Joel Rosenau taught English for most of his life.
Now heB次元官网网址檚 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 showB次元官网网址檚 host, Alex Trebek, reading it.
It can take Rosenau quite a long time to work through a single clue. But he is determined.
B次元官网网址淚 put myself through levels. When I started this [six weeks ago], I was at a kindergarten level,B次元官网网址� said the 76-year-old. B次元官网网址淣ow I am up somewhere in Grade 1. I am just getting started in the English language again.B次元官网网址�
RosenauB次元官网网址檚 teaching career began in Campbell River. From there he spent a couple of years teaching in Jamaica, before returning to the Island B次元官网网址� Nanaimo B次元官网网址� where he spent the last 30 years of his career, in School District 68.
He and his wife, Yvonne, moved to the Comox Valley after retirement, in 2015.
JoelB次元官网网址檚 health issues in September began with a visit to a walk-in clinic, complaining of nausea. Upon his return visit, three days later, the clinic doctor sent him straight to the hospital.
The exact time of the strokes is unclear, but Joel and Yvonne believe they happened on Sept. 23 B次元官网网址� the day he was admitted into hospital.
B次元官网网址淭hat is my sense of it,B次元官网网址� said Yvonne. B次元官网网址淏efore [Sept. 23] he was sick, but he was still able to recognize things, carry on a conversation. By [Sept. 24] he had a lot of physical problems, like balance, and being able to walk. He could talk, but he was unable to read, or recognize symbols.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 remember when it came to me what my problem was,B次元官网网址� said Joel. B次元官网网址淵ou know the boards in hospital rooms that say B次元官网网址楳y name is ______B次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址楳y doctor is _____.B次元官网网址� For the next 10 days in the hospital, I kept trying to read it and I just couldnB次元官网网址檛. I was totally without reading ability. I could speak, but I could not deal whatsoever with printed material. When I got home, I couldnB次元官网网址檛 even recognize the letters of the alphabet.B次元官网网址�
He said it was a tough condition to accept, and just as hard to find a solution.
B次元官网网址淚 was pretty inactive for the first little while, because I didnB次元官网网址檛 feel like I was getting anywhere. I was looking for sources of audio, but I found that audio wasnB次元官网网址檛 enough. So I wanted audio and visual, so I could see the letters B次元官网网址� see the words, but also hear them. And this way [watching Jeopardy!], I can see the print, pause [the recording], and read it out myself, then hear Alex read it, to [reaffirm].B次元官网网址�
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.
B次元官网网址淚 know how hard it is for children to learn to read,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淣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.
Joel said he still has the ability to spell B次元官网网址� he can write down notes, but canB次元官网网址檛 often read what he writes.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 frustrating at times, but I consider it an occupation B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 a way to pass the time.B次元官网网址�
Joel said this training method is something that works for him, but is not suggesting it is a cure for the condition.
B次元官网网址淗opefully, this story will inspire people, but not mislead them into thinking this is a magical cure, because it is not a magical cure,B次元官网网址� said Joel. B次元官网网址�Jeopardy is a fun thing to do, but you donB次元官网网址檛 learn how to read B次元官网网址� or how to do anything B次元官网网址� without an awful lot of work.B次元官网网址�
HeB次元官网网址檚 hoping to set up a website, B次元官网网址淩osenauB次元官网网址檚 Recoveries,B次元官网网址� where he can help others suffering similar issues.
While Yvonne recognizes that Joel is now well on the road to recovery, sheB次元官网网址檚 grateful for the support from the community immediately following his stroke.
B次元官网网址淔or those two months after heB次元官网网址檇 had it, I was totally overwhelmed,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 appreciated so much, my neighbours, my friends, our church, my family, who came to give me added support. People would drop off casseroles, or food, so I didnB次元官网网址檛 have to think about cooking B次元官网网址� that was very helpful. The amount of medical appointments alone was nuts. As many as four per day.B次元官网网址�
And now, sheB次元官网网址檚 grateful to a well-known Canadian for helping with the teaching.
B次元官网网址淭hank you, Alex Trebek,B次元官网网址� she said.
terry.farrell@blackpress.ca
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