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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

“Stick to your dreams, reach your destiny,” Zahara tells class of 2012
2012-09-07

Foto: Thabo Kessah
5 September 2012

Grade 12 learners from more than 30 schools in the Eastern Free State recently attended the Qwaqwa Campus Open Day where they were addressed by singer Zahara. She entertained the learners with hits like Loliwe, Umthwalo and Destiny and she advised the Class of 2012 to stick to their dreams if they wanted to reach their destinies. The Vice-Rector: External Relations, Dr Choice Makhetha, also addressed the learners and told the packed Rolihlahla Mandela Hall never to allow their disadvantaged backgrounds to influence their futures. “I was also in your shoes years ago. I know how it feels to come from a poor family. But I am here today and proud to say I am part of the leadership of one of the best universities in the world,” said Dr Makhetha. Learners then visited various faculties and departments to see what they offered and also had the opportunity to apply for placement in the 2013 academic year.

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