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Thank
you so very much for a most professional, well organised course. THRASS is a
brilliantly thought-out phonics programme which should be taught in all of our
schools. As therapists, we are at an advantage with our background theory and
experience in the phonics sphere but having the resources provided by the
programme provides a consistent reference for children to benefit from. I look
forward to using this programme with the deaf and language-learning challenged
children I encounter. Thank you again.
Thank you very much for an extremely interesting course. This is a whole new
view on teaching reading and spelling and I am confident that this will open
doors for educating the deaf. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and
experience! Can't wait to start!
What a wonderfully, inspiring two days you have given us! This programme is so
very carefully structured to address what we, as teachers and teacher trainers,
have in the past neglected to reveal to our children and students. This is an
essential course for all teachers - I support your mission and hope I can
contribute in some small way. South African education desperately needs this
programme and the support for implementing it successfully. Thank you Alan,
Hilary and Laola - I have "air under my wings"! To the teachers from Fulton,
your contribution was inspirational.
A good introductory tool for beginners handwriting. The materials are children
user-friendly because they are easy to learn after use. I also recommend that
the THRASS be applied to blind learners also. I have learnt a lot in these two
days and wish the course may be spread over four to five days because there was
so much to learn within a short period.
This THRASS workshop has provided me with a greater understanding/knowledge that
will come of a great use to, when teaching in our classroom workshop. I am a
deaf teacher, and this workshop has opened a wider understanding to a world of
language. I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and look forward to taking
what knowledge I have gained from the THRASS workshop and applying it into the
classroom environment as will as to everyday learning situations. Many thanks.
Absolutely brilliant. Innovative, fun and very interesting.
Wow! Where do I begin to thank you! You have confirmed the value of these
wonderful courses. You have empowered so many teachers of the Deaf, which will
have life long influences on all present and future deaf children. We will
continue to make it work and continue to share what we can with all educators of
the Deaf. Thanks so much!
Excellent presentation. Informative. Has provided alternate activities for
teaching young learners language skills (deaf learners). As an educator 'the
map' provides an excellent resource, as many aspects of language can be
developed using it.
What can I say! It all makes so much sense. Each stage was clearly presented.
Excellent examples were used. The materials are clear, beautifully prepared and
presented. Thank you for your generous sponsorship of the course and materials.
Wow! We are blessed. This will make a radical change in my treatment of the
children in my care and I think I'll make a lot more sense to them. The
demonstrations were amazing. Thank you!
The handwriting programme is a great eye opener for me, especially with the
reception year learners. The whole THRASS training programme is excellent. I
have learnt new language skills and activities that will help me in the
classroom with the Deaf. It is good to try and share different skills. Keep it
up.
A 'mind-melting', worthwhile, valuable course that every teacher needs to
consider in the teaching of English. I love that it dispels all the 'lies' we
have long been putting in place. I also love that you have the open-ended
'catch-all' option that allows this programme to grow with the future and move
with new developments. Your passion and conviction were inspiring. Thank you!
What a dream!
I appreciated the skilled and purposeful way the course was facilitated. This
was an extremely worthwhile and enlightening experience. Thank you for sharing
your "mission" and your passion so effectively with us.
The course was a fruitful two days course. I have been teaching Deaf learners
for ten years now trying to get a Deaf learner to acquire language was a
struggle but after the course I feel I have something to offer for Deaf
learners. It is difficult when you teach without tools, now I have a tool. As
soon as I get to school I am going to implement THRASS and I am going to give
the information to the teachers in my phase.
Excellent programme. Well structured. Suitable for deaf learners with
adaptations. Will help to improve spelling, reading, writing and language levels
in schools of the Deaf.
An extremely useful course. I had some idea of what THRASS is all about but this
"hands on" approach has really opened my eyes to the incredible possibilities it
offers. I have personally never been good at spelling (and have tried to hide
this fact with dreadful handwriting) and THRASS has given me instant better
spelling ability. Good luck and best wishes for the future.
Finally, a most valuable resource and support system for the daunting world of
reading, writing and spelling as well as literacy skills for beginner learners
(and those challenged by these skills such as dyslexics). The possibilities are
endless. Thankyou.
