Introduction
Chronologically, before systematic production of the Basic Module for the Visually Impaired (KAiMaL) in 2010, pupils with visual impairments were learning braille codes according to the initiatives and flexibility of the subject teachers. Initially, students were learning Alphabetic Braille (Barclay, Herlich, & Sacks, 2010) followed with Contracted Braille based on formulae and procedures prescribed in the Handbook of British Braille Prime (1992).
According to D'Andrea (2009), braille code has developed as a methodology that represents the printed text for individuals with visual impairments. According to Kway (2012), braille code is the medium for literacy activities specifically for reading and writing. In addition, with the availability of braille literacy, the career prospects for those who are competent in braille literacy are brighter than those who have not mastered the skills (Koenig & Holbrook, 2000; Ryles 1996, 2000; Schroeder 1989.1996).
Bilingualism and Teaching English as the Second Language (ESL)
Bilingualism occurs among people who apply multiple languages in literacy activities. Bilingualism is not a teaching and learning methodology. In depth, it is an approach to enhance understanding of students in the context of learning and teaching by implementing foreign language scaffold with native language (Ovando, Combs, & Collier, 2003). In Malaysia, the policy of "Upholding Malay Language and Strengthening English" (MBMMBI, 2010), has gazetted learning English Language as a core subject, besides strengthening its dominance as the language of communication and other disciplines of knowledge. The Education Blue Print (PPPM, 2013-2025), has stated English to be a must-pass subject in the Malaysia Educati...
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...ESPT. Each phase steered in three cohorts of protecting instructional time (MMI) in school. A total of 127 words cited from the Integrated Secondary School Curriculum (KBSM)’s textbook and contracted words found in the handbook of British Braille Prime. The cited words were dictated progressively in verbal form. The overall mean score was then analyzed to detect the types of spelling errors found in their answer scripts. (See Table 2)
A total of 15 respondents were conditionally selected from a Special Education Secondary School for the Visually Impaired located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The rationale for the selection of the school as it is the only school in Malaysia that offers special education services, especially for individuals with visual impairments. Table 3 shows the frequency distribution of the sample by types of disability and level of education.
It is important to maintain children’s home language as it may help them learn and understand a second language. Barratt-Pugh (2000) discusses the benefits of bilingualism and maintaining it through early childhood settings, also mentions the concerns families have for their children maintaining two languages through schooling. Research within the article states that children who speak more than one language will have a higher level of understanding literacy content, form, genre, as well as understand the differences and translating within both languages. This demonstrates a contrast of strengths and experiences with literacy (linguist...
The technique relies on a holistic approach that adopts instructions that allow students to actively participate in the learning process. This is easier for children that feel that the society appreciates their diversity through bilingualism and biliteracy. The society and parents need to encourage children to take up bilingual classes because they offer a lot of benefit to the society through favoring critical thinking, rationality, and sensitivity to other cultures, empathy, and detached or balanced awareness. However, Sonia Nieto mirrors a society that is made to fake being American and become ashamed of their family. It helps appreciate that it is not by choice that anyone speaks any other language as the first language and that the society and community influence the language of choice. Therefore, bilingualism cannot be detached from any community that freely promotes and accommodate the language spoken by the other community. Children and community members learn each other’s language without disregarding each other favoring effective learning that influences bilingualism and biliteracy in the long
... read aloud, dictation to scribe, assistive devices, marks in book, braille/braille writer, magnification device, computer/word processor, testing in separate room, and large print.
Another type of assistive technology that is rather helpful with students with reading disabilities is “semantic mapping software that enables readers to comprehend narrative story or expository writing elements through graphic depiction” (Bryant& Bryant, 1998, p.8). This type of software allows students to visually see the different aspects and steps of the story or book that led up to the plot of the s...
When visiting just about any school across America, students who attend come from all over the globe. This raises the question across America about bilingual education. This can create many challenges in and out of the classroom. The classroom should be a safe place for all students regardless of what native language they speak. In the essay Lost in translation written by Eva Hoffman, describes a foreign student who tries hard to fit in. Instead, Eva begins to feel angry, hurt and confused because people laugh at her. In Guiding Principles for Dual Language Education by Elizabeth R. Howard, Julie Sugarman, Donna Christian Center for Applied Linguistics Kathryn J. Lindholm-Leary San José State University David Rogers Dual Language Education of New Mexico. Guiding principles gives great ideas to educators to stop kids from making other students feel the way that Eva felt. After reading several articles about bilingual education, it is evident that all children in school should learn English but never lose their native language. When all the students speak one language, students will be less likely to make fun of each other. A good educator should learn enough foreign languages to aid them in effective communication in their classroom although; if an educator does not speak a foreign language, they should recruit within the classroom students to be peer mentors. However, a teacher should be willing to listen and encourage the students. Above all a good educator should be a good role model to their students by respecting their heritage and their language.
