Dyslexic Students and the Second Language Learning
A study on the learning needs - European review
by Eva Gyarmathy, Chris
Mahlerbe, Paula Pichel, Borislav Stoyanov, Tiziana Tartari,
A)
Developing the research material
B)
Questionnaires
C)
Students’ view
D)
Trainers’ view
E)
Learning needs of the
dyslexic students
F)
Suggestions for an internet
based language learning programme
November,
2009
A) Developing
the research material
In preparing for the study, the
project partners familiarized themselves with the fields of dyslexia and
foreign language learning. In this, we used materials developed in several
other projects, namely: Include, Adytrain, CallDysc.
The partners synchronised
their understanding of the concepts of the field and their professional points
of view. These steps constituted the preparatory phase of the whole of the
project, itself.
The point of the present
study was to explore in each country the foreign language learning conditions
of dyslexic students in tertiary education, their views, as well as their
foreign language trainers’ knowledge of and views on this topic.
Topics studied:
We collected data in the
above topics using questionnaires. We drew up separate questionnaires for
trainers and students, but rougly the same questions were asked in both, so
that we could compare their views.
The test groups were formed
by selecting English trainers and dyslexic and non-dyslexic students. We found
the participants for the questionnaire through centres for dyslexia and
professionals dealing with dyslexics.
We did not assess dyslexia,
but simply asked the students to indicate on the questionnaire whether they
were dyslexic on a 1–3 score scale (not dyslexic, mildly dyslexic and severely
dyslexic). Other international projects (Include, Adystrain) provided
questionnaires to assess dyslexia, identifying the signs of dyslexia, with the
help of which the students had the possibility of self-assessment.
The study was carried out in
five countries:
Given that we sought to gain
information from students with difficulties in reading and writing, we had to
plan the means of collecting the data very carefully. The partners came to an
agreement on the criteria that the questionnaires would definitely have to
meet:
1. As much information as possible should be gained from
as few questions as possible.
2. The questionnaires should be easy to fill in.
3. The results should provide numerical data as well as
textual information.
4. The questionnaires should be easy to understand an
fill in for dyslexics, as well.
The questionnaires were
prepared in agreement with all project partners. We constantly updated the
preliminary versions until they finally complied with everyone’s requirements.
B) Questionnaires
Both the questionnaire for
trainers and that for students could be filled in electronically, as well as
with paper and pen. The partners collected the data in their home countries
according to the local opportunities. The data were then unified in a
spreadsheet file. In processing the information, we made no distinction
according to the local differences in the way the questionnaires were filled
in, as these did not affect the content seriously.
To guarantee accurate data
collection and processing, a questionnaire comprising a data collection guide was
compiled for both the trainers’ and the students’ questionnaire. This warranted
that the partners entered the data into the spreadsheet file correctly, and
based on the same rule.
Attached to this report are
the questionnaires and the spreadsheet files for unifying the data:
1. Questions for trainers
2. Questions for students
3. Questions for trainers - template
4. Questions for students - template
5. Trainer - Blank form
6. Student - Blank form
C) Students’
view
One of the most important questions
in processing the data obtained by the questionnaires was whether the dyslexic
students differed from the non-dyslexic students in their views on language
learning. According to the results, dyslexic students have somewhat different
difficulties in language learning as do non-dyslexic students. The views of
mildly and severely dyslexic students, however, do not differ significantly in
this respect. This means that the group of dyslexics can be regarded as
homogeneous with respect to the areas under investigation, independently of how
severe their dyslexia is. In the analysis, therefore, we compared the groups of
dyslexic and that of non-dyslexic students.
Table
1 shows that the greatest difficulty for dyslexics is learning new words. In
this, they differ significantly from non-dyslexic students, for whom this
constitutes the least difficulty in language learning. Learning the
pronunciation comes second for dyslexics. This is also only one of the minor
problems for non-dyslexics.
The results indicate that language learning is
significantly different in the case of dyslexics, as compared to non-dyslexics.
