Learning-on-the-phone experiences with blind people

Nowadays, the number of people demanding or joining virtual classes is increasing, and so are the characteristics of the students involved. However, this fact seems to be taken from granted when preparing courses whether e-, m- or b- learning, resulting in the negligence of special-needs or impaired people, blind included. This paper describes the experiences of two students who joined the learn-on-the-phone course to learn Spanish and are coincidentally sight-impaired. It relates the outset of the development of the course, the tutor’s beliefs and fears, how materials had to be adapted and which particular techniques and strategies had to be stressed for their learning success. Finally, the presentation highlights how collaborative, constructivist, communicative learning is possible in mix-ability groups of students like the one illustrated with very good results.
(Abstract of the presentation by Edith Luna Villanueva to be developed at MASLA Conference 20009)