dyslexia and learning other languages

[Copper]

Does anybody else has a dyslexic child who is expected to study other languages? My ds1 is 12, in Year 8. He can't spell in English and is having to struggle with French,German and Latin. I'm quite keen on the Latin as the spelling is phonetic (which is what he does anyway. He likes the German and hates the French. Is there any adavantage in continuing? Is ther any chance of not continuing? Any language teachers out there to advise?

Hi Copper.
I teach F and G in secondary.
I couldn't give perfect advice to you as each dyslexic child is so different. In general, they do tend to struggle more than most but some love langs and their difficulties don't cause too much of a promlem.
Firstly, langs is now not compulsory at GCSE level, so in any case, your child could give langs up after year 9.
The problem with stpping earlier is that most schools would have to find alternative curriculum / staffing for your child while the rest of the year group has their langs lesson. probably not an option in the current climate.
Does your DS have to study both F and G? Could he not just do one? I don't know what the situation is obviously in his school.
If he likes G, even if he gives it up in year 10, at least he'll enjoy it and learn hopefully something in the next couple of years.
viel Glueck damit!
ps - I think it would be very hard for any school to find latin teachers these days.
pps - in my school at least, langs lessons are FUN! especially my lessons

He has Latin as a twilight class and seems to be really enjoying it (has been very keen on Rome for some time).

He does have to do French and German until the end of yr 9: nearly 2 more years . I wish his classes were fun

Speak to the head of langs?
There are / have been certainly other children with similar problems. Ask maybe if there is any other option?

I am sure I read in New Scientist, something to the effect that dyslexia hardly exists at all in Italy or Spain... the implication was that because these are phonetic languages (so is German, so is Latin) that the brain didn't get so confused trying to make words out of those combinations of letters.

But French isn't phonetic stricly speaking, lots of unpronounced letters. Could he switch to Spanish, by chance?

I read in a book that dyslexia does exsist in other countries but to a different extent, such as in Japan etc.

But that doesn't help with the language question - can you not talk to his teachers/head of special needs. At my school (i am not a special needs teacher nor do I teach MFL), like Rowlers, each child is assessed on his/her needs as to wether they do langauges or have time out for extra support in other areas.

Looks as though I should be speaking to head of languages - if I'm nervous of doing this no wonder poor old ds1 is!