Table 1 Difficulties in foreign language learning,
ranked from 1 to 5, where 1 is the most difficult task.
|
Average ranks of difficulties in
second language learning |
||||
Students |
Pronunc. |
New words |
Gram underst |
Gram use |
Understand |
Ndys
(55) score: 1.00 |
3,62 |
4,02 |
2,11 |
2,20 |
2,85 |
Dys
(64) score: 2.00 |
2,76 |
2,57 |
3,38 |
3,16 |
2,76 |
Sdys
(20) score: 3.00 |
3,15 |
2,80 |
2,85 |
2,45 |
3,85 |
Sdys+Dys (84) score:
2.24 |
2,86 |
2,63 |
3,25 |
2,99 |
3,02 |
Ttest Dys:NDys |
0,0010 |
0,0000 |
0,0000 |
0,0001 |
0,7371 |
Ttest Dys:SDys |
0,3134 |
0,4917 |
0,1056 |
0,0411 |
0,0088 |
Ttest (Dys+Sdys):NDys |
0,0020 |
0,0000 |
0,0000 |
0,0004 |
0,5291 |
One
of the Italian dyslexic students wrote: "I have problems in remembering how
words are written and I forgot also soon what I just studied." A number of
dyslexics reported similar problems, but they agree that learning foreign
languages is important: "Foreign languages are difficult for dyslexics but
correct methods can help learning them quickier."
Table 2 Difficulties in using a foreign language,
ranked from 1 to 5, where 1 is the most difficult task.
|
Average ranks of difficulties of
aspects of foreign language use |
||||
Students |
Reading |
Writing |
Understanding |
Speaking |
Grammar |
Ndys
(55) score: 1.00 |
4,29 |
3,09 |
2,98 |
2,35 |
1,95 |
Dys
(64) score: 2.00 |
3,11 |
2,27 |
2,92 |
2,92 |
2,98 |
Sdys
(20) score: 3.00 |
2,37 |
2,30 |
4,26 |
3,75 |
2,80 |
Sdys+Dys (84) score:
2.24 |
2,94 |
2,28 |
3,23 |
3,12 |
2,94 |
Ttest Dys:NDys |
0,0000 |
0,0001 |
0,8235 |
0,0227 |
0,0000 |
Ttest Dys:SDys |
0,0268 |
0,9222 |
0,0009 |
0,0243 |
0,6157 |
Ttest (Dys+Sdys):NDys |
0,0000 |
0,0001 |
0,3445 |
0,0012 |
0,0000 |
Table
2 shows what difficulties dyslexics have in using foreign languages. Students
were required to rank from 1 to 5 the five aspects of language use listed, where
1 constitutes the greatest and 5 the least difficulty. The most difficult task
for dyslexics is writing and reading in a foreign language. In this, too, they
differ from non-dyslexic students, for whom the greatest problem is the proper
use of grammar.
The
results indicate that dyslexics have significantly different problems than
non-dyslexics in using a foreign language.
According
to the results in Table 3, it is the severely dyslexics who least feel that they
get the support they need for learning. Non-dyslexics feel most that they get
enough support. The differences are not significant, but the tendency is
evident. Whether this is because the dyslexics need more support, or because
they feel they do not receieve enough support, or perhaps because they indeed
do not get suitable support in learning, provision is clearly unsatisfactory.
Table 3 The support they got
(Most=1, None=4) and the wish to learn a second language through e-learning
(Yes=1, No=3)
Students |
Support |
E-learning |
Ndys
(55) score: 1.00 |
1,04 |
1,42 |
Dys
(64) score: 2.00 |
2,30 |
1,38 |
Sdys
(20) score: 3.00 |
2,35 |
1,28 |
Sdys+Dys (84) score:
2.24 |
2,31 |
1,35 |
Ttest Dys:NDys |
0,0000 |
0,7480 |
Ttest Dys:SDys |
0,8878 |
0,4950 |
Ttest (Dys+Sdys):NDys |
0,0000 |
0,5993 |
Those who received support enumerated several kinds
thereof. Some of the examples:
Typically, dyslexics get support in the primary
school, but later they are left alone, as it transpires from this remark:
"When
I was at the primary school, someone read me the text and helped me understanding
and writing; now that I'm at the university I don't know how to do.
