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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.”
Chess has potential for growth
2012-05-04
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Residence students show great interest in league chess.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
4 May 2012
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The UFS Chess Club recently arranged the first chess tournament. Some 20 students took part in the tournament. According to Karin Venter of KovsieSport, the tournament was arranged to see whether students were interested in the game, and also to collect funds for chess boards and chess pieces. Students had to pay R50 to participate in the tournament.
The winners of the tournament were Pierre Venter (first), Okkert Louw (second) and Bongani Nhlapo (third).
“Interest was also high among residence students for residence league chess,” said Karin. The league will be launched in the next two to three weeks.
There is definitely a future for chess at the university,” said Karin.