[nabs-l] Advanced foreign language advice needed

[David Andrews]

My view may not be popular -- but, it seems to me that as blind 
persons we need to be able to take notes as does everybody else.  Use 
of a human note taker, while it may seem expedient, isn't going to 
prepare you for the real world.  Unless you have a problem, in 
addition to blindness, most employers aren't, and shouldn't provide 
you with a note taker.  We need to have the tools to study as 
everybody else does.

I would use the Braille note to take notes in class, and worry about 
powerpoints etc. later.

Dave

At 09:10 PM 8/21/2012, you wrote:
>Hello,
>If this is a state college, if you ask for a note taker, they can't 
>deny you a note taker. If they say that is against their policy, say 
>that is BS and you can sue them.
>If they are a private college that put you on a 504 plan the case is 
>the same. They can provide you accommodation if it isn't unreasonable.
>Thank you,
>
>Brandon Keith Biggs
>-----Original Message----- From: Ashley Bramlett
>Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2012 6:37 PM
>To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Advanced foreign language advice needed
>
>Aleeha,
>Well, that is too bad because I think a foregin language class is one where
>a notetaker would be very  beneficial.
>If you feel you miss material in class, you can always go to the professor's
>office hours. In my experience, they are generally real willing to help and
>repeat or clarify any lecture material.
>
>Ashley
>
>-----Original Message----- From: aleeha dudley
>Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2012 8:28 PM
>To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Advanced foreign language advice needed
>
>I use a note taker in science classes and am not ashamed to say it. The
>university does not provide these services for foreign language classes.
>Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.
>
>Aleeha Dudley
>President, Ohio Association of Blind Students
>Changing what it means to be blind
>
>On Aug 21, 2012, at 6:40 PM, "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
>wrote:
>
>>Aleeha,
>>Sounds like a handful. I would not be able to read notes on a 
>>laptop, take notes and listen at the same time even if it was in english!
>>What teaching style does she use? I only took foreign language in 
>>high school; I would not want to try in college due to no braille 
>>availability. In high school I was accomodated with hard copy 
>>braille and braille texts which was vital to my success; college 
>>you have to do auditorily.
>>
>>What I'd suggest is not reading the class notes in class. Do you 
>>need to read them for a worksheet or group activity? If so, could 
>>someone else read them with you? Sometimes my professors have a 
>>study guide but I follow auditorily since I ask the professor to 
>>speak out the questions before going over them. If in a group of 
>>students, I try and get them to read the handout to me so I can participate.
>>Instead of in class, get any handouts ahead of time and read them. 
>>If you feel you need them in class, is it possible to put the 
>>handout file on your braille note and switch files from your notes 
>>and class notes?
>>
>>Another idea which might be quicker for accessing notes is to 
>>emboss the class notes. Do you have an embosser of yours or the schools?
>>I find that i can  skim a hard copy document faster than a braille 
>>display file.
>>Also recording class might help. Another idea, which many would 
>>disagree with, is have a notetaker. Your school should provide a 
>>notetaker upon request for you. Languages classes go fast and I 
>>think it would be hard to take notes as fast as they go especially 
>>when other students can copy notes from the board or slide at their 
>>pace and you have to do it
>>right as the teacher talks.
>>
>>HTH,
>>Ashley
>>-----Original Message----- From: 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