I can now see the benefits of THRASS even with hearing impaired children.
However, I do believe hearing children would benefit more. Unfortunately, at
this stage it would be difficult and confusing for children (e.g. my hearing
child) who are already being taught the traditional method, to enforce this as
well. The only way is for South Africa Education Department to recognise this
system. There would also have to be a phasing in and phasing out period. South
Africa does not have the infrastructure.
Very informative, well presented. A paradigm shift with regard to reading,
spelling and writing. I am interested in using what I learned with my secondary
special ed. pupils. Thankyou.
I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to attend this course and receive the
materials. The presentation was very clear and practical with demonstrations to
illustrate. Speakers were clearly audible and visual aids easy to see. I enjoyed
the whole experience and hope to encourage the use of THRASS in the schools I
work with. I will definitely try it out on my own children!
I can see THRASS working well for hearing kids. Would like to use with my own
kids at home. Application in high school in particular my subject not sure will
work because kids here have no knowledge of any language - no idea what they
represent at all. Will study this and find a way.
Brilliant program but would like to see it in practice and results of research.
Colourful, handy learning support media. Two days workshop - very practical,
step by step introduction and teaching of THRASS. Demonstrations helped to
understand programme. Thanks for the materials!
Lots of information given to make your brain 'steam'. Information well
researched, presented and displayed to all. A pity it's come at such a late
stage for some of us! but a huge thank you for all your time, research and
motivation. It was worth it!
An outstanding programme. Well presented and outstanding resources. There will
be a need for follow-up.
I thoroughly enjoyed this two-day course! As a Grade R educator, I feel equipped
to go back to my school and immediately implement what I have learnt. My
learners are definitely going to benefit! NO DOUBT. This must reach more schools
in S.A.
The course was presented in a professional manner and out of it there is a lot
that I gain, that I also think that they are going to be useful for my teaching
as well. I would also be glad if you can also go to Cape Town whereby you can do
this training to other teachers as well, as we are facing a problem of language.
The reason why I said this, it was a fruitful course where I feel that other
members of the staff can also gain a lot out of the THRASS training.
Thank you very much for conducting such a programme. It is really challenging
and I'm so motivated to see myself practising it. I really thank you guys. Well
done! Thank you very much for the resources you have given us. At least is a
good start.
The course is very interesting and I've learnt new things I was not aware of. It
is very good for people who are deaf - those who can speak their mother language
but not know English is not the same when you speak Zulu like: your - YO DOCTOR
- DOKTA, MOZAMBIQUE - MOZAMBIKHI. Thank you for everything.
It was a very interesting course with lovely attitudes from the lecturers. It
has achieved its aim though it needs practise from me as one of the students who
have seen THRASS for the first time. I think if I can be privileged to get more
training and practice it can be good.
This workshop was an eye-opener to me. I hope if I can implement it to my
learners they'll be able to spell words correctly and gain more vocabulary at an
early level. I think it will be more helpful if most of the educators in
different schools should attend such workshops.
Excellent program and presentation - looking forward to using and implementing
program at my school. Thank you for your time, effort and resources! Very
structured and well organised!
The course is really enlightening and demanding and would help a lot in language
learning. I wish I had the powers to influence the Department of Education in my
province so that this programme can be cascaded there, especially for training
of trainers. Our general trainers lack a lot of knowledge. As a language
practitioner, I wish to get more opportunity to learn more on THRASS and still
implementation and research on it - for the benefit of our deep rural
learners/pupils.
It was a two-day gaining knowledge course, even if it was not specifically for
the deaf child only. I have gained much from this course.
Wow! Thank you so much for affording us the opportunity to hear your message.
For me, it has been wonderful to hear about THRASS from its creator! Obviously
there is a huge mind shift that needs to happen as we have been implementing
Letterland and Jolly Phonics. I really see the value of THRASS. My challenge
will be implementing this approach in my private practice and changing teaching
strategies. Thank you so much for your generosity and kindness.
Really liked the way it was presented and organised. Comparison to Letterland of
use. Resources wonderful. Demonstrations were great! Would have appreciated
buying resources now. Do realise that could cause practical problems, though.
