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A Foreign Language Learner with Developmental Coordination Disorder (Dyspraxia)

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Introduction
n Pauline, who has just joined your MFL class, fulfils the criteria for a medical diagnosis of dyspraxia, also known as developmental coordination disorder. Dyspraxia has been described as a "difficulty getting our bodies to do what we want when we want them to do it", a difficulty that can be considered significant when it interferes with the normal range of activities expected of a child of their age. Dyspraxia can adversely affect speech and language, fine motor control and gross motor coordination.

Problem 1
n You decide to find out what the implications of dyspraxia are for the learning of MFL.
n Find out here why some dyspraxic 9- to 13-year-old learners of MFL fail and here why others with the same condition succeed in MFL. Read Nicky's case study on page 97 of Living with Dyspraxia by Mary Colley and others: how does this modern language undergraduate's dyspraxia manifest itself and what is the advice of the professionals?

Problem 2
n You decide to find out how to support MFL learners with dyspraxia.
n According to page 12 of the Joint Council for Qualifications Access Arrangements booklet, what can be done to support a modern foreign language examination candidate with severe dyspraxia, if her poor motor skills prevent her from writing legibly or using a word processor? There are plenty of cross-curricular online guides to dyspraxia, for example here, suggesting classroom strategies to deploy when including students with the condition: which tactics are particularly appropriate for the MFL classroom?

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© 2009 · David R. Wilson