Back to Course

Teaching Foreign Languages to Students with Learning Difficulties

0% Complete
0/0 Steps
  1. Module 1. About Learning Difficulties
    1 Topic
    |
    1 Quiz
  2. Module 2. Learning Outcomes in FLT
    7 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz
  3. Module 3. Key Principles Described
    5 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz
  4. Module 4. Lessons Methodology
    9 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz
  5. Module 5. Exercises
    5 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz
  6. Module 6. Tips for Teachers
    5 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz
  7. Module 7. Good practices
    3 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz
  8. Module 8. How to Assess the Learning Outcomes
    5 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz
Module Progress
0% Complete

Functional communication is how a subject spontaneously and independently communicates his or her wants and needs and relates to others. This communication can occur through a variety of forms, including speech, picture exchange, gestures, sign language and assistive devices. Functional communication training deals with the behavioural changes that occur when the child cannot find the words to communicate. These behaviours include aggression and self-injurious behaviour. Certified behaviour analysis professionals work with each child to assess what communication strategies may work best for them. Many times, there is a lot of trial and error. There are both verbal and non-verbal communication strategies (Durand & Moskowitz, 2015).

Functional Communication Training (FCT) benefits people with developmental disabilities who have language problems or delays.  Ideally, functional communication should be taught early in a child’s life. Consistency is the key to help increase the use of functional communication in all settings.

Many of the advantages of FCT include:

  1. Reduces problem behaviours
  2. Decreases frustration
  3. Increases opportunities for reinforcement
  4. Improves communication
  5. Effective with any age and diagnosis
  6. Can be taught to parents and teachers.

A disadvantage is that it does not rule out the possibility for other sources of reinforcement for the target response.  For its implementation, we will follow 13 steps that you can consult in the Annex 3 (Franzone 2009).