Good mixture in group - parents, teachers, therapists. Thankyou.
I enjoyed the demonstrations. It showed me step by step how I can present THRASS
in the classroom. I have been exposed to many ways that I can use THRASS to
improve the literacy of the children in my class. Thanks for all the hard work
to improve the children of the world's literacy.
I think this is a brilliant program. I am also glad that I had a chance to learn
more about it and could help my other children, not only with spelling but
English too. Take care. Good luck to you all!
I think this course was very interesting and I learnt a lot from it. The phonics
were very interesting, knowing that we don't have to use the old phonics. Thank
you all very much for the course.
I enjoyed the course very much and found it informative and interesting. It
showed me a new or different way or method of introducing phonics to young
children. Thank you very much for enlightening us.
Alan, Hilary and Laola, I have enjoyed seeing the total overview of THRASS. The
concepts of name of sound vs. phoneme (the job of the sound!) is an important
concept. It was also good to see examples of all the targets and how the total
system operates. I do believe it has application for deaf learners. I also
enjoyed it because my boys are now in a THRASS school and as a mum I can assist
my own children in using THRASS in their spelling. I want to say a special
thankyou for your generosity in giving the THRASS teaching guidelines, charts
and a C.D. Thanks for a great practical workshop. Best wishes.
This has been a most wonderful experience - your programme is fantastic! I have
learnt so much and look forward to implementing all the ideas/strategies! Also,
being able to order the resources over the Internet soon and being able to use
the website are something to look forward to! Thankyou too for all the handouts
given today.
This was a worthwhile and invaluable workshop that helped shape my perspective
on the approach of teaching phonics and spelling successfully to learners from
the African background using English as LOCT. The variety of materials, most
especially the C.D. can be a good support to the teacher who cannot
differentiate between similar but different sounds, e.g. bird and bed. I would
very much like to set up a workshop and invite you to conduct such a workshop.
I'll contact you for further arrangements.
Thank you for all your time and effort. It is very in-depth and detailed and it
is very impressive that you have gone in so much detail into the foundation of
the English language. Thanks.
The course was interesting and the knowledge I have gained is of importance. The
demonstrations were well prepared and that served as a good example for one to
see what is expected of him/her. For our deaf pupils they mostly need visible
things, that is "PICTURES" for the lesson to be successful. Teaching aids were
well presented "Day One" for the lesson of the little ones, and that was
fantastic. Wishing these could have been a course for one or two weeks that we
can maybe demonstrate whatever.
I found the course to be very interesting. Seems to be a very practical "hands
on" way to handle many "problem" kids that I work with. Very intense! Hats off
to the creator of the course. Thank you very much for all your input, hard work
and patience.
Well done! You came with the piece, which was lost in my teaching especially in
mastering spelling and vocabulary. This material of THRASS is a "must have" in
each and every classroom. Thank you very much.
Great. Well organised and presented. A lot of information to process and will
definitely access the web site.
Very informative. If the programme is followed strictly in Primary School, we in
the High School would have no problem with comprehension and interpretation of
questions especially with Mathematics.
Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to learn more about this system. Thank
you to the organisers, worker bees, foot soldiers etc. and for all that has been
provided and given. Good to know that we can maintain contact via e-mail. More
please. Many thanks again. Joy and success in the future.
Course was excellent and very interesting. A lot of information, which I hope we
will implement successfully, because I think it can really improve our learners
skills. A great presentation.
Excellent method to be taught at a very young age to prevent difficulties. Very
logical and practical to teach a variety of skills. Astounded at the simplicity
and "common sense" involved.
Interesting but very short to comprehend the THRASS. I would request the
organisers of this THRASS should make follow-up for the schools which attend
this workshop. The material was of utmost importance.
Wonderfully enlightening. Having started with THRASS 18 months ago without
proper training, the course has filled in lots of gaps and helped to give an
overview of where we are aiming for! Very well presented and clear, entertaining
and fascinating. Wouldn't have missed it!
As a Remedial Teacher in our school (Gr 0-7) I have found this course most
valuable. I can't wait to use it! It is exciting and innovative and I think has
a fantastic future. Indeed I do feel "at the beginning of a journey"! Thank you
too, for your most generous gifts of resources for use in our schools. Thank you
to Fulton for your fantastic hospitality!
