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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.”
UFS launches Wellness Centre
2010-09-14
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The University of the Free State (UFS) recently celebrated the launch of the Health and Wellness Centre, which is the amalgamation of the Kovsies HIV/AIDS Centre, Staff Wellness and Kovsie Health, including Kovsie Social Work Services. It was realised that the services of these departments overlap and that more could be achieved in unity. The purpose of the centre is the pursuit of optimal health and wellness as an active, lifelong process of becoming aware of choices and making of decisions towards a more balanced and fulfilling life, allowing the UFS community to thrive. It endeavours to be a respected centre of excellence, both nationally and internationally. Pictured from the left, are: Ms Estelle Heideman (Manager: Kovsies HIV/Aids Centre), Dr Annette Prins (Manager: Staff Wellness) and Dr Riana Johnson (Manager: Kovsie Health).
Photo: Mangaliso Radebe
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