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

Buy Full Notes 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") Did you like this podcast? You can support my work by leaving a review on iTunes. Your kind words warm my heart and also help me be found by more passionate learners of French. Merci beaucoup! Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and never miss a new episode!