Personal
trainer both for italian and foreign languages, multimedia and cds can
help."
A
Hungarian dyslexic, who went through several foreign language teachers
remarked: "Teachers who teach English have methods, but do not fit them to
the individual. What is needed is a method with which one can learn in their
own way and at their own pace."
The answers show that all groups of studens would be
glad to use e-learning in foreign language learning (Table 3), and as the
remarks indicate, they are already searching for a learning opportunity like
this.
The results indicate that the dyslexics do not
receive appropriate support in foreign language learning and that the students
would willingly use e-learning to help them master a foreign language.
Nevertheless, e-learning is
not the most preferred mode of learning. It is, instead, personal contact.
The
examples of support they gave reveal that students do not think exclusively of
trainers as support:
Students
rank e-learning and CD’s as learning methods right after personal contact, but at
this point, differences start to emerge (see Table 4).
Table 4 Ranks of different learning tools, ranked
from 1 to 6, where 1 is the most preferred method.
|
SL learning preferences |
|||||
Students |
Book |
CD |
E-learning |
E-mail |
Forum |
Personal |
Ndys
(55) score: 1.00 |
3,27 |
3,11 |
3,45 |
4,20 |
5,40 |
1,64 |
Dys
(64) score: 2.00 |
4,23 |
2,70 |
2,98 |
4,34 |
4,50 |
1,89 |
Sdys
(20) score: 3.00 |
4,89 |
2,58 |
2,05 |
4,32 |
4,79 |
2,47 |
Sdys+Dys (84) score:
2.24 |
4,38 |
2,67 |
2,77 |
4,33 |
4,57 |
2,02 |
Ttest Dys:NDys |
0,0029 |
0,0901 |
0,1003 |
0,5700 |
0,0002 |
0,2755 |
Ttest Dys:SDys |
0,1152 |
0,7445 |
0,0256 |
0,9485 |
0,4600 |
0,1237 |
Ttest (Dys+Sdys):NDys |
0,0002 |
0,0558 |
0,0119 |
0,5550 |
0,0003 |
0,0950 |
Dyslexics like e-learning
more than non-dyslexics do, and using books comes at the end for them
significantly, while it is ranked second best in the case of non-dyslexics (Table
4). However, even among dyslexics, not everyone dislikes books: "I am 21 years old and personally
I feel at my ease using books; I experienced cd (not for dyslexics) but did not
liked them."
The results show that e-learning is by more important
as a method for foreign language learning for dyslexics than it is for
non-dyslexics. Non-dyslexics feel they can learn well from books, which is not
true for dyslexics.
The
results do not differ significantly by country. The small differeces that do
appear are due to the fact that the ratio of dyslexics was different in the
test group in different countries.
In
the analyses that follow, we will only be using the results of the dyslexic
students, because it is their way of learning we aim to study.
D) Trainer's
view
We
asked teachers of English as a foreign language in all five countries about
dyslexics and their language learning. Most of the teachers had experiences
with dyslexic students. From 123 teachers only 11 stated that had no
experiences with dyslexic student. It is the tenth of the teachers who had no
dyslexic student or could not identify the dyslexia. While awarness of dyslexia
is more and more evident in young children age, teachers don't know about
dyslexia in higher education. It is not widely know that dyslexia is a special
way of thinking, which is the base of a lot strengths and weaknesses for the
dyslexic person trough the whole life span.
We examined whether teachers
who had already taught dyslexic students had different views than those who so
far had not, or who did not know for sure if they had taught dyslexics. The
results indicate that the trainers’ views on dyslexics and their foreign
language learning are independent of whether they have already had some
experience with dyslexic students.
The point at which
significant differences emerged was that trainers who had already taught
dyslexic students were familiar with more teaching methods and could,
consequently, name more of them. Independently of previous experience with
dyslexics, teachers regard e-learning as a useful tool in foreign language
learning (see Table 5).
