A BRIDGEND woman who overcame profound deafness to pursue her dream of becoming a college lecturer has been nominated for a prestigious learning award. Mum-of-two Sian Preddy is in the running for a Vocational Qualification Learner of the Year Award after successfully completing an honours degree in education at Bridgend College.Sian, 37, will now go on to study a Post Graduate Certificate in Education, which will qualify her to teach in further education. During her foundation degree course, Sian was invited to be a guest lecturer to students preparing for careers in speech and language therapy. In addition, she frequently helped fellow students to grapple with the complexities of sign language.
Bridgend College principal Mark Jones said: “Sian is an inspiration as she draws attention to all forms of hearing loss. Many hearing impaired people remain within the boundaries of their group but Sian has broken down the barriers and been a bridge between the hearing and non-hearing world – a rare skill.”
Sian praised the support she has enjoyed at Bridgend College: “I was once told as a child that I would never achieve much in education but I am proof that, with the correct support, hearing impaired people can achieve.” Sian has been named on a shortlist of five nominees for the award, which will be announced at a high-profile awards ceremony in the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff on VQ Day June 20.
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Welsh/Cymraeg
Mae menyw BRIDGEND a drechodd byddardod llwyr i fynd ar drywydd ei freuddwyd o fod yn ddarlithydd coleg wedi cael ei henwebu ar gyfer gwobr fawreddog dysgu. Mam i ddau o Sian Preddy yn y ras ar gyfer Cymhwyster Galwedigaethol Dysgwr y Flwyddyn ar ôl cwblhau gradd anrhydedd mewn addysg yng Ngholeg Penybont.
Bydd Sian, 37, yn awr yn mynd ymlaen i astudio Tystysgrif Addysg i Raddedigion, a fydd yn gymwys iddi i addysgu mewn addysg bellach. Yn ystod ei gwrs gradd sylfaen, Sian ei wahodd i fod yn ddarlithydd gwadd i fyfyrwyr paratoi ar gyfer gyrfa mewn therapi lleferydd ac iaith. Yn ogystal, mae'n aml yn cyd-fyfyrwyr helpu mynd i'r afael â chymhlethdodau iaith arwyddion.
Dywedodd Coleg Penybont prif Mark Jones: "Mae Sian yn ysbrydoliaeth wrth iddi yn tynnu sylw at bob math o golli clyw. Bobl drwm eu clyw Mae llawer o aros o fewn y ffiniau eu grŵp ond Sian wedi torri i lawr y rhwystrau a bod yn bont rhwng y gwrandawiad ac nad ydynt yn clywed byd -. Sgil prin "
Sian yn canmol y gefnogaeth mae hi wedi mwynhau yng Ngholeg Penybont: "Roeddwn yn gwybod unwaith fel plentyn na fyddwn byth yn cyflawni llawer mewn addysg ond yr wyf yn brawf bod, gyda chefnogaeth cywir, gall pobl â nam ar eu clyw yn eu cyflawni." Sian wedi cael ei enwi ar rhestr fer o bum enwebiadau ar gyfer y wobr, a fydd yn cael eu cyhoeddi mewn seremoni wobrwyo proffil uchel yn yr Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Cymru, Caerdydd ar Diwrnod VQ 20 Mehefin.
Background: Sian Says "I decided to come to Bridgend College for two reasons. The first being that is was extremely local and offered the facilities that appealed to me, and the second was that I knew that the specialist support for deaf people was an outstanding service which I had accessed previously. The whole team ranging from the lecturer, interpreter and the specialist support tutor offered me a service which I feel was second to none.
At present I am a specialist support officer for the Hearing Impaired Service in Bridgend. I have previously enrolled on other courses at Bridgend College and feel that after completing this current course I have learnt a great deal. I have extended my knowledge within education and developed my language skills to what was required. I have learnt about relevant policies and practices regarding educational issues and developed my self confidence enormously. The highlight for me is being treated as an equal and meeting new people and recently being awarded my cap and gown when I achieved my BA (Hons) in Education."