Foreign Language Learning for the Visually Impaired in the Region of Central Macedonia, Greece: Problems and Suggestions

This article presents in brief the causes of visual impairment in modern times and sets the theoretical framework along with giving some practical tips of the teaching methods the teacher of foreign languages should follow in order to maximize the performance of the visually impaired students in the language classroom. Moreover, it presents a mini research held by the author in the area of Central Macedonia, Greece in order to trace the conditions which visually impaired students are faced with while learning English and other foreign languages in Greece and the problems that they are confronted with. Furthermore, through the elaboration of the questionnaires used in the research, some useful conclusions are drawn and some suggestions are presented about the improvement of the teaching of foreign languages to the blind and the measures the state should take.