[nabs-l] Help with Powerpoints and german Class

[annajee82 at gmail.com]

I took a few semesters of Spanish.  I don't know if you are a braille reader, but if so, I would highly recommend using that since you are learning a ton of new words and will need to spell things out. 
Using a tutor and or reader was a really good resource for me as well.  Powerpoints can be read with JAWS quite easily, and alt text can be put into any images so that a screen reader can read a description of the image.  In a language class they like to show pictures of things to learn vocabulary so that students can have different ways to associate words with objects or actions instead of just associating words with the comparative word in English.  It's just an additional way of learning. So on a powerpoint if there is a picture of a classroom with a desk, a chair, a pencil, and a notebook, and students are supposed to name the pictures using German vocabulary, the description could give clues to what objects are in the image without actually naming them.
Or it could just name them.  As long as you are learning the German words then you've met the objective. 

For me, I find that I learn best on my own reading the book at home before class.  Then I can go to class and follow the powerpoints more easily because I am already familiar with the material.  Or If I don't have to follow the powerpoints in class, I don't.  I just listen and take notes to the best of my ability.
There are settings in JAWS and in MS word to use other languages.  You would have to look up how to set that but that is an option if it would make things easier.

Hope that helps.

Anna E Givens


> On Aug 29, 2016, at 2:05 PM, Tristan Torres via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi all. I know some of you are starting classes today, and I hope that your first day of classes have gone well, or at least better than mine has. Mine involved a broken cane. Typical Monday, Eh? At any rate, I was wondering if any of you could give me some tips on how to gain the most out of a language class as a blind person. I am taking an introductory German course, and was wondering specifically if there were any blind people who took that. If not, that’s okay too. I have already asked a blind person I know, and he recommends i get a tutor to go over any materials that I might have missed, due to a combination of not knowing the language, and what can often times be a very visual class. Do you think this is a good idea? Also, my German professor, as well as all of my other professors tend to use powerpoint a lot in their lectures. They’re often posted on blackboard well before the class so that anyone can look at them and prepare for upcoming lectures. I know that powerpoint can be successfully read by a blind person using the right program, but I was wondering if there was a more streamlined and accessible alternative to a powerpoint? In the past i have just gone without relying on the powerpoints, but think it might be helpful if I end up missing a lecture, or in the case of german, needing to be prepared before the class starts. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Looking forward to hearing from you all. Tristan
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