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Academic Development Directorate

Language Learning and Dyslexia Symposium

This symposium was aimed at anybody interested in dyslexia and learning an additional language - either from a learner's or a teacher's perspective.  This was an opportunity to come together in a relatively new area and discuss the issues with contributors and colleagues from a broad range of fields.  It aims to explore current research as well as to provide lots of examples of best practice.

Symposium Presentations

  1. Student experiences of language learning
    SOAS students
  2. ’The phonological deficit at the heart of developmental dyslexia – common knowledge and new ideas’
    Franck Ramus, Research Scientist, Laboratory of Cognitive Science and Psycholinguistics, Paris
  3.  ‘Dyslexia in different languages’
    John Everatt, Senior Lecturer, University of Surrey
  4. ‘Visual and Simultaneous Thinking - aiding memory and communication skills’
    Oliver West, Independent Visual Thinking Specialist
  5. 'Dyslexia and language learning – so what's the problem?'
    Margaret Crombie    , Co-author of ‘Dyslexia and Foreign Language Learning’ and Highland Council's Support for Learning Manager
  6. ‘Identification of the difficulties of dyslexic students learning an additional language’
    Ian Smythe, Independent Dyslexia Consultant
    Many dyslexic learners around the world have one common problem when studying – the need to learn English. But this need causes different problems in different languages. Examples will be used from projects in Europe (Hungary, Poland and Bulgaria), Brazil and China to highlight the issues.
  7. ‘Experience of Dyslexic learners of Japanese’
    Michiko Harwood    , Secondary School Teacher of Japanese, Millfield School, Somerset.
    This enquiry aims to understand the difficulties and strengths of dyslexic students when learning Japanese. It also aims to explore practical and effective teaching methods.
  8. ‘Relationship between Reading/Writing Development in English and Cognitive Abilities amongst Japanese Junior High School Students: Normal vs. Poor Readers’
    Taeko Wydell, Professor in Psychology, Brunel University and Co-Director of the Centre for Cognition and Neuroimaging.
    This study investigates the relationship between phonological awareness skills and reading abilities in English/Japanese using 180 Japanese-speaking students learning English (aged 14)
  9. ‘Dyslexia and Chinese: Teaching Chinese to dyslexic learners - from a Chinese to an English context'
    Lik Suen    , Senior Lecturer in Chinese, SOAS
    This talk describes case studies of university students learning Chinese. It will also chart the changing perceptions of dyslexia, from a Chinese teacher’s perspective. The talk will also cover some information about China: the dyslexia studies and policy towards dyslexic Chinese learners.
  10. Daniela de Silva, Dyslexia Advisor, Westminster University and Leila Debbazi, Student
    The barriers experienced by dyslexic learners will be explored and a language student will discuss her own learning in terms of remembering grammatical rules, coping with new phonemic awareness and working memory as well as which methods worked and didn't work.
  11. Christina Richardson, Coordinator- Academic Language and Literacy Programme, Kings College
    This session will provide an insight into teachers' experiences, difficulties, questions and strategies regarding teaching languages to students with dyslexia.