A case study of a blind student in a foreign language classroom : teacher’s strategies and student’s coping strategies

Abstract

This research study focuses on the presence of a blind student in a foreign language classroom. The main aim of this research study is to observe and analyse what is being done in the foreign language classroom in order to include a blind student attending a general educational setting. To this end this study focuses on the strategies used by the foreign language teacher in order to include the blind student and help him understand the lessons, as well as the coping strategies that the blind student uses in order to understand. A qualitative method, using a case study approach was used to collect data in a naturalistic setting in order to acquire an in-depth understanding of what was happening in the foreign language classroom. The results collected in this research study yielded six themes that were able to answer the research questions for this study. These six themes were: Getting to know the student; Desire to be independent and treated as normal; Interpersonal relationships; Support from others; Support through technology and Limitations in the classroom. These themes highlighted the different strategies and methods that the teacher used in class to promote the student’s learning, as well as the different coping strategies that the blind student used to cope with learning and understanding the foreign language.