Knjižnica Filozofskog fakulteta
Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Institutional Repository

Blind learners' needs in a FL classroom

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Ivančić, Ana-Marija. (2016). Blind learners' needs in a FL classroom. Diploma Thesis. Filozofski fakultet u Zagrebu, Department of English Language and Literature
Department of Pedagogy. [mentor Geld, Renata and Hrvatić, Neven].

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Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyse the blind learners’ needs in a foreign language classroom and to explore how they learn English. The sample for the study consisted of five language learners who attended the Centre for Education and Rehabilitation “Vinko Bek” in Zagreb and one of their English teachers. Two of the participants were legally blind and three were visually impaired. The instruments used were a semi-structured interview for the learners and an interview with open-ended questions for the teacher. Classroom observation has also been conducted. The results showed that the learners were not exposed to a diverse range of materials, but they were still satisfied with the amount of materials received and the way they were adapted to their needs. Additionally, their lessons did not include most of the activities such as learning English through games, stories, music or physical activities, which caused them to be uncertain in their answers on whether they would like to have these kinds of activities. The results regarding classroom management and communication were mainly positive, which showed what the learners’ relationship with the teachers looked like. Seeing that the teachers play an important role in fulfilling the needs of blind learners in a FL classroom, what appeared to be a problem was the fact that most of the teachers who worked with the blind and visually impaired learners did not have appropriate training. Therefore, one of the suggestions was to work on the quality of education for the teachers.

Item Type: Diploma Thesis
Uncontrolled Keywords: the blind, FL classroom, classroom environment, classroom management, communication, curriculum, teachers
Subjects: English language and literature
Pedagogy
Departments: Department of English Language and Literature
Department of Pedagogy
Supervisor: Geld, Renata and Hrvatić, Neven
Date Deposited: 16 Sep 2016 10:20
Last Modified: 16 Sep 2016 10:20
URI: http://darhiv.ffzg.unizg.hr/id/eprint/7074

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