Retired teacher stays in the teaching game
Ms Swanepoel uses coloured overlays and spectral filters to help learners improve their reading.
SECUNDA – Ms Susan Swanepoel was looking for something meaningful to do since she retired as a teacher in April last year.
She eventually began giving remedial education classes in September.
Ms Swanepoel worked for seven years at Hoërskool Evander as an Afrikaans teacher and now with the remedial classes, specifically children struggling with Afrikaans ask her for help.
Her career began in 1979 when she studied to become a teacher at the teachers’ college in Bloemfontein.
Ms Swanepoel completed her three-year diploma in primary teaching and then did a diploma for another year in remedial education.
She gave remedial education classes at a primary school in Sasolburg before trading it for a job at a college in the same region.
At the college she gave classes in communication.
Her husband was transferred to Secunda and the couple made Secunda their home in 2007.
Ms Swanepoel began working at the FET College in Evander in 2008 and taught Afrikaans first language, as well as computer practice.
She eventually moved on to Hoërskool Evander where she taught Afrikaans until she retired.
“When I turned 62, I decided it was time to retire and rest,” said Ms Swanepoel.
However, she is not the type to sit still and thus decided on completing the Irlen course in remedial education and then to offer extra classes.
“Especially children who battle with reading, come to me for help.
“Here they can receive individual attention and the classes include word games and games that keep the brain sharp.”
Ms Swanepoel uses coloured overlays and spectral filters to help learners improve their reading.
According to her, specific wavelengths of light can create stress on some learners’ brains, thus making it difficult for them to read. She said one of the learners she helped, had difficulty with her studies at school. Her marks improved after she joined Ms Swanepoel for a few classes.
“She was able to study better, because she could concentrate better for longer,” said Ms Swanepoel.
The methods she uses, filter out the stress on the brain and lead to significant improvement in physical comfort and print clarity.
Ms Swanepoel enjoys her retirement by spending more time with her two grandchildren. In her free time she also enjoys gardening and she and her husband like to travel and camp at in various places.
