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Buy Full NotesIn 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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