[Trainer-Talk] Teaching adults who don't speak English

Juanita Herrera juanitaherrera1991 at gmail.com
Fri Sep 13 14:37:49 UTC 2024


Hi Showe,

I don’t have experience teaching Braille, so I haven’t encountered the challenge of teaching it in another language. However, I have taught many individuals on the use of assistive technology in Spanish and haven’t struggled with finding the right words to translate items or concepts, possibly because Spanish is my first language. Most of the individuals I’ve trained in technology are older adults who are using it primarily for independence in their personal lives, rather than for employment.

I agree that learning English would be beneficial for those looking to incorporate technology into the workforce. While I can’t speak to the Braille aspect specifically, I think focusing on technology skills that align with their goals, alongside English language learning, could help them feel more confident and capable.

Best of luck with your work!

Juanita


> On Sep 13, 2024, at 6:56 AM, Showe Trela via Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
>> Hello. I am curious if anyone has taught technology and Braille to adults
>> who do not speak a word of English. Can you share your experiences? The end
>> goal is getting the adult employed and I am struggling with finding the
>> balance between teaching these skills while they are learning English. For
>> example, I am curious if teaching contracted Braille when they do not read
>> or speak English is the right move. They are taking ELL classes and also
>> need assistive tech training. I am struggling with finding resources to
>> teach computer literacy when there may not be words in their language to
>> explain the concept. Ideas, thoughts, and experiences welcome!
>> 
>> Showe



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