Main Article Content
Abstract
This study explores teachers’ strategic teaching in supporting dyslexic students’ basic reading skills in Indonesian inclusive EFL classrooms, where evidence from authentic classroom practice remains limited. Using a qualitative case study design, the study investigates how an elementary school English teacher implements instructional strategies, adapts classroom practices, and addresses challenges in supporting dyslexic learners. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis. The findings indicate that the teacher employed multisensory phonics instruction, differentiated learning materials, and individualized scaffolding to facilitate students’ reading development. However, limited professional training, inadequate instructional resources, and time constraints remained significant challenges. These challenges were addressed through teacher initiative, including the development of low-cost instructional media and collaboration with parents. The study highlights the importance of teacher agency and adaptive instructional practices in supporting inclusive EFL reading instruction and provides practical implications for teachers working in resource-constrained inclusive classrooms.
Keywords
Article Details

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
In submitting the manuscript to the FOSTER: Journal of English Language Teaching, the authors certify that:
- They are authorized by their co-authors to enter into these arrangements.
- The work described has not been formally published before, except in the form of an abstract or as part of a published lecture, review, thesis, or overlay journal.
- That it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere,
- The publication has been approved by the author(s) and by responsible authorities – tacitly or explicitly – of the institutes where the work has been carried out.
- They secure the right to reproduce any material that has already been published or copyrighted elsewhere.
- They agree to the following license and copyright agreement.
License and Copyright Agreement
Authors who publish with FOSTER: Journal of English Language Teaching agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the FOSTER: Journal of English Language Teaching right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors can enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the FOSTER: Journal of English Language Teaching published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or edit it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) before and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
References
- Al Otaiba, S., McMaster, K., Wanzek, J., & Zaru, M. W. (2023). What We Know and Need to Know about Literacy Interventions for Elementary Students with Reading Difficulties and Disabilities, including Dyslexia. Reading Research Quarterly, 58(2), 313–332. https://doi.org/10.1002/rrq.458
- Amado, C., Dorotea, N., Pedro, A., & Piedade, J. (2022). MOOCs Design: A Conceptual Framework for Continuous Teacher Training in Portugal. Education Sciences, 12(5), 308. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci12050308
- Antić, S., & Stevanović, J. (2024). How to improve reading comprehension: Mapping critical areas for pedagogical interventions. Nastava i Vaspitanje, 73(3), 345–362. https://doi.org/10.5937/nasvas2403345A
- Boardman, K. (2020). An exploration of teachers’ perceptions and the value of multisensory teaching and learning: A perspective on the influence of Specialist Dyslexia Training in England. Education 3-13, 48(7), 795–806. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004279.2019.1653349
- Bora, D., Patel, P., Psyridou, M., Ruotsalainen, J., Richardson, U., & Torppa, M. (2025). Foundational English literacy development in India: A randomised-control trial using phonics instruction and GraphoLearn. Reading and Writing, 38(5), 1309–1335. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11145-024-10551-6
- Bowen, G. A. (2009). Document Analysis as a Qualitative Research Method. Qualitative Research Journal, 9(2), 27–40. https://doi.org/10.3316/QRJ0902027
- Carreker, S., & Birsh, J. R. (2019). Multisensory teaching of basic language skills activity book (Fourth edition). Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.
- Chiu, T.-Y., & Drieghe, D. (2023). The role of visual crowding in eye movements during reading: Effects of text spacing. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 85(8), 2834–2858. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13414-023-02787-1
- Creswell, J. W. (2013). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. SAGE Publications. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=EbogAQAAQBAJ
- Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2023). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. SAGE. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=b9tFzwEACAAJ
- Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2016). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. SAGE Publications. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=DLbBDQAAQBAJ
- Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry & research design: Choosing among five approaches (Fourth edition, international student edition). SAGE.
- Dimitropoulou, P., Filippatou, D., Gkoutzourela, S., Griva, A., Pachiti, I., & Michaelides, M. (2025). The Synergy of School Climate, Motivation, and Academic Emotions: A Predictive Model for Learning Strategies and Reading Comprehension. Behavioral Sciences, 15(4), 503. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15040503
- Drager, K. (2018). Experimental Research Methods in Sociolinguistics. Bloomsbury Academic. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=xhFBDwAAQBAJ
- Ehri, L. C. (2014a). Orthographic Mapping in the Acquisition of Sight Word Reading, Spelling Memory, and Vocabulary Learning. Scientific Studies of Reading, 18(1), 5–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888438.2013.819356
- Ehri, L. C. (2014b). Orthographic Mapping in the Acquisition of Sight Word Reading, Spelling Memory, and Vocabulary Learning. Scientific Studies of Reading, 18(1), 5–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888438.2013.819356
- Ehri, L. C. (2020). The Science of Learning to Read Words: A Case for Systematic Phonics Instruction. Reading Research Quarterly, 55(S1). https://doi.org/10.1002/rrq.334
- El Arbaouı, F. Z. (2023). Pedagogical Practices for Dyslexic Learners in Moroccan EFL Classroom. International Journal of Educational Research Review, 8(3), 385–395. https://doi.org/10.24331/ijere.1286605
- Flaten Jarsve, C., & Tsagari, D. (2022). Dyslexia and English as a Foreign Language in Norwegian Primary Education: A Mixed Methods Intervention Study. Center for Educational Policy Studies Journal, 12(4), 155–180. https://doi.org/10.26529/cepsj.1459
- Florian, L. (2014). What counts as evidence of inclusive education? European Journal of Special Needs Education, 29(3), 286–294. https://doi.org/10.1080/08856257.2014.933551
- Florian, L., & Black‐Hawkins, K. (2011). Exploring inclusive pedagogy. British Educational Research Journal, 37(5), 813–828. https://doi.org/10.1080/01411926.2010.501096
- Grabe, W., & Zhang, C. (2013). Reading and Writing Together: A Critical Component of English for Academic Purposes Teaching and Learning. TESOL Journal, 4(1), 9–24. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesj.65
- Kilpatrick, D. A. (2015). Essentials of assessing, preventing, and overcoming reading difficulties. Wiley.