Whether we graduate from highschool or college we all hope to find a challenging career that will propel us forward in today's society. For those suffering from dyslexia this only adds to the frustration and fears associated with seeking employment. Many adults with dyslexia or other forms of learning disabilities never disclose their disability in interviews or once employed for fear of being discriminated against. Several investigators have noted, however, that many persons with learning disabilities adjust well to the demands and complexities of adulthood. (Greenbaum et al. 1996). The basic cause of dyslexia is still not known, however, much research is being done to determine the problems underlying dyslexia. In many cases, dyslexia is highly inherited. Studies have shown a number of genes that may set the stage for its development. Characteristics of dyslexia are now more apparent to educators than ever before. Early educational interventions are helping individuals to manage their dyslexia. There have been some studies that attend to accommodating persons with learning disabilities in post-secondary and occupational settings. Only a few articles will be reviewed having been found worthy of this subject. However, before reviewing the articles, in order to gain a greater understanding of the types of learning disabilities people face lets define one of the most significant learning problems: dyslexia. A Type of Learning Disability: What is Dyslexia? The word dyslexia is derived form the Greek "dys" (meaning poor or inadequate) and "lexis" (works or language). Dyslexia is a learning disability characterized by problems in expressive or receptive, oral or written language. Problems may emerge in r...
Dual language is a form of education in which students are taught to read and write in two languages. The majority of dual language programs in the United States teach in English and Spanish, although there are emerging programs that teach in Mandarin, Japanese and Hindi. The programs start of mostly in kindergarten sand 1st grade and continue throughout primary education, in addition some dual language programs depending on the grade continue through middle and high school. Even Hayward’s own Burbank elementary and Winton middle school are offering dual language programs. Each level of teaching uses a different language ratio in which class is instructed the classes start off with a 90:10 ration and later as years pass the ration becomes a steady 50:50 (Lindholm-Leary, Kathryn J,2001). The goals of dual language immersion programs are to get children to become both bi-literate and bilingual, in other words, they will be able to speak and write fluently in two different languages. Dual language programs are becoming more and more common most of them are in public school but there are some beginning to become present private and charter schools. Dual language education should be introduced in all elementary schools beginning in the Kindergarten to boost achievement for English language learners, benefits it will bring to the community, outstanding brain benefits and lastly cost efficiency in education across the United States.
Dyslexia or DRD is described as the difficulty with learning to read fluently despite regular intelligence. This includes struggles with letter awareness, letter decoding, processing speed, short-term memory, language skills/verbal understanding, and rapid naming (Silverman, L. (2000). Dyslexia is a very common learning difficulty and a highly recognized reading disorder. According to Castles, A. 2014; there are two types of dyslexia: “Acquired dyslexia which is a reading impairment in someone who learned to read normally but then lost that ability after brain damage. Developmental dyslexia is reading impairment in someone (often a child) who never learned to read normally in the first place”. I will be focusing on developmental dyslexia.
Some of the implications that must be taken into account in regards to a Deaf person’s education are: That individuals who are Deaf only, do not have their intellectual capabilities affected, however they will require special plan to address the communication areas. In order to facilitate the communication aspects early intervention is essential, providing oral/ aural training, learning Learning Sign Language, and fingerspelling. It’s important to be aware of the age of the student when he/she became Deaf or the level of hearing loss. This is important because as the Deaf student progresses through the school years he or she is likely to fall behind in other subjects when compared to typical
...n language and the development of literacy. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 13(2), 175-186. doi: 10.1080/13670050903474085
Wei, X., Blackorby, J., & Schiller, E. (2011). Growth in reading achievement of students with disabilities ages 7 to 17. Exceptional Children, 78(1), 89-106.
...thousands of years. Generally, bilingual education can mean any use of two languages in school, by teachers, students, or both – for a variety of social and pedagogical purposes. It also refers to the different approaches in the classroom that use the native languages of English language learners (ELLs) for instruction. These approaches include teaching English, fostering academic achievement, acculturating immigrants to a new society, and preserving a minority group’s linguistic and cultural heritage. Building on, rather than just discarding the students’ native-language skills, create a stronger foundation for success in English and academics. Also, if students learn languages at a younger age, it will be easier to remember and learn them, rather than if they were older. It helps to learn another language for students, and can later be useful in the future.
Earlier this year, Singapore’s former Prime Minister, Lee Guan Yew told the press (SinChew Daily, 2013) that he would like to urge all the parents in Singapore to let their children to receive bilingual education as soon as possible as it deliver more pros than cons for the development of the children. Traditionally, bilingual education was perceived by experts as “damaging” to children early language development as it may cause them to confuse between two languages and affect their learning (Chitester, D.J., 2007), but as more recent researchers begin to uncover the advantages of bilingual education (Cognitive Development Lab, 2013 & National Association for Bilingual Education, n.d.), people around the globe are now accepting and encouraging their children to receive bilingual education, picking up additional languages like: Spanish or Mandarin. The bilingual education indeed offers several priceless advantages to everyone like helping in the development of brain, providing wider job opportunities and making more new friend.
Bowser and Reed [1995] as cited by Bryant et al [1998] argue that as a child progresses through the Education System, their requirements change and this may necessitate a need for different devices. This is not limited to those children with a physical disability but is relevant to all children with SEN as they progress and the Education System places additional burdens upon them. For children with a visual impairment ICT can provide support in various ways; tools to support communication, to improve access to information and as a means of producing learning materials in alternative. There is a wide range of devices and software, which can
As time goes by and as the global community develops, the world grows more and more international, making second or third language acquisition become necessary to the majority. With the growing importance of multiple language ability, more and more parents think of bilingual or multilingual education, which means acquisitions of two or more languages, for their kids. In fact, we do have many reasons showing why multilingual education is important and beneficial, such as aspects of interpersonal relationship, employment, brain health, and so on.