Dyslexia can affect a child’s ability to read, write and spell, regardless of the language they are learning. For students learning Tamil, these difficulties may present additional challenges as they navigate the language’s unique writing system.
How can educators better recognise these challenges and adapt their teaching approaches to support students who learn differently?
To raise awareness of dyslexia among Indian students, Rebecca Shalinah, Assistant Director for Staff Professional Development, Educational Advisor and Lead Educational Therapist at DAS, conducted a sharing session for Tamil-language teachers.
The session explored how dyslexia may affect students learning Tamil and how teaching strategies used to support learners with dyslexia in English could be adapted to the Tamil-language classroom.
Recognising the Signs of Dyslexia in Tamil-Language Learning
Students with dyslexia may experience difficulties with reading, spelling and writing. However, these challenges can present differently depending on the language they are learning.
In Tamil, students may struggle to distinguish between similar-looking letters, blend consonants with vowel signs, or remember the correct spelling of words. Some may also read slowly, lose their place while reading or avoid reading aloud altogether.
Recognising these signs can help educators better understand their students’ learning difficulties and identify when additional support may be needed.
Exploring Teaching Strategies for Tamil-Language Learners
During the session, Rebecca introduced the six core principles of the Orton-Gillingham (OG) approach, a structured, multisensory approach to supporting learners with dyslexia.
Through examples in both English and Tamil, she explored how educators could adapt these principles to help students develop their reading and writing skills.
The session also highlighted practical classroom strategies, including multisensory activities, explicit teaching and the use of visual aids to support students in learning and remembering Tamil letters and words.
By exploring these approaches, educators can consider how to adapt their teaching to better meet the needs of students who learn differently.
Watch the Full Sharing Session
Whether you are a Tamil-language educator, a parent or someone interested in understanding dyslexia, we invite you to watch the video below to learn more about the challenges students with dyslexia may experience when learning Tamil and the strategies that can help support their learning.
