What we need to know about dyslexia

What are the challenges for dyslexic learners when learning Mandarin?

Dyslexia primarily affects phonological processing, working memory, and sometimes visual processing, which makes it challenging to decode written language and link sounds to symbols.

For Mandarin specifically, dyslexic learners may face:

a) Character recognition difficulties

• Mandarin is a logographic system (characters, not alphabet), and many characters look visually similar — confusing for learners with visual memory and discrimination issues.

• Stroke order and composition of characters add a layer of complexity.

b) Phonological processing and tones

• Mandarin has four tones that differentiate word meanings, and fine auditory discrimination is needed to distinguish and produce them — a known difficulty for many dyslexic learners.

c) Working memory load

• Holding sound, tone, character shape, and meaning in working memory at the same time can overwhelm learners with working memory weaknesses.

d) Sequencing issues

• Problems with sequencing sounds and radicals, making it harder to remember compound words or sentence structures.

What kind of knowledge should trainee Mandarin teachers have about dyslexia?

To support dyslexic learners, Mandarin teacher trainees need to understand:

a) What dyslexia is (and what it isn’t)

• Dyslexia affects reading, writing, phonological processing, and working memory, but not intelligence.

• It varies between individuals — not all dyslexic learners struggle in the same way.

b) How dyslexia affects Mandarin learning specifically

• Difficulty distinguishing tones and remembering characters.

• Struggles with visual similarity of characters and stroke sequences.

• Need for multi-sensory, structured, and scaffolded learning approaches.

c) Differentiated teaching strategies

• Multi-sensory learning: combining visual, auditory, and kinesthetic activities (e.g., tracing characters in the air while saying them aloud).

• Chunking and pattern recognition: teaching radicals and components as building blocks.

• Use of color coding and visual aids to highlight differences between similar characters.

• Technology tools: apps that give visual and audio feedback, speech-to-text, or text-to-speech.

• Reducing cognitive load: focusing on high-frequency characters first, avoiding overwhelming lists of new vocabulary.

• Supporting tone recognition: through music, rhythm, and visual tone marks.

d) How to create an inclusive classroom

• Normalizing mistakes as part of learning.

• Allowing extra time and alternative assessments.

• Providing oral rather than written options when appropriate.

• Collaborating with SEND/ASN specialists in schools.

Can someone have dyslexia in English but not in Mandarin (or vice versa)?

This is a very interesting and complex question.

a) Cross-linguistic evidence suggests:

• Dyslexia manifests differently across languages depending on the writing system.

• In alphabetic languages (like English), dyslexia is often linked to phoneme-grapheme decoding issues.

• In logographic languages (like Mandarin), visual-orthographic processing plays a much bigger role.

b) Some studies suggest that a person may struggle more in one language than another, depending on which cognitive demands are stronger:

• A learner might struggle with English spelling but find Mandarin easier if their visual memory is strong and phoneme-grapheme mapping is weaker.

• Conversely, a learner might manage English but struggle with Mandarin tones and visual character recognition if their auditory and visual processing is weak.

c) But: True dyslexia often has broad, underlying phonological and working memory difficulties, so difficulties usually appear in both languages, but in different ways.

Summary: Dyslexia can manifest differently in Mandarin, but it’s rare to be fully “non-dyslexic” in Mandarin and dyslexic in English — the challenges just look different.

4. Is there a way for dyslexic learners to learn Mandarin more effectively?

Yes! While Mandarin is a difficult language for dyslexic learners, there are many strategies to help them succeed.

Effective approaches include:

a) Multi-sensory methods

• Combine visual, auditory, and kinesthetic input.

• E.g., drawing characters while saying them out loud and using gestures for meaning.

b) Breaking down and teaching radicals/components

• Teach radicals as meaning and pronunciation clues, helping learners deconstruct characters instead of memorizing whole shapes.

c) Tone practice with visual and musical supports

• Use color-coded tone marks.

• Practice tones using songs, rhymes, and rhythm.

d) Scaffolding and chunking

• Teach small sets of vocabulary at a time, grouped by theme or shared radicals.

• Focus on high-frequency words.

e) Technology support

• Use speech recognition (e.g., Speechling, HelloChinese) for tone practice.

• Use writing apps like Skritter or Pleco for stroke order and character formation.

• Use text-to-speech tools for listening comprehension.

f) Inclusive classroom approaches

• Normalise mistakes.

• Use oral assessments instead of only written ones.

• Offer alternative formats for assignments (audio, video).

• Allow extra time for reading/writing tasks.

Note: In the spirit of transparency, I’d like to note that I used ChatGPT during the writing process for this blog post. While the AI tool helped generate and refine ideas, all content was reviewed and curated to align with my personal experiences and academic insights.