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22 September 2021
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Story Michelle Nöthling
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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.”
Former UFS Council member dies
2010-07-27
The University of the Free State (UFS) is deeply saddened by the sudden death of Ms Cheryl Gillwald who passed away in Cape Town this week after a short illness.
Ms Gillwald served on the UFS Council as one of the representatives of the then Minister of Education, Ms Naledi Pandor, for the remaining period of the term of Dr Shirley Walters from 26 March 2006 to 31 December 2006. She was reappointed to the Council by the minister for another term of four years from 1 January 2007.
However, she resigned from the Council on 1 May 2007 and relocated to the UK with her family.
Ms Gillwald is the former Deputy Minister of the national departments of Justice and Correctional Services.