Feedback

The purpose of this website is to enlighten people about the problems of English spelling and provide material which teachers can use in their lessons.

If you would like to comment on this website or can suggest improvements to it

please email:  mashabell@aol.com

I would also like to hear from you if you can tell me about your own or someone else's negative experiences with learning to read and write. For example, after reading my book 'Understanding English Spelling' a woman in her forties told me how she never applied for jobs that might involve any writing because she knew that she could not help making spelling mistakes.

     Another woman of similar age told me how her self-esteem and confidence were blighted for many years because she struggled with learning to read and write, and was therefore put in a remedial set at secondary school. It took her many years to realise that she was in fact quite bright, but her struggle with learning to read had affected the whole of her education and life chances.

Because of my background and my research into English spelling, I am very interested in such stories. I am also considering putting them on this website, if given permission to do so, without mentioning any names, just approximate age and sex.

     I get the impression that English spelling causes much silent misery. This website could provide a voice for it.

Below are a few questions which indicate what kind of comments I am interested in, but please don't feel constrained by them. Forward any comments you would like to make to me at mashabell@aol.com

The Website

1) How did you find out about the website?

2) Are you interested in spelling for personal reasons or in a professional capacity

   (e.g. as a teacher)?

3) Did the website contain the information which you sought?

4) Was it presented in a helpful way?

5) Were you surprised by the size of the problem as shown on the website?

6) Can you suggest ways in which the website might be improved?

7) Can you suggest ways of making more people aware of this site?

Spelling experiences.

Can you tell me of any instances where people's lives have been directly affected by our spelling system?

8) Do you know someone who had trouble learning to read and came to dislike school because of it?

9) Can you give an example of someone's life being blighted by their inability to spell?   (Perhaps being reluctant to write letters, not applying for jobs that involve writing, being turned down for a job, not getting promoted, or even being dismissed because of his or her poor spelling?)

10) Can you site any other situations where people have been adversely affected by their poor spelling?

11)  It is well known that many of our greatest thinkers were poor spellers, including Darwin and Einstein. Have you any evidence that poor spelling can adversely affect the more able among us as well as those with more obvious learning difficulties?

I look forward to hearing from you with any of your comments, and thank you for them in advance.

Masha Bell   May 2006