Table 5 Experience with dyslexic students and
methods used (Yes=1)
|
Experience
with dyslexic students (1–3) |
Has
methods (1–4) |
Number
of methods listed |
Preference
for e-learning (1–3) |
Average |
1,32 |
2,36 |
1,49 |
1,20 |
Has had dyslexic student (N=112) |
1,15 |
2,20 |
1,64 |
1,17 |
Hasn't had dyslexic student (N=11) |
3,00 |
3,91 |
0,00 |
1,44 |
Ttest |
0,0000 |
0,0000 |
0,0001 |
0,0806 |
We
examined the relevant differences accross countries, but we found no
significant differences between countries. The majority of trainers from
Hungary and Spain indicated that they had already had dyslexic students.
Significant difference only showed in the case of Bulgarian trainers in
comparison to others. They had much less experience with dyslexic students and
they also have less tools and methods for teaching them. The latter, however,
is characteristic of most of the other teachers, as well. The German trainers
proved to be the most experienced in the sample, and statistically, they differ
significantly from the others having more methods than the teachers from the
other countries. (see Table 6.)
Table 6 Differences in the trainers'
experiences accross the four countries
TRAINERS
(87) |
Experience
with dyslexic students (Yes=1, No=3) |
Has
methods (Yes=1, No=4) |
BG |
2,05 |
3,09 |
GER |
1,13 |
1,40 |
HUN |
1,09 |
2,03 |
ITALY |
1,32 |
3,24 |
SPAIN |
1,22 |
2,70 |
Average |
1,32 |
2,36 |
The trainers’ view did not differ significantly
accross countries. Although there were some differences, these were most
probably due to the differences in teaching experience.
The Bulgarian trainers use lots
of useful methods, like audio and visual aids, native speaker sessions,
role-play games, group work, multisensory teaching, music, interactive methods,
multimedia. However there are many trainers who make remarks like the
following:
In
Italy most of the teachers use images and voice recordings. Another poupular
method is listening and repeating. Very few of the trainers use pc and
internet, dialogues and explanations.
The
Hungarian teachers also try to use a variety of solutions, some of them even
utilizing the Mind Map method.
The
German teachers have the most experience with dyslexic students and most of the
teachers have special methods to treat the special students. They can name
methods like
Table 7 Trainers' views on
the difficulties in second language learning, ranked from 1 to 5, where 1
is the most difficult task.
TRAINER (N=87) |
Difficulties
in SL learning |
||||
Average ranks |
Pronunc. |
New words |
Gram. underst |
Gram. use |
Undrstand |
BG |
2,82 |
1,36 |
3,27 |
3,68 |
3,18 |
GER |
3,93 |
4,03 |
1,83 |
1,67 |
3,53 |
HUN |
3,87 |
2,55 |
2,56 |
2,48 |
3,48 |
ITALY |
4,56 |
3,72 |
1,56 |
1,52 |
3,64 |
SPAIN |
2,00 |
2,56 |
3,00 |
3,44 |
3,78 |
SUM |
3,69 |
2,96 |
2,33 |
2,37 |
3,50 |
Ranks |
Pronunc. |
New words |
Gram. underst |
Gram. use |
Undrstand |
BG |
2 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
GER |
5 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
HUN |
5 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
ITALY |
5 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
SPAIN |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
SUM |
5 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
Apparently,
there is an increasing call for the use of methods efficient for dyslexics. The
trainers’ familiarity with dyslexia is, however, rather contingent. It is
mostly through experience that they gain knowledge about the problems of
dyslexics and they generally also only enrich their methodological repertoire
through practice and experience. There is thus no principled training behind
their knowledge to supply them with a firm basis for teaching dyslexics. During
our research, we found that most of the trainers do not even understand
properly exactly what problems these students face.
The results of the present
study show that trainers in general believe that the greatest problems for
dyslexic students are understanding grammar, learning new words and using grammar
rules (see Table 7), but it will turn out that the students themselves are of a
different opinion. In other words, trainers do not focus their support on
aspects of teaching where it would truly be needed.
Table 8 shows that trainers fairly consistently regard writing and
reading as the most difficult for dyslexic students. It is especially writing
which many of them think of as the number one problem. It scores under 2 even
in average ranking. This fits in with the fact that dyslexics in general have poor
literacy skills.
