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Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

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Original poster

How does your secondary school child with dyslexia get on with learning French, German, Spanish etc?

21 replies

hmc · 12/02/2015 11:08

My dd (Y8) is hopeless at them - predictably I think

She's doing very well in sciences and other subjects but has no clue when it comes to French and Spanish (they have to do two languages in Y8)

I plan to see the Head to ask that she might drop one of them (and perhaps not be obliged to do the remaining language at GCSE)

If she sticks with French - have you found anything that helps your child?

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Original poster

hmc · 12/02/2015 11:22

Will keep bumping this post occasionally.....

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morethanpotatoprints · 12/02/2015 11:40

My dd is dyslexic, not diagnosed as she is H.ed but we have always known. I am severely dyslexic.
We don't have any problem with languages but both struggle terribly with maths, ordering and sequencing type of things.
So obviously can't help with language problems, but thought it would bump for you.
Have you considered an outside tutor, just thinking that my dd has an hour per week tuition and is only 11, maybe she would have problems if she had the equivalent 30 mins in school for her age.
Maybe a little extra is all your dd would need.

Original poster

hmc · 12/02/2015 11:44

Thanks morethan

I don't want to overburden her with an outside tutor just yet since she already has a busy schedule, but it is something to consider for the future.

I am planning on trying out the interactive language website Babbel....

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Wailywailywaily · 12/02/2015 11:47

DS year 10 dropped languages as soon as possible. He does well at science, maths, art and graphics type subjects. He does lower English and is likey to get a C at GCSE. I'm happy for him to play to his strengths and language is not one of them.
He is dyslexic but also bright so unfortunately doesn't get much help from the school.

funnyossity · 12/02/2015 11:55

Badly, despite some early exposure to spoken French. The teachers praised the accent but couldn't understand the lack of progress. Gave it up as soon as was possible.

I think the only thing is repetition of small chunks but if time (or motivation!) is limited you do have to think strategically.

Original poster

hmc · 12/02/2015 12:07

Wailywailywaily - my dd sounds exactly like your ds (same strengths ....and I also expect her to get a C for English GCSE)

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Wailywailywaily · 12/02/2015 12:14

A C is grand, it what they need for uni why break your back for more. DS does complain that he is in the class of thickies (his words not mine), he is top of the class though so he may have a point . He says they all turn to him when it comes to vocabulary but he is stumped by spelling and grammar. Swings and roundabouts I guess.

bruffin · 12/02/2015 12:16

DS had to do french and german from year 7 and struggled with the weekly tests, because he was top set he had to get 70%. I saw teacher and sen and they backed off. When it came to gcse he decided to take German (because he thought he needed it for rg unis). He struggled because the exams are basically memorising long paragraphs which he was awful at. He ended up with a D and wished he hadnt bothered.

addictedtosugar · 12/02/2015 12:19

German was easier (for me) than french. It was a bit more logical and regular.
I passed that, and GCSE english, but got A's at A'level in Bio, Phys, Chem and maths.

Wailywailywaily · 12/02/2015 12:20

If the language was just learning to speak it then DS would fine, its all the memorising, and grammar that completely did his head in. He has to do welsh and it is a total nightmare.

bruffin · 12/02/2015 12:21

Just to say ds has had good offers from good unis (engineering) and they dont seem at all interested in his languages. The only one who think its important is UCL and ds didnt apply there.

Original poster

hmc · 12/02/2015 12:27

That's interesting bruffin - I hope that is still the case with universities not obsessing re languages in 5 years or so when dd applies!

Same as Waily - dd has extensive vocabulary but can't spell, punctuate etc....

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Original poster

hmc · 12/02/2015 12:29

Sorry not very clear, meant - same as your ds Waily

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Bonsoir · 12/02/2015 12:30

Some dyslexics are brilliant linguists but IMO that is because they have an amazing ear for language and are aural/oral whizzes. The way MFL are butchered taught in English schools is beyond hopeless for dyslexics.

Original poster

hmc · 12/02/2015 12:30

Addicted - I've heard that about German...

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funnyossity · 12/02/2015 12:33

For actual language acquisition rather than passing an MFL exam, I think the Michel Thomas method could be useful - no writing, all spoken. However my teenager won't follow my suggestion!

Wailywailywaily · 12/02/2015 13:32

Its okay hmc DS and I have very similar learning difficulties. I never got higher than a D in English and even I managed to get a masters degree four years ago - in a nice comfy science based subject

haggisaggis · 12/02/2015 14:33

We persuaded the school to let dd drop French (in 1st year secondary) as she was getting nowhere. Teacher kept getting on to her as she couldn't remember the vocab / spelling - and it was putting her under too much pressure. She now does extra English and maths with a learning support teacher (or works on her own in the learning support base). She is much happier. I reckon that she can always study a language later on if she really wants to.

Original poster

hmc · 12/02/2015 14:55

I agree Haggis.

....and good for you Waily with your science masters!

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gardenfeature · 13/02/2015 06:36

DS dropped languages when he did his GCSE options. I think he was quite good at the speaking and had an amazing accent but writing and spelling..... no chance! He is really good at everything else apart from Maths - doesn't get it at all and never has done but should hopefully just about scrape a C next year.

MigGril · 13/02/2015 06:51

I'm old now, I dropped languages at GCSE. I had tried French, German and Spanish by that point and I think it was clear I wouldn't pass any of them. Sounds like your DD is like me my strengths where science and maths which I got A's in and it didn't stop me going on to doing a degree in physics.
I'm moderately dyslexic by the way and I still wish they would teach lanugages in a more verbale way at school.

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