[nabs-l] Advanced foreign language advice needed

Tue Aug 21 19:09:48 UTC 2012

Hi Aleeha.

I have been taking 3000 German classes since my freshman year and have
felt the same things.  It is hard to keep up with the others,
especially if you have to use so many divices.  To be honest, I am
still working on a "best" way to take notes and keep up in a foreign
language class.  But here is what I've found.

Try your hardest to get all the handouts in advance--whether they are
powerpoints, group activities, or stories.  If you get them in advance
you can decide if it is something you need to put on your braille note
so you can follow along with the rest of the class or on the computer.
 If it helps, I would even recommend embossing handouts.  I have
always found hard copy braille to be easiest to deal with in a foreign
language class.  Of course, this may not be your preference.

Also, keep ahead; do the readings if possible, so you can take your
own notes and don't have to rely on your professor so much.  Another
thing you can do is read through the powerpoints ahead of class or
even after and include the information you want into your own notes.

Talk to your professor.  Tell her how you learn.  If you are having
trouble keeping up in class, something needs to be done.  It's amazing
what you can miss in a foreign language class if you don't have the
handouts along with the others.

On 8/21/12, Mary Fernandez <trillian551 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Alleha,
> The first thing you need to do, is ask the professor to read the
> relevant information on the Powerpoint. This is an easy enough
> acconmodation that they should make.
> I took French classes in the 300 level, and I always met with my
> professors and explained how important it is for them to verbalize the
> information you need. Through my language classes i made a folder for
> whatever language it was, and then made files within that folder. So
> I'd have, conjugations, vocab, general notes, etc. I use a QRTY
> keyboard braillenote so I just did the control|Z to switch between
> files. I found that for the most part it wasn't too difficult to keep
> up with my notes. I didn't really use my laptop for note taking as I
> found Jaws to be hard to understand in French and Italian. Please let
> me know if you have further questions. Hope that helps a bit.
> Mary
>
> On 8/21/12, Laurel <laurel.stockard at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hey Aleeha,
>> My name is Laurel. I'm a senior in college and an a foreign language
>> major. I've taken alot of 3000 level classes in different languages,
>> and I think I have a tun of resources that could help you. I'd be
>> happy for you to contact me if you want, my email is
>> laurel.stockard at gmail.com. If you email me, I can give you a number
>> and you can call me if you want and I can help you figure it all out.
>> Laurel and guide dog Stockard
>>
>> On 8/21/12, aleeha dudley <blindcowgirl1993 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> The professor does not read the slides out loud, only what she writes on
>>> the
>>> board.
>>>
>>> Aleeha Dudley
>>> President, Ohio Association of Blind Students
>>> Changing what it means to be blind
>>>
>>> On Aug 21, 2012, at 11:39 AM, Hope Paulos <hope.paulos at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Ask the professor if you can record the class. Also, just professor
>>>> read
>>>> out the PowerPoint slides? If so, just try to copy the slides from what
>>>> the professor is saying Oralee. Then, at a later date, go back into
>>>> your
>>>> notes and edit them using the actual notes from the professor.
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>
>>>> On Aug 21, 2012, at 11:12 AM, "Chris Nusbaum"
>>>> <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hi Aleha,
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm sorry, then, as I have no other ideas.
>>>>>
>>>>> Chris
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>>> Behalf
>>>>> Of aleeha dudley
>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2012 10:39 AM
>>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Advanced foreign language advice needed
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi Chris,
>>>>> I have tried this before. The only problem with that is that I have to
>>>>> take
>>>>> some information from the power point or other such materials and put
>>>>> it
>>>>> in
>>>>> my notes. I find that switching between documents and using the block
>>>>> commands is too slow for college classes and I feel like I am losing
>>>>> new
>>>>> information while I am doing this. Thanks for the suggestion, though.
>>>>>
>>>>> Aleeha Dudley
>>>>> President, Ohio Association of Blind Students Changing what it means
>>>>> to
>>>>> be
>>>>> blind
>>>>>
>>>>> On Aug 21, 2012, at 10:21 AM, "Chris Nusbaum"
>>>>> <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi Aleha,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Is it possible for you to put the class notes on your BrailleNote
>>>>>> instead of your laptop? You can then go back and forth between the
>>>>>> class's notes and your own using the space with the ou contraction
>>>>>> (1-2-5-6.) This is what I do in my Spanish classes.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hope this helps,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Chris
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>>>> Behalf Of aleeha dudley
>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2012 10:08 AM
>>>>>> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] Advanced foreign language advice needed
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I was wondering if any of you have taken 300 level foreign language
>>>>>> classes and if so, how did you keep track of all that is happening in
>>>>>> the class? I am finding it difficult to read the class notes on my
>>>>>> laptop, take my own notes on my Braillenote apex, and also try to
>>>>>> comprehend what the instructor is saying since it is all in Spanish.
>>>>>> Let me know what you think. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Aleeha Dudley
>>>>>> President, Ohio Association of Blind Students Changing what it means
>>>>>> to be blind _______________________________________________
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>
>
> --
> Mary Fernandez
> Emory 2012
> "A pioneer is not someone who makes her own soap. She is one who takes
> up her burdens and walks toward the future."
> --
> Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
>
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-- 
Julie McG
 Lindbergh High School class of 2009, National Federation of the Blind
of Missouri recording secretary,
Missouri Association of Guide dog Users President,
and proud graduate of Guiding Eyes for the Blind

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
life."
John 3:16