[BlindKid] French class

Thu Oct 21 17:46:36 UTC 2021

Hello. I work in the alternate formats department at my local community college. We transcribed a book for a blind student who was taking a French course. I usually recommend braille for math and sciences, but also foreign languages. This is an article that describes, much better than I can, the procedure for brailing the French book using Duxbury. Your daughter should definitely have a conversation with the disability support services coordinator, making sure that she has the accommodation of braille for the French courses:
https://www.pathstoliteracy.org/strategies/transcribing-braille-foreign-language-learners
I can't stress enough how important it is that the students work directly with the folks handling the alternate formats, if at all possible. Understanding what she needs, and how to go about making that happen for herself will be an ongoing process throughout her college experience, and right on into the work place. As someone else suggested, connecting with other blind students for advice is a very helpful thing. It is a very good reminder as well, that you are not blazing a trail. Many have been there before, and can offer all kinds of support. All the best to your daughter in her endeavors.

-----Original Message-----
From: BlindKid <blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Dr Denise M Robinson via BlindKid
Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2021 12:06 PM
To: Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children) <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Dr Denise M Robinson <deniserob at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [BlindKid] French class

Jaws has French and she can use a braille display to read it also--very easy

*Denise Robinson*
Denise M Robinson, TVI, AT, IT, PhD, CEO
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On Thu, Oct 21, 2021 at 12:49 PM JENNIFER CUSACK via BlindKid < blindkid at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Thank you so much for your thoughts and comments. They are helpful. We 
> will need to consider how to move on. Her college requires that she 
> completes two years on French.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Oct 21, 2021, at 10:24 AM, Dan Burke via BlindKid <
> blindkid at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >
> > Jennifer and Steve -
> >
> > I agree in general with Steve's analysis. However, clear 
> > communication
> with the Disability Access office about the language settings they 
> use, if they are going to emboss or translate things like parts of the 
> text or exams, is going to be essential. That is, if your daughter is 
> going to ask that such texts be translated, she needs to specify these 
> come in English (which would use English accent mark symbols), as 
> Steve is suggesting. It is very easy for the Disability Access person, 
> who may or may not even know French, to check the French language box 
> in Duxbury, for example, and forget about it.
> >
> > On the other hand, very strong Braille readers, and especially one 
> > who
> is  a big code-nerd, may want to test themselves, and a test it will 
> be. I am told that French, the original language in which Braille was 
> developed, of course, has vastly more contractions than English. Is it 
> more difficult than coding in Python? Rhetorical question only. 
> (smile)
> >
> > Here are some other thoughts, from my perspective of working in a
> disability access office and overseeing alternate formats:
> >
> > * your daughter should put this question out on the NABS list, where
> other students who have already addressed this could share their 
> resources and approaches. She could also search the list-serve archives at Nfbnet.org.
> > * The trend of the past decade or more in teaching languages has 
> > been to
> use a lot of visuals in the first year or two, de-emphasizing written 
> language and thus forcing conversational competency. This will be the 
> issue for accommodations in class and exams. The idea is that the 
> instructor never says the word "banana," but points to it and asks in 
> French what it is. The concept is to have a tiny immersion experience 
> in class where no English is spoken. The only accommodation I know of 
> is to speak English and say "banana." Consult in advance with the access office and the instructor.
> Probably lots of experience from NABS-listers on this, too.
> >
> > HTH
> >
> > Dan
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: BlindKid <blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Steve
> Jacobson via BlindKid
> > Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2021 5:53 AM
> > To: Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children) <
> blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> > Cc: Steve Jacobson <steve.jacobson at outlook.com>
> > Subject: Re: [BlindKid] French class
> >
> > Jennifer,
> >
> > Usually it isn't necessary to learn French Braille for an 
> > introductory
> class.  If she will be getting a textbook here in the United States or 
> in another English speaking country, there are standard ways to show 
> other languages within Unified English Braille, and there were 
> approaches with the older English Braille as well.  Generally, she 
> should only need to learn how to read and write the various accented 
> characters.  If she were going to major in French and wanted to read 
> braille produced by French braille producers, then it would be 
> necessary to learn French Braille.  It seems unlikely she would start 
> out requiring that level of knowledge, though.
> >
> > While others may have resources for learning another language, I 
> > would
> urge that she reach out to her college to learn what is available.  
> For one thing, instructors often have specific approaches to teaching 
> a language, and using another resource may conflict with the order 
> that various concepts are being taught.  This could lead to confusion, 
> or even in her studying things from another source that might prevent 
> her from concentrating on what the instructor is trying to teach.  
> This could actually cause her to do worse on tests since she could be 
> spending time learning things that are not being tested yet.
> >
> > If I am not understanding your question, please write again.
> >
> > Best regards,
> >
> > Steve Jacobson
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: BlindKid <blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of JENNIFER
> CUSACK via BlindKid
> > Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2021 6:13 AM
> > To: Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children) <
> blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> > Cc: JENNIFER CUSACK <jencusack at verizon.net>
> > Subject: [BlindKid] French class
> >
> > Hello
> > My daughter is taking an introduction to French class in college. We 
> > are
> looking for suggestions on resources to help her learn French braille 
> as well as the language. Any ideas? Thank you Regards, Jen Cusack
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> >> On Oct 20, 2021, at 9:31 PM, Stacie Leap via BlindKid <
> blindkid at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >>
> >> *National Federation of the Blind*
> >>
> >> *Blind Parents Group*
> >>
> >> *National Conference Call*
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Wednesday, October 27, 2021
> >>
> >> 8pm to 10pmEST
> >>
> >> Meeting ID: 4926969418
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> >> Parents Group
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> >> the NFB of VA
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> This month’s national blind parents group conference call will be 
> >> hosted by the state of Virginia! Jessica Reed graciously invited us 
> >> all to attend her portion of the Virginia State Convention.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Just as there is more than one way to carve a pumpkin, there is 
> >> definitely more than one way to blind parent. Whether you are a 
> >> blind home schooler, blind father, and, yes, even a blind 
> >> homesteader, there is always something new we can glean from each 
> >> other. At times, we have all felt there is nothing scarier than 
> >> parenting, so come on out for some sharing and exchanging of ideas on how to skin the cat!
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Zoom Information to Follow Shortly!
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> For more information on this month’s call, please contact Jessica 
> >> Reed (Chair of the Blind Parents Group of the NFB of Virginia) at 
> >> jessicac.kostiw at gmail.com
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> For more information on the Blind Parents Group on a national level 
> >> and about the national conference calls, please contact LisaMaria 
> >> Martinez at lisamaria0217 at gmail.com *Stacie Leap, CPE, CPS* 
> >> stacie.leap at gmail.com | 215.776.6741
> >>
> >> Board Member, National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania:
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