- Kormos, J. (2016a). The Second Language Learning Processes of Students with Specific Learning Difficulties (0 ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315692371
- Kormos, J. (2016b). The Second Language Learning Processes of Students with Specific Learning Difficulties (0 ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315692371
- Kormos, J. (2020). Specific learning difficulties in second language learning and teaching. Language Teaching, 53(2), 129–143. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444819000442
- Li, H., Avendaño, S. M., & Bak, M. Y. S. (2025). Analyzing the Effects of a Repeated Reading Intervention on Reading Fluency With Generalized Linear Mixed Models. Evaluation & the Health Professions, 48(1), 112–128. https://doi.org/10.1177/01632787241257450
- Lindner, K.-T., & Schwab, S. (2025). Differentiation and individualisation in inclusive education: A systematic review and narrative synthesis. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 29(12), 2199–2219. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2020.1813450
- Merriam, S. B., & Tisdell, E. J. (2015). Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation (Fourth edition). John Wiley & Sons.
- Mills, J. R. (2018). Effective Multi-Sensory Strategies for Students With Dyslexia. Kappa Delta Pi Record, 54(1), 36–40. https://doi.org/10.1080/00228958.2018.1407181
- Mogan, S., & Mohd Yasin, M. H. (2022). Reading Skills Teaching Strategies For Students with Learning Disabilities. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 11(1), Pages 1030-1043. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARPED/v11-i1/12273
- Mumpuniarti, M., Handoyo, R. R., Phytanza, D. T., & Barotuttaqiyah, D. (2020). Teacher’s Pedagogy Competence and Challenges IN Implementing Inclusive Learning in Slow Learner. Jurnal Cakrawala Pendidikan, 39(1), 217–229. https://doi.org/10.21831/cp.v39i1.28807
- Oddone, K. (2022). The nature of teachers’ professional learning through a personal learning network: Individual, social and digitally connected. Teaching and Teacher Education: Leadership and Professional Development, 1, 100001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tatelp.2022.100001
- Parsons, S. A., Vaughn, M., Scales, R. Q., Gallagher, M. A., Parsons, A. W., Davis, S. G., Pierczynski, M., & Allen, M. (2018). Teachers’ Instructional Adaptations: A Research Synthesis. Review of Educational Research, 88(2), 205–242. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654317743198
- Rahmadhani, P. R. & Emeliya Sukma Dara Damanik. (2025). Teachers’ practical experience: Improving English vocabulary of dyslexic students in regular classrooms. Leksika: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra Dan Pengajarannya, 19(3), 238–247. https://doi.org/10.30595/lks.v19i3.27495
- Rao, K., Torres, C., & Smith, S. J. (2021). Digital Tools and UDL-Based Instructional Strategies to Support Students With Disabilities Online. Journal of Special Education Technology, 36(2), 105–112. https://doi.org/10.1177/0162643421998327
- Rello, L., & Baeza-Yates, R. (2017). How to present more readable text for people with dyslexia. Universal Access in the Information Society, 16(1), 29–49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-015-0438-8
- Rupley, W. H., Blair, T. R., & Nichols, W. D. (2009). Effective Reading Instruction for Struggling Readers: The Role of Direct/Explicit Teaching. Reading & Writing Quarterly, 25(2–3), 125–138. https://doi.org/10.1080/10573560802683523
- Saldana, J. (2021). The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers. SAGE Publications. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=RwcVEAAAQBAJ
- Saputra, A. D., Uctuvia, V., & Susanto, A. K. (2025). Unpacking Differentiated Instruction in Indonesian EFL Classrooms: Implementation Realities and Pedagogical Barriers. 12(2).
- Septiani, K., Artini, L. P., & Ana, I. K. T. A. (2025). Knowledge & Treatment of Students Who are Potentially Dyslexic: Teachers� Perspectives. JEdu: Journal of English Education, 5(1), 45–56. https://doi.org/10.30998/jedu.v5i1.13989
- Silviani, A., & Mulyanto, A. (2025). Implementing Inclusive Education in Resource-Constrained Primary Schools: A Comparative Case Study of Management Strategies in West Java, Indonesia. Journal of Innovation and Research in Primary Education, 4(4), 2619–2628. https://doi.org/10.56916/jirpe.v4i4.2163
- Wills, R., Chenoweth, L., & Ellem, K. (2016). Disability and transition from state education to community life: Next steps for parents. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 20(5), 552–567. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2015.1095252
- Woodcock, S. (2021). Teachers’ beliefs in inclusive education and the attributional responses toward students with and without specific learning difficulties. Dyslexia, 27(1), 110–125. https://doi.org/10.1002/dys.1651
- Yin, R. K. (with Campbell, D. T.). (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods (Sixth edition). SAGE Publications, Inc.