Table 8 Difficulties in using a
second language - trainers' view, ranked from 1 to 5, where 1 is the most
difficult task.
TRAINER (N=87) |
SL
usage |
|
||||||||||
Average ranks |
Reading |
Writing |
Understanding |
Speaking |
Grammar |
|
||||||
BG |
2,82 |
2,14 |
3,50 |
2,18 |
3,68 |
|
||||||
GER |
1,77 |
1,70 |
4,23 |
4,07 |
3,23 |
|
||||||
HUN |
2,87 |
1,90 |
3,65 |
3,84 |
2,74 |
|
||||||
ITALY |
2,20 |
1,88 |
3,88 |
4,88 |
2,16 |
|
||||||
SPAIN |
2,38 |
1,44 |
4,13 |
3,75 |
3,88 |
|
||||||
SUM |
2,40 |
1,85 |
3,85 |
3,80 |
3,00 |
|
||||||
Ranks |
Reading |
Writing |
Understanding |
Speaking |
Grammar |
|
||||||
BG |
3 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
|
||||||
GER |
2 |
1 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
|
||||||
HUN |
3 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
|
||||||
ITALY |
3 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
|
||||||
SPAIN |
2 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
|
||||||
|
SUM |
2 |
1 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
||||||
As regards teaching methods,
as it has already become apparent, trainers tend to have a preference for
technical tools. They are also aware that language learning is essentially a
form of communication and the most important aspect thereof is personal
contact. All other methods come far below personal contact, including
e-learning. Crucially, however, trainers rank electronic tools and solutions
utilizing audiovisual representations higher than books (Table 9).
Table 9 Tools for second language learning - trainers' view, ranked from
1 to 6, where 1 is the most preferred method.
TRAINER (N=87) |
SL teaching |
|||||
Averages |
Book |
CD |
E-learning |
E-mail |
Forum |
Personal |
BG |
3,77 |
3,50 |
3,55 |
3,86 |
4,32 |
1,05 |
GER |
4,93 |
4,47 |
3,73 |
3,30 |
4,83 |
1,07 |
HUN |
5,45 |
3,58 |
2,69 |
3,57 |
3,75 |
1,38 |
ITALY |
5,24 |
2,56 |
2,92 |
4,16 |
3,88 |
2,16 |
SPAIN |
4,00 |
4,38 |
3,63 |
4,00 |
2,38 |
2,56 |
SUM |
4,84 |
3,63 |
3,25 |
3,72 |
4,08 |
1,49 |
Ranks |
Book |
CD |
E-learning |
E-mail |
Forum |
Personal |
BG |
4 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
6 |
1 |
GER |
6 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
HUN |
6 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
ITALY |
6 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
SPAIN |
5 |
6 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
SUM |
6 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
E)
Learning needs of the
dyslexic students
According to the results of our study on the English language learning
of dyslexic students, the trainers and the dyslexic students have somewhat different
views on the difficulties therein. The greatest difficulty for students is
learning new words. Trainers rank this as second most difficult. For trainers,
understanding grammar rules comes first among the difficulties dyslexics face.
The students, however, regard not so much the understanding, but the use of
grammar as difficult. Again, trainers do not regard memorizing the correct
pronunciation as difficult, while students rank this difficulty very high. The
averages of the ranks of the difficulties do not differ substantially, which
means that all of the problems are real and existing; it is merely the focus
that is different (see Table 10).
Table 10 Comparision of the
students’ and the trainers’ view of second language learning, where 1 is the most
and 5 the least difficult task.
Difficulties in SL learning |
Pronunc. |
New words |
Gram. unders. |
Gram. use |
Understand |
Average – dyslexic student |
2,86 |
2,63 |
3,25 |
2,99 |
3,02 |
Ranks - dyslexic student |
2 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
Average – trainer |
4,84 |
3,63 |
3,25 |
3,72 |
4,08 |
Ranks – trainer |
5 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
The
biggest problem for dyslexic students is learning words and the correct
pronunciation. The trainers are not aware of the latter as a problem, and rank understanding
grammar higher as a difficulty.
