Auslan Report

During this fortnight, Grade Preps will learn about HOLM + NMF and Feelings. Grades 1-6 students will learn about Conversation and Planning a Holiday. When Grade Preps learn about HOLM + NMF they will be introduced to the definition which is important in Auslan. The learning will involve students practising by copying the teacher who will model each aspect of HOLM + NMF. 

HOLM means:

H = Handshape

O = Orientation (the direction that the fingers and palms are facing)

L = Location (where in relation to the face/body)

M = Movement (how the hands move)

NMF = Non-Manual features - not on the hands (facial expressions and body language.)

When learning about Feelings, Grade Preps will learn the following signs: 

• emotions

• smiley

• worried

• confused

• curious 

• forgetful

• patient

• hungry

• thirsty

• hopeful

• kind

• lucky

• unlucky

• naughty

• okay

• sorry

• sleepy

• strong

• upset.

The focus in this lesson will be on the following signs - smiley, sleepy and upset.  These will be used in a guessing game by using the question ‘How Are you?’ as a prompt. Once students have practised these signs, they will then work in pairs learning the Auslan to indicate different emotions. 

When learning about Conversation, students in Grades 1-6 will learn the importance of gaining the person’s attention, using eye contact (visual focus), taking turns (not interrupting) and body placement in an Auslan conversation. Grade 1/2 students will do a Conversation Role Play which includes working in pairs with a topic to discuss. The teacher will provide feedback to each pair on whether they represent a good example or poor example of a Deaf conversation. Students will need to focus on starting the role play by gaining attention to start and giving eye contact. Grade 3/4 students will also do conversation role play with the focus on discussing families. Students will collaborate by providing each other feedback on whether the Auslan communication was effective. Grade 5/6 students will do a similar activity but with the conversation topic being on ‘My favourite breakfast or my favourite car’. This activity will provide the opportunity for students to go into detail using Auslan and demonstrating communication that are good examples vs bad examples. 

When learning about Planning a Holiday, Grades 1-6 students will learn the following signs:

• holiday

• travel

• caravan

• pack (clothing - Tshirt, shorts, hat, jumper, raincoat, bathers)

• bag

• teddy

• ticket

• passport

• journey/ trip.

Grade 1/2 students will do an activity that involves a game of Pass the Teddy (like pass the parcel). A teddy is passed around a circle as the music is playing. When the music has stopped, the student holding the teddy will sign one of the ‘planning a holiday’ signs. This activity will continue to ensure all students will have an opportunity to practise the signs learnt in this lesson. Grade 3/4 students will do a ‘Packing your bag’ for a caravan holiday activity which will involve students working in pairs and using mime (Constructed Action) to indicate packing their bag. Students will need to use Auslan to demonstrate the items they are packing and will be encouraged to use no voices when miming. Grade 5/6 students will do the same activity but with the challenge of working with a packing list and signing all the items in Auslan. 

As our students build their repertoire of words, engage in conversations and enjoy practising signs together as learnt by our students! Please scan the QR Code below which will provide you with YouTube videos to assist in practising together at home. 

Keep updated on learning Auslan each fortnight in our Partners in Learning Newsletter during Term 3! 

Mrs Jessica Pfister