Specific langage impairment : a challenge for teachers and special needs teachers in a lower secondary school

This study examined the views of teachers in grade 7-9 in a Swedish school that teach in classes where one or several students have the diagnosis specific language impairment. The purpose was to examine the challenges these teachers experience in these classes, how they perceive the effects of different adjustments of the education for these pupils and how they believe the responsibility should be divided between the teacher and the special needs teacher. The research questions were: Which thoughts do the teachers have about different adjustments for this group of pupils? How do the teachers perceive the effects of the adjustments? Which kind of supports do the teachers think they can provide and which kind of support do the teachers think that the special needs teachers should be responsible for? The study used qualitative interviews to answer the research questions. The result showed that most of the teachers planned tailored adjustments for this group of pupils that they consider made a difference, and that the teachers considered the diversity of the diagnosis. The result showed different views among the teachers as to how the adjustments were planned, where some proceeded from the individual with the diagnosis and in which areas he or she was in need of adjustments to be able to perform, while others proceeded from the needs in the group to plan adjustments. The result also showed different views among the teachers on the conditions that the special needs teacher has, one view focusing on the possibility of giving extra time to finish tasks and the other view focusing on the possibility to create a secure relationship with the pupil. Where some teachers thought the work with the special needs teacher should consist of training and repeating, others thought the work should focus on strategies and tools that the pupil could use in the future. It is important for the special needs teacher to know what kind of work is expected