12-year-old Olivier Posthumus from Oisterwijk can call himself the winner of the National Reading Storytelling Competition, a championship especially for deaf and hearing-impaired children. An important and special competition for the eight finalists. “It shows that deaf people are just people too,” says finalist Fem Cortenbach from Vught.
After several preliminary rounds, Olivier from De Bunders primary school in Oisterwijk and Fem from Talent primary school in Vught managed to reach the final of the championship. They will compete against the other finalists in a large hall in Amersfoort on Saturday.
“I do have nerves. I have a bit of stage fright, but fortunately not that much anymore,” says Olivier before the competition. The children do not read from books in this competition, but learn the text of their book by heart and tell the story using sign language, movements and their facial expressions.
“I had to learn four pages. Quite a lot,” laughs Fem. She thinks it is important that deaf and hearing-impaired children are seen during a special championship. “It shows that deaf people are just people too. Not that people think ‘they can’t do these kinds of things’.”
Sign language
Olivier also knows that deaf and hearing-impaired people can just as well keep up with the rest. “I go to a regular primary school. No one there knows sign language,” he says. Yet the 12-year-old student knows how to find his way at school, just like at the championships.
He tells from the book The Window Cleaner of the Rijksmuseum by writer Astrid Sy. Fem shines on stage with the book The Sea Came Through the Letterbox
by author Selma Noort.
Big cup
The jury pays attention to the right gestures, good facial expressions and clarity in telling a story. This is all true for Olivier, because he can call himself the big winner of the competition. He may receive a large cup from the jury. “Very nice,” he cheers. “Everyone wants to take a picture with me. Very cool.”
His twin brother Floris also has his picture taken with his brother and the large cup. “I am very proud of him,” says Floris beaming. Olivier not only wins a major cup, but he can also join the jury of the Reading Story Competition next year.
