Natural Reader supports SEN students

According to Hockly (2017) this kind of tool is really helpful for dyslexic students:

Dyslexia is arguably the most common type of SEN that you will come across in your English language classroom, so it is encouraging to know that several of the assistive features of mobile devices can support these learners. For example, activating text to speech in a mobile device’s settings is recommended for dyslexic students. Because dyslexic students have challenges with reading, they can listen to rather than read an English text; in this way a written text is, in effect, ‘read aloud’ by the device. (Hockly, 2017, p.160)

How can we use it in a classroom?

When the course book has a reading activity and there is no audio to listen to, this tool is very helpful. You can create the audio in a few seconds, so students with reading difficulties can follow the reading easily.

Activity:

For example when teaching modals to intermediate students , you can ask them to imagine that they are an important politician and they have to write a speech to their community since they are in a campaign. They will have to apply modal verbs to show their intentions because they emphasize what people should, must, ought to and have to do.

You will give them a list of the problems that the community has, so they have some previous information. After writing their speeches, Students will upload them to Natural Reader so they will obtain a recorder and later on they will share them with the rest of the class. After listening to all the speeches, they will vote for the most convincing politician.

In this way students who have difficulties with reading allowed or reading will be able to do the activity without any problem.

References:

Hockly, N.(2017) Unit 45: 10 things to know about SEN students and technology. EtPedia: Technology.pp. 159-161. Hove:Pavilion Publishing and Media Ltd.