As
regards difficulties in using a foreign language, trainers and students set up
a fairly similar ranking. The results differed only by a few decimals at most
in the areas constituting the greatest difficulties (see Table 11).
Table 11 Comparision of the
students’ and the teachers’ view of second language usage, where 1 is the most
and 5 the least difficult task.
SL usage |
Reading |
Writing |
Understanding |
Speaking |
Grammar |
Average - dyslexic student |
2,93 |
2,28 |
3,23 |
3,12 |
2,94 |
Ranks - dyslexic student |
2 |
1 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
Average - trainer |
2,40 |
1,85 |
3,85 |
3,80 |
3,00 |
Ranks – trainer |
2 |
1 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
The
greatest difficulty for dyslexcs in using a foriegn language is writing. The
trainers see this correctly, as well.
Regarding the best methods in foreign language learning, dyslexic students and trainers, again, set up a fairly similar ranking. Personal contact is ranked far above any other solution by all two groups (see Table 12). This does not only mean personal contact between the trainer and the student, but also, as the comments to this question reveal, it is of immense help to spend a longer time in a foreign language speaking area and to use the language to communicate with friends and acquaintances. CD and e-learning also rank high as useful tools. All other methods, including learning from a book, are ranked far below these.
Table 12 Comparision of the
students' and the trainers' view of second language learning tools, where 1 is
the most and 6 the least preferred method.
SL tools |
Book |
CD |
E-learning |
E-mail |
Forum |
Personal |
Average - dyslexic student |
4,38 |
2,67 |
2,77 |
4,33 |
4,57 |
2,02 |
Ranks - dyslexic student |
5 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
1 |
Average - trainer |
4,84 |
3,63 |
3,25 |
3,72 |
4,08 |
1,49 |
Ranks - trainer |
6 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
Learning language through
personal contact is considered the most efficient method by both the students
and the trainers. E-learning and CD’s also appear to be popular tools. Teachers
and students agrees that after the personal relationship these are the most
usable tools.
F)
Suggestions for an internet based
language learning programme
In light of the results of the study, e-learning appears to be a
suitable method in foreign language learning for dyslexic students. Few have
had the opportunity to try this form of learning, but both the students and the
trainers are open to such a solution.
The programme should primarily lay stress on writing and the use of
grammar rules. Grammar should not simply be taught. Instead, students should
get help in how to use grammar through appropriate examples and exercises.
The e-learning method provides an opportunity for dyslexic students to
receive support in learning new words and the correct pronunciation.
Multichannel learning is the basis for efficient learning, and in the case of dyslexics,
it is, in fact, a basic obligation to provide a learning material that can be
processed in a multichannel way.
Seeing that personal contact is extremely important for students, it is
worth using materials that facilitate and incite communication. Indeed, this is
a basic rule in language learnig.
It is vital that dyslexics always receive ample help in spelling and
correct pronunciation. These are their weak points, and they need plenty of
practice in these areas.
Summary of methodological recommendations:
Acknowledgement
Special thanks for their contributions to:
Bulgaria
Езиков Център "Орхидея", Пловдив
Пламена Михайлова
Румяна Ангелова
(Language Centre Orhidea, Plovdiv
Plamena Mihajlova
Rumiana Angelova)
Germany
Dachverband Legasthenie Deutschland e.V.
German Dyslexia Association
Hungary
Dyslexia Centre of the Sun Circle Mental Health Foundation,
Eotvos Lorand Univerrsity,
University of Debrecen,
University of Szeged,
Budapest Technical Collage (now University of Óbuda)
Italy
Sonia Piangerelli, Researcher in Didactics of Foreign Languages, with
specialisation in Learning Difficulties
AID (Italian Dyslexia Association) - Ascoli Piceno
Regional Centre for Language and Learning Disabilities - Local Health Unit of
Bologna
University of Bologna - Dyslexics Students Service
Spain
Dna. Manuela Escobar Montero
Department of English at the University the Sevilla