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FV 066 : How is playing tennis when you’re deaf different? Conversation with national team coach Xavier Lerays

06.15.2017 - By Jessica: Native French teacher, founder of French Your WayPlay

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In the previous episode, French osteopath Xavier Lerays shared with us what his occupation consists of. In this episode, you'll find out how, in addition to his osteopath practice, he also trains the French tennis team for deaf players. How are the two linked? How is being deaf a challenge to play tennis, which seems to be a visual sport? Had you ever heard about the Deaflympics? This fascinating conversation brings on aspects you may never have thought about before, and will raise the sensitive topic of how the players with a disability want to be seen: a fine balance between disability and normality.

Episode Timeline

Part 1

Coaching a very unique tennis team

How Xavier became the coach of the French team

What makes loss of hearing a challenge to play tennis

Part 2

How communication is achieved

An invisible handicap

Handicap vs normality

Part 3

The Deaflympics

Vocab List

appareillé,e (adj) = wearing a hearing aid

arbitrage (nm) = refereeing, umpiring

arbitre (nm) = referee, umpire

audition (nf) = hearing (sense)

bander (les yeux) = to blindfold

championnat (nm) = championship

changer de crémerie = to go see somewhere else

coup d'oeil (nm) = glance, peep, quick look

Grand Chelem (nm) = Grand Slam

malentendant,e (n, adj) = hard of hearing, partially deaf

marcher sur des oeufs = to walk on eggshells, to tread carefully

oreille interne (nf) = inner ear

orgueil (nm) = excessive pride

reprendre le flambeau = to take over from someone, to pick up the torch

se vexer = to take offense

sourd,e (n, adj) = deaf

terrain (de tennis) (nm) = (tennis) court

valide (n, adj) = healthy, fit (oppos. of "disabled")

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