Devoted teacher gets sign of appreciation
AN INSPIRATIONAL sign language lecturer from Havering College of Further and Higher Education has received a tribute from colleagues and students.
Lorraine West was nominated for a Teacher of the Year Award as part of the 2010 Signature Annual Awards.
The awards are designed to recognise and reward those who have made a significant contribution toward achieving a society in which deaf and deafblind people have full access
This year the awards attracted record nominations and Lorraine was delighted to find her name on the shortlist.
The 55-year-old from Wickford is herself deaf, as is her husband and son. She was nominated for the Signature Awards by Havering College learning support assistant Sharron Devitt.
Sharron, who enrolled on a British Sign Language (BSL) course at the college last year, said: “Lorraine is my tutor and I nominated her because I feel she is an inspiration to all the people she teaches. I enjoy her classes immensely and what I learn is helping with my communicating with our signing students.”
Lorraine has previously worked as a senior language aide for the National Deaf Children’s Society and as a volunteer for the Essex Deaf Children’s Society.
She said: “I feel it is very important that people in all walks of life learn sign language because of the language barriers that exist. The students at the college are a pleasure to teach and I try to make the lessons enjoyable and fun.
Havering College curriculum manager for GCSEs and commercial courses Bill Maddison said: “Lorraine has been a reliable and efficient member of staff who has consistently inspired students to achieve good grades in the BSL examinations. She has always been available to offer extra help and guidance to students, especially at BSL Level 2 which is a difficult qualification to fully achieve.”
Ends
