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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

Kovsie Xtravaganza with Lize Beekman
2008-11-22

It's Kovsie Xtravaganza time! Kovsie Xtravaganza: Xmas Festival with Lize Beekman will be held on Saturday, 22 November at 19:30 in the Sand du Plessis Theatre.

This year promises to set the benchmark with performances by the cream of Kovsie talent. Singers that will be performing include Caroline Haasbroek, Sanli Jooste, Thabo Hlongwane, Chizano Mathediso (Spontaan Winner), Klitsgras and Karpos.

Lize Beekman (website) who is known for songs like Sonneblom uit Bethlehem, Draadkar oor die See and the new title song for the television programme Pasella will be the guest artist. Old-Kovsie Hanno van Heerden, who has made a name for himself on South African stages and also won the 2006 ATKV Songwriters competition, will also make a guest appearance.

Tickets cost R90 and are available from PACOFS.

Contact the Kovsie Culture office at x2819 for more information.

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