Twenty-fifth International Conference on Learning

Abstract

Among the different approaches for language learning, some old ones rely on the plurality of our sensorial resources (eg. Gattegno, 1978; Borel Maisonny, 1996) and can be particularly interesting when it comes to the improvement of the phonemic repertoire and the processes of learning to speak, read and write. Considering the dual-coding theory (Paivio, 1969) and the cognitive theory of multimedia learning (Mayer, 2005), if an association between sound and colour is made, a sound might recall a colour and seeing a colour might bring back to memory a sound. This is close to natural coloured hearing synaesthesia. This theoretical presentation aims at presenting to what extend coloured hearing pseudo-synaesthesia might be a lever to teach and learn languages. From the large existing literature, we will start by clarifying what natural coloured hearing synaesthesia is. Then, we will present to what extend we can teach pseudo-synaesthesia thanks to new media. Finally and to go further from the actual state of the art, we will emphasize on the potential of pseudo-synaesthesia for language learning. To be more precise, we will explain how giving materiality to phonemes thanks to colour might help to learn new sounds, to read and write (according to the Dual route and connectionist models of reading). Thanks to the precious feedback from colleagues, we would progress on this project. Results might lead to the development of a wide scope of free and open source learning material solutions and guidelines for first and second language learning.