Dyslexia and Foreign Language

[Chanley]

So my 12 year old who is working through level 9 of Barton and is dyslexic, really wants to learn German. Not one person in our daily life speaks German.  I really do not want to waste money on a program that he will get two weeks into and fail. I have spoken with Susan Barton about foreign languages and dyslexic kids and she echoed what I already knew, it is extremely hard for them and better to get them into something where they will have a greater rate of success. 

 

So here are my ideas:

1. Let him buy Rosetta Stone with his own money and let him know that I will reimburse him if he actually uses the program. He has the money, and he is super frugal with it. I am afraid if I buy it, it will get dusty when the going gets tough. If he puts money in it, he will not abandon it as easily. 

 

2. Ask him to wait another year so we can strengthen his English language skills. He is wildly creative with writing but is behind on grammar and some formal writing elements which we are working on this year with IEW. 

 

3. Search for a German language workbook that mostly focuses on learning words in German to fill that need for him while we work on other stuff. 

 

4. Something some other genius mother can offer from experience that is a far better solution. 

 

 

[1shortmomto4]

Check your library and see if you can check out the Rosetta Stone.  Also watch for sales and buy year 1 for cheap.  I believe there is a try and get a refund if it doesn't work out.  Also, I wouldn't focus on the writing portion - just set the program to speaking and let him work through that.  My ds is using Spanish and my two olders used Rosetta.  I've just settled for exposure and general experience.  My hearing impaired child didn't retain a thing but that was not a surprise.  My dd retained some and then took Spanish 1 at CC.  She worked hard, hard, hard and was 1/4 of a point off from an A and decided the effort wasn't worth it so dropped it.  My middle child is now just working through the speaking/visual portion of it.  He got frustrated when he was doing the written portion, too so we dropped that. If you have a child that has an interest - allow them to attempt and own it.  He just might surprise you.  Who knows.  My dh is fluent in Spanish and he's dyslexic (which is why 3 of my kids are dyslexic) and he can speak it great but he was learning right along with my dd when they worked through the college Spanish grammar stuff! 

[Citrusheights5]

Spanish or any other completely phonetic language is attainable by a dyslexic, or a language with a syllabltry, such as Japanese. Where they usually get hung up is on sentence structure. Lego languages (where there is a very specific way to set up noun phrases, verb phrases,etc) make it easier. I have no idea where german falls on the spectrum.

 

For a dyslexic, especially highly social ones, it really should be learned along side with movies, tv shows or some other method to connect all the information/modalities. Yes the show will speak to fast at first but it helps the formation of interlanguagage necissary to internalize a new language.

[PeterPan]

It's really hard when we get to this stage, because we want to acknowledge and support their enthusiasm but also be realistic.  German requires a fair amount of grammar.  If he's struggling with the grammar in IEW, he's just not there.  Does he know *why* he wants German?  Because to me, that's in the save your money and go for a semester and get it out of your system.  Does he learn well by talking with people? Pudewa's take on foreign language is kind of in that vein.

 

Reality is any language as a start will make the next language easier.  If he wants German, he can have German later, when he as more grammar or the option for immersion.  He could start on spanish with a native speaker using an online conversation class.  No written, mild focus on grammar.  He could do this.  Does Gamache (of La Classe Divertide) do a junior high level, online, live class?  Gamache is fabulous on foundational stuff like pronunciation.  That would be a way to go.  

 

The online one-on-one stuff you can do with native speakers is AMAZING.  Right now you can get sessions for like $7 a half hour, kwim?  They'll let you do a free class to try.  You can pick your tutor, pick conversation vs. text focus.  There are multiple places doing this, and they're all well-respected.  If he just talks with a native speaker 1-2 hours a week, he's going to make some progress.  My ds is bright with labels, and I don't know what I'm going to do.  That's as far as I've gotten in my thinking.  He's a little more complicated.  For him, conversation works pretty well.  I just know I've watched my dd, who only has an ADHD label, no dyslexia, STRUGGLE with this stuff.  The word retrieval for her is HORRIFIC.  Just painfully slow. It's just really, really hard for her.  For her, reading her way in is better.  For my ds, I'm thinking conversation will get him in the door.  

 

So I would look for the modality that is more likely to work for him and lean that way.  Working with software, memorizing lists of vocab, that is just worthless for connected thinkers.  That kind of thing is fine for people who aren't connected thinkers.  Ours ARE.  They like context, connections, meaning.  He's not going to just sit and memorize random lists.  Or maybe yours does?  Think through that.  

