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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

When hockey becomes a part of you

2014-06-25

Izelle Lategan, a fourth-year BSocSci (Human Movement Sciences) student at our university, continues to fly the Kovsies’ flag high on national level.

In December 2010, Izelle made her debut for SA hockey against Argentina. Among her greatest achievements wearing our country’s colours, are:

she scored a hat trick against India in Ireland in 2012 (SA won that game 3-2), and
she was captain of the Junior World Cup U/21 team in Germany this year.

“Representing the country amounts to a lot of pressure. I managed to get through by working hard and putting in extra training hours in order to achieve all these,” she says. “When you have a setback, don’t step back, but rather make a comeback!”

She appreciates the support she receives from her family, friends and coach – especially when on international tours. “Even though they can’t make it to all my games, they try hard to show their support when they can,” she added.

Izelle’s focus is now on representing Kovsies at the South African Student Sports Union (SASSU) games in Pretoria from 30 June – 4 July 2014. She is currently resting from national duty, since she wants to complete her undergraduate studies this year, but aims to return next year.

Her long-term goal is to play at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

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