Title:
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Challenges of teaching EFL to students with visual impairment in Egypt
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In an attempt to improve English language teaching to students with visual impairment
in Egypt, this study explores the provision of EFL to students with visual impairment in
Egypt in order to establish whether it is adequate to enable these students to meet the
communicative aims and goals of the English syllabus as stated by the Ministry of
Education, which has a policy of equal access to education for students with disability.
A secondary aim is the collection of views on inclusive education, which is a relatively
new educational concept in Egypt.
The research investigates the perspectives of 198 students with visual impairment in
both preparatory and secondary stages in six schools serving two areas in Egypt, one of
which is a school for partially sighted students, whereas the remaining five schools are
for students with visual impairment (blind). The views of all 23 EFL teachers in these
schools are also analysed. The study adopts a qualitative approach employing the
following methods of data collection: classroom observation including videotaping,
semi-structured interviews with teachers and students and incidental data collection.
Three of the schools, two for students with visual impairment and one for partially
sighted students, are described in case studies. The data from all six schools is then
comprehensively analysed in order to extract common themes across all schools in the
sample to complement the case studies.
Provision of educational services to students with visual impairment was found to be
inadequate in various respects. In addition, unequal conditions existed between different
schools for students with visual impairment and also within the schools. The major
problem was the lack of specialist training received by the teachers either for teaching
EFL or for teaching students with visual impairment. This omission was particularly
serious in the case of teachers with visual impairment. The inadequacy of training
existed at both pre- and in-service levels. This led most importantly to the omission of
the listening and speaking practice so central to a communicative approach to language
learning and so essential for students with visual impairment. Physical conditions in
schools were not always appropriate. Essential material resources e. g. Braille machines,
tape recorders were scarce and unevenly distributed. Supplementary language practice
materials, available to fully sighted students, were not available for these students.
Inclusion was not rejected as a policy, but there was a common concern among teachers
and students about the response of the larger society.
The following conclusions are drawn: there is a need for awareness raising about people
with disabilities in society in general and in the educational world more particularly. It
is suggested that specialised pre-service training to student teachers in the Special
Education Section as well as compulsory refresher courses to all in-service teachers
would increase EFL teaching effectiveness to students with visual impairment.
Consideration is given to the content and organisation of such courses.
Recommendations are made for collaborative efforts on the part of concerned ministries
to raise community awareness towards persons with disabilities and introduce special
education to all student teachers in order to pave the way to successful inclusive
educational, and rehabilitation efforts
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