teach English to blind. I´m doing my thesis and it is about how to teach English to blind Adults, but I have a problem that there is not infomation for teaching Blind Adults, most of information is about teaching to children. Do you have some information or any experience that you can share with me about how to teach English to Blind Adults? Log in or register to post comments Tamhoang replied on 1 July, 2013 - 04:14 PERMALINK THANKS Thanks. It's helpful! G Log in or register to post comments Josefa Pilares replied on 13 September, 2013 - 09:59 PERMALINK BLIND STUDENT. I've just read this interesting article about teaching blind students. This year, I have a seventeen pupil who can't see at all. I think I need every kind of help you can give me to teach her. I would be most grateful if you could send me some information or advice to my email: josefapilares@gmail.com Log in or register to post comments samylaks replied on 8 July, 2014 - 03:05 PERMALINK HELP TO TEACH COMPUTER SKILL FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED I am from Tamilnadu,India. My daughter is a graduate,knows English. She became blind after the college course at 22. She wants to learn computer skill with JAWS help. She wants to type and read through computer. Can anybody help me to find out either online resource or personal tutor help (Possibly in Chennai,India). Or any other idea? Log in or register to post comments Pink2311 replied on 12 December, 2014 - 08:24 PERMALINK BLIND STUDENT AND LESSON PLAN IDEAS PLEASE I've just started teaching a student who is totally blind. I need ideas for lesson plans, where I can include other students in the class. The blind student is the only student in the class that has a visual impairment. Thanks. Log in or register to post comments Pages 1 2 next › last » Add new comment Log in or register to post comments A - Z of Content A B C D E G H I K L M N O P R S T W Y A day in the life at an English school for learners with Special Educational Needs A Personality Orientated Approach to EFL Teaching Art in the classroom British Council survey of policy and practice in primary English language teaching worldwide Complete poetry resuscitation Creating an inclusive learning experience for English language learners with specific needs Culture - the fifth language skill David Crabtree: In one ear out of the other David Crabtree: In one ear out of the other Drilling 1 1 of 7 next › Popular Champion Teachers Peru Assessing young learners The image in English Language Teaching Celebrate World Teachers' Day! International Literacy Day COURSES Find an online teacher training course BACK TO TOP TwitterFacebookRSSEmail Terms of Use Privacy Freedom of information Frequently asked questions Accessibility Cookie policy Site map Contact us © British Council, 10 Spring Gardens, London SW1A 2BN, UK © BBC World Service, Bush House, Strand, London WC2B 4PH, UK Teaching English to blind students