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SASL Star: Annemarie Le Roux

22 September 2021 | Story Michelle Nöthling | Photo Supplied

“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

Students awarded bursaries for books

2011-03-09

The Interim Student Council (ISC) of the University of the Free State (UFS)

The Interim Student Council (ISC) of the University of the Free State (UFS) decided to search its own heart in order to alleviate poverty amongst its students.

Thirteen university students recently received bursaries for the purchasing of books at an event at a coffee house on campus.

Ms Modieyi Motholo, ISC chairperson, indicated that she noticed during the registration period that students were struggling to purchase text books, after which she and her team graciously made money from their budget available for the bursary. “We decided at the start of our term to serve the students and to look after their needs. In this case, we noticed a need amongst students and thus reacted to that,” she said.

Bursary holders had to meet certain criteria, amongst which the overcoming of socio-economic circumstances. At the event they were also awarded certificates of felicitation as well as rewards for their hard work.

Modieyi, on behalf of the ISC, voiced their hope that future student leaders would continue with this project.

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