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22 September 2021 | Story Michelle Nöthling | Photo Supplied
Annemarie Le Roux.

“I love working with children.” This is one of the first things Annemarie le Roux mentions when asked to describe herself. This love for children propelled Annemarie into the field of education and she graduated in 2006 with a BEd in Foundation Phase at the UFS. Annemarie immediately immersed herself in the Deaf community, enriching the lives of children at the Thiboloha School for the Deaf in Qwaqwa and the De la Bat School for the Deaf in Worcester. 

The academic world enticed Annemarie back to the University of the Free State (UFS) and she was appointed as a junior lecturer in the Department of South African Sign Language (SASL) and Deaf Studies in 2013. Going from strength to strength, Annemarie completed her master’s degree in SASL in 2019, and published an article earlier this year that she co-wrote with Marga Stander. In this article, they found that SASL “has become an increasingly popular language that hearing university students want to learn as a second language” and subsequently explored different teaching methods used for this emerging group of interested students. 

Although now firmly established in academia, Annemarie is still committed to the practical application of SASL. “I am closely involved in student and community engagement through the SIGNALS Sign Language student association that helps empower the Deaf community and South African Sign Language.” She also interprets for the Deaf community whenever she gets an opportunity, as well as for Deaf students in class and meetings.

On the importance of Sign Language and the recognition of the Deaf community in South Africa, Annemarie believes it will open greater opportunities for development. “More people will be able to learn SASL, and it might even become a subject in school for hearing children.”

News Archive

Service of dedication and blessings held for UFS Rector
2009-10-15

The first of different activities culminating with the official inauguration of Prof. Jonathan Jansen as first black Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State (UFS) was held on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein yesterday. Prof. Jansen was welcomed as thirteenth Rector of the UFS by Father Patrick Towe, Chairperson of the UFS’s Campus Ministries Forum during a service of dedication and blessing that was held on the campus. Father Towe bestowed blessings, support and wisdom upon Prof. Jansen for his time ahead as leader of this institution. Here are some students and members of the UFS Campus Ministries Forum with Prof. Jansen (third from the left) and Father Towe.
Photo: Gerhard Louw

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