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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

University hosts Mandela Rhodes Scholars

2012-09-20

About 50 current and past recipients of the prestigious Mandela Rhodes Scholarship, from across the continent, will gather on the Bloemfontein Campus this month. They will attend the Community of Mandela Rhodes Scholars Summit that takes place from 29 September to 1 October 2012.

This is the first time that the summit is being held in Bloemfontein. Previously, it has been hosted at the University of Pretoria, Stellenbosch and Rhodes Universities and the Mandela Rhodes Foundation in Cape Town. The theme for the Summit is ‘Re-Imagining Education in Africa’. Scholars from diverse fields such as genetics, law, music and medicine will participate. Those attending hail from, among others, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa.

Mr Andrew Ihsaan Gasnolar, convener of the summit, says the scholars themselves will direct the topics of the summit programme. Prof Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the universityand Mr Rudi Buys, Dean of Students, are included in the list of speakers.

The Community of Mandela Rhodes Scholars is the alumni body of people who have been awarded the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship and fall within the legacy organisations of former President Nelson Mandela. The scholarship offers young Africans who exhibit academic prowess as well as broader leadership potential, an educational opportunity unique on the continent. While pursuing their chosen postgraduate degree, each scholar benefits from access to leadership development programmes.

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