As a Grade 0 teacher I really appreciate the fact that the children will have a
whole picture of English from the beginning of their school career. It can be
used as whole class teaching, groups and individuals. Having a cochlea implant
child as part of an inclusion programme I am rally excited at the thought of
embarking on "THRASS" with her! Thank you for a most enlightening course.
The programme is good for teaching handwriting; reading and spelling the
information for was more for two days. I have learnt but I'm not confident or
sure enough that will be enough for starting. I believe more days were needed
for learning. Through your support of material I will continue to learn and I
pray and hope should be successful for the teaching and learning situation, as I
wish to bring the change in deaf especially in literacy. Thank you for your
contribution and efforts. We appreciate it a lot. Thanks.
Thanks very much for a very practical and enlightening course. I am feeling a
lot more confidant about using THRASS with my Grade One pupils. Your aids are
super and I am looking forward to getting started. I am sure to use the website
often. Many thanks.
Maps are excellent resources. The potential as practice, application of
possibilities links well with the Revised National Curriculum Statement.
Congratulations with something that demonstrates profound commitment and energy
towards excellence.
Very fruitful. I've learned a lot about how to teach my learners handwriting,
but I am still going to struggle with reading and spelling as my learners can't
hear. My own hearing children are also going to benefit. I am really excited
about it. Alan and partners, keep the good work up. May god bless you.
After having been 'thrown into the deep end' as a new teacher trying to cope
with sign language alone last year, and then having to start teaching THRASS, it
has all made it so much clearer and more meaningful and I don't/won't feel like
I'm drowning anymore! It has inspired me to really get going now!
I am happy to see the THRASS. They worked hard for your THRASS. We enjoyed with
you. We had more learn the THRASS. I hope that we will work hard for that.
Thankyou.
This THRASS has given me lots of information, and I would like to say a big
thanks for the hard work as you have lots of resources. I amazed to sit and
listen a long explain everything. I believe when we do the next day and do our
best teach as a THRASS. Really very interesting. I wish and I would like to be
same as yours. Thank you so much. God bless you.
I'm very interested in THRASS workshop for two days. I'd like to say thank you
very much for informing us how to develop about THRASS. I'm very happy and wish
I can teach my son what you do with THRASS but my son hearing. Hope I'll teach
him what I teach about THRASS. Thank you a lot. Hope you enjoy your travel and
safe alive. Wonderful days, you have given us a lot!
I'm grateful for this wonderful opportunity. There are ways that the deaf
children can benefit from it, especially for language development. Many thanks
for this kind of opportunity you have given to all of us!
It's been a very interesting course meant to upgrade the standard of education
for the Deaf as their education is often ridiculous to most communities at large
because of their English spelling problems, since their language needs full
understanding from qualified interpreters/educators that have not been trained
at special centres. Hope this can be repeated! Facilitators, well done to you
all!
I really enjoyed and I learnt lots sharing with you guys. It was very
interesting to have you guys. I wish you can come more. God bless you. Keep
well.
Thank you Alan for letting us attend the workshop. This was wonderful for me to
see how you use the THRASS programme. The presentation of the workshop is very
good and well prepared.
I have learnt so much from this course. I think it was wonderful.
Every aspect of what encompasses written language has been accounted for and so
superbly constituted in an outstanding programme. All of you are passionate
about the programme and what you do. That passion is for me what makes for
outstanding teachers. The material allows for anyone working with it to be
passionate because the material is so outstanding. Thank you so much for sharing
that passion and re-igniting mine.
The course has been very interesting particularly for me as an educator.
Presenters were competent and knowledgeable. Would these be considered please: -
Train the educators or delegates who will be responsible to spread it over the
Country. Lobby with education department to incorporate this in their
department. Blacks - most second English speakers would appreciate this
programme, for they still struggle in English. Keep well and prosper
The workshop was valuable. I believe it will change the way I teach Deaf
children. They will really benefit. The demonstrations I have seen are
incredible. Thanks a lot guys, you deserve the best. Alan Davies and his team,
keep it going!
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