HAMMERSMITH TEACHER WINS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD
HAMMERSMITH TEACHER WINS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD
Jill is a national Adult Tutor of the Year
British
Sign Language tutor Jill Arnold (pictured left) , who
was born profoundly deaf, has won a prestigious Adult
Tutor of the Year award.
Jill, who teaches at the Macbeth Centre in Hammersmith, was one of only 16 tutors in England to receive the award from the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) – a charity which represents the interests of adult learners.
A teacher for 16 years, 14 of them with Hammersmith & Fulham’s adult education service, Jill tutors hearing students to level one and level two of their British Sign Language (BSL) qualifications.
Her dedication and professionalism earned her the NIACE Adult Tutor of the Year award. Jill was presented with a crystal trophy, certificate and cheque for £250 at an awards ceremony in central London on Thursday last week (5 September).
One of Jill’s colleagues at the Macbeth Centre, upholstery tutor David Ede, was among 30 runners up in the awards, which are sponsored by the Department for Education and Skills. More than 150 people were nominated for the awards by their current or past students.
Cllr David Williams, deputy for education, said: “This is a marvellous achievement for Jill, who has raised deaf awareness within our adult education service and encouraged several colleagues to enrol on British Sign Language courses. I am delighted that Jill and David have received this well-deserved recognition for their dedication in helping adult learners to fulfil their potential. The council prides itself on its commitment to life-long learning and has one of the best adult education services in the country.”
Jill, 61, who has two children and two grandchildren, is due to retire next year. She said: “After my first husband died, someone thought I would be an ideal BSL tutor. At first I said no, because I was too nervous to take on the challenge of working with hearing students, but eventually I became a student myself, completed lots of training and exams in order to teach properly and I became qualified. The award ceremony was fantastic and I felt very moved and a bit weepy when it came to receiving the award.”
The British Deaf Association Sign Language Week 2002 runs from 7-13 October. Local events during the week will include activities in Hammersmith schools.
9th October 2002