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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

Vice-Chancellor hosts students in NSH Programme
2012-10-23

The No Student Hungry programme (NSH) at the university is growing meal by meal and students in the programme were treated at the home of Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector, and his wife, Grace.

The NSH provides food allowances for a daily balanced meal to needy students. More than 100 students are assisted in this way so that they are able to focus on their studies without worrying about were their next meal is to come from.

Prof. Jansen donated the proceeds of his book Knowledge in the Blood to establish the project. Grace and Dr Carin Buys, wife of Mr Rudi Buys, Dean of Student Affairs, are the patrons of the project.

Students apply for the allowances and are selected on the basis of financial need, academic results, active participation in student life programmes and commitment to give something back to the community.

You too can contribute R10 at a time to the NSH programme.

You are investing in a student’s future and our country’s future.

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