Dyslexia and ADHD: disability or opportunity?

An IATEFL monthly webinar presented by Boelo van der Pool

As a school manager, Dyslexia and Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) used to be a problem for me. Struggling students, unhappy parents, and stressed-out teachers. However, I learned how to help these students learn English successfully. And now I train teachers and language schools worldwide to turn a disability into an opportunity. I'll tell you all about it in this talk.

This session consists of 4 main parts. Firstly, we will discuss:

• what dyslexia and ADHD are,
• how prevalent they are in society,
• the main features of both dyslexia and ADHD, and,
• the link between dyslexia, ADHD, and language learning.

Following an introduction to dyslexia and ADHD, we will look at how language teachers can spot possible signs of dyslexia and ADHD in their students. Teachers will also have the opportunity to experience what it feels like to be dyslexic themselves. After that, we will look at several language teaching strategies for dyslexia and ADHD-friendly language classes as well as some basic rules to adapt materials. Finally, we will look at how individual teachers and language schools can effectively enter the niche market of teaching English to students with dyslexia and ADHD and make this an opportunity for their business, but also for the development of their teachers.

More than 15% of the population has a dyslexic or ADHD brain, but the vast majority of these students go unnoticed. It is my goal to enhance awareness about the topic in our industry and to equip teachers with the tools to effectively help these students. This talk will be both inspiring and informative.

PRESENTER:

Boelo is a Dutch language educator who has called Spain home for the past 30 years. With 25+ years of experience running a successful language school, leading international education projects, and training teachers, he now focuses on helping neurodiverse students thrive in language learning.

As someone with both dyslexia and ADHD, Boelo brings a unique perspective to the classroom—and to teacher training. He’s the creator of the Dyslexia Smart Teachers approach, which has already helped hundreds of students with dyslexia, ADHD, and autism unlock their English learning potential.

Now, he's on a mission to share those tools with language teachers and schools worldwide.

If you are an IATEFL member, please register for this event using the email address on your IATEFL account so that you receive your certificate of attendance.

This event will take place on Zoom and whilst everyone is welcome to attend the live event, only IATEFL members who have a current paid membership will receive a certificate of attendance and access to the recording. To become an IATEFL member visit our membership page and select which membership type is right for you

To view the IATEFL event terms and conditions please click here