Joel Rosenau taught English for most of his life.
Now he含羞草研究社檚 learning how to read it again - with a lot of help from the game show, Jeopardy!
The retired teacher suffered a series of strokes in September of 2019, and as a result, lost the ability to read.
But he has turned his favourite game show into a learning tool.
He uses the game clues that are shown on the television screen as reading material. He pauses his recording, works through the clue, then plays it to hear the show含羞草研究社檚 host, Alex Trebek, reading it.
It can take Rosenau quite a long time to work through a single clue. But he is determined.
含羞草研究社淚 put myself through levels. When I started this [six weeks ago], I was at a kindergarten level,含羞草研究社� said the 76-year-old. 含羞草研究社淣ow I am up somewhere in Grade 1. I am just getting started in the English language again.含羞草研究社�
Rosenau含羞草研究社檚 teaching career spanned nearly 40 years, the most of it in a couple of school districts on Vancouver Island.
The irony of the situation is not lost on Joel. For years, he was teaching children how to read. Now he has to use those same tools to teach himself the same skill.
含羞草研究社淚 know how hard it is for children to learn to read,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淣ow, when I apply the rules I used to teach them, when I apply those rules to myself, it makes everything that much more meaningful.含羞草研究社�
Joel said he still has the ability to spell 含羞草研究社� he can write down notes, but can含羞草研究社檛 often read what he writes.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 frustrating at times, but I consider it an occupation 含羞草研究社� it含羞草研究社檚 a way to pass the time.含羞草研究社�
Joel said this training method is something that works for him, but is not suggesting it is a cure for the condition.
含羞草研究社淗opefully, this story will inspire people, but not mislead them into thinking this is a magical cure, because it is not a magical cure,含羞草研究社� said Joel. 含羞草研究社�Jeopardy is a fun thing to do, but you don含羞草研究社檛 learn how to read 含羞草研究社� or how to do anything 含羞草研究社� without an awful lot of work.含羞草研究社�
Joel含羞草研究社檚 wife, Yvonne said she含羞草研究社檚 grateful for the support from the community immediately following his stroke.
And now, she含羞草研究社檚 grateful to a well-known Canadian for helping with the teaching.
含羞草研究社淭hank you, Alex Trebek,含羞草研究社� she said.
terry.farrell@blackpress.ca
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