 

It's HARD to have to break our kids' hearts and say no.  My dd wanted to do ASL, but she finds imitating (motor planning, hand motions) very hard!  It wasn't REALISTIC.  Didn't matter how much she liked it.  That was a really hard thing to have to deal with. I finally said you know, I can't give this to you *now* because I don't have the resources.  I will give you what I *can* do now (spanish) and then when you're old enough to drive and go to xyz you can take those classes if you still want it.  And you'll 2nd guess yourself too, like did I shut down a great passion, lol.  Whatever.  Maybe we did.  Or maybe we got really realistic.

 

Congrats on plowing through Barton 9 btw.  That's fabulous!   :D

Edited February 23, 2016 by OhElizabeth

[Mom2Five]

My dd9 and ds8 are learning German on duolingo. It is completely free and better than rosetta stone (according to data  they collected of end results). It wouldn't hurt to let him try it out.

[Black-eyed Suzan]

Is he an auditory learner? Pimsleur's Language program is completely auditory - they say a conversation, then break it down phrase-by-phrase and have you repeat it. Conversations are helpful for travel and casual conversation. We have used it in 2 different languages and they are helpful. Our library had one, and I've also seen them on Audible.

[Tsuga]

I think starting at conversational German using library materials would be the best. Most tourist books will only include a minimum of grammar. You can check them out for free. If he is persistent, and completes the series, he will still be ahead of a C student in an average middle school program. I would let him go for it and give him credit for it as well and praise like heck for his taking initiative.

 

For high school German, it will be different, but for now, an exploratory approach using library CDs seems more than reasonable. I wouldn't hold him back for his failure in English grammar. Maybe he can work at it from a different angle, watching German shows, reading comic books, translating, Skyping someone, and do it that way. There is nothing wrong with that. This is not a core subject so an alternative method won't kill him. He's in middle school! Lots of kids do jack all for language.

 

He doesn't have to do gender, case and all that perfectly right now. Even just vocab is better than nothing.

[Incognito]

There are free language learning programs to start with.  Our library has some, or there are ones just online.  I'd start with that, and go from there if he puts in the time and effort and finds he wants to continue.

[Tsuga]

http://www.amazon.com/Assimil-German-Ease-English-Speakers/dp/2700517504

 

Assimile might be available at the library.

 

"The Assimile method for teaching foreign languages is through the listening of audio cd's and the reading of an accompanying book, one side native language, one side foreign language. This method is focused on learning whole sentences, for an organic learning of the grammar. It begins with a long passive phase of only reading and listening, and eventually adds active exercises. Most books contain around 100 lessons, with the active phase starting on Lesson 50. The word Assimil comes from assimilation."

 

Highly recommend the Assimile method for non-linear thinkers. You repeat repeat repeat. I have passable Persian from this method.

 

At 12, forget grammar. Germany has dyslexics who learn to speak. Simply put, dyslexics CAN learn German by speaking it, even if their writing may be weak and they won't ace the foreign service exam.

 

I would not use Rosetta Stone. It's a triumph of marketing, not much else. 

[Hilltopmom]

Try the Duo Lingo app:)

 

Your library may also have free programs to borrow if duolingo goes well. Or cartoons & Childrens books in German, those are fun too.

 

My daughter was interested in French & did a 6 weeks beginner series at our Co op with a native speaker & that was enough for her. She didn't realize how hatd it would be & this was fun games & sings, learn colors , numbers, etc.

It's on her IEP that she is exempt from the high school foreign language requirement due to her disabilities, but if she wants to try it again, we will, but likely with Duolingo, not a full textbook curriculum, just something for fun.

 

Good luck.

[jetzmama]

Is he an auditory learner? Pimsleur's Language program is completely auditory - they say a conversation, then break it down phrase-by-phrase and have you repeat it. Conversations are helpful for travel and casual conversation. We have used it in 2 different languages and they are helpful. Our library had one, and I've also seen them on Audible.

Wow!!!!   Thank you so much for sharing this!  I've tried traditional grammar based language with my dx ds and just can't find a good fit (did not try RS - too much $ for the odds!).  The programs we've tried require pretty decent spelling, or at least copying, skills, and that just isn't reality.  But he can learn *anything* auditorily.  Thanks again!   :thumbup: