Teacher Adaptations in Core French: A Case Study of One Grade 9 Class

Abstract

Since the introduction of the term 'learning disabilities' into the educational lexicon, teachers and researchers have endeavoured to determine the best ways to adapt teachers' pedagogies to address the needs of students with these challenges in the classroom. Most of the recommended strategies have been designed with the traditional classes in mind - English, Science, Math, and History. However, in recent years, there has been an increased awareness of a need for knowledge about adaptation strategies that are suitable for the goals of the second/foreign language classroom. This study reports the findings of an observation study that was designed to identify which adaptation strategies that had been recommended in the learning disabilities research literature were feasibly implemented in one Grade 9 core French class in Ontario; such insight will enable other core French and second/foreign language teachers to make their classes more inclusive.