Languages- Auslan

  Communicating with the Specialist Team

We look forward to partnering with you in 2025, and welcome your input:

Amanda Oakley (Languages- Auslan) Amanda.Oakley2@education.vic.gov.au

Shar Stjerne (Languages- Auslan) Shar.Stjerne@education.vic.gov.au 

 Term One 2025

Congratulations to Lincoln Fage and Olivia Robinson for stepping into the Auslan Captain roles for 2025! 

As we continue into Term 1, the students from F-6 continue to discuss identity and groups of belonging. Each year level explores these concepts in various ways and involves learning the sign vocabulary, verbal discussions, sharing their thoughts and ideas and creating texts or drawings that reflect these discussions. All year levels share their developing knowledge with their peers and teacher through pair work, small and whole group discussions and one-to-one conversations and signing with the teacher at various times over the term.

                                          Foundation

The Foundation students have only had a few Auslan lessons, due to a later start to the term and the public holiday this week, but that hasn't stifled their enthusiasm, focus and participation in the lessons! They are all eagerly watching and creating new signs every lesson. Many Foundation students greet me in the yard with the Auslan signs for 'hello, how are you?", and it is a delight to observe.

Across all year levels, we have been exploring identity and groups of belonging. For the Foundation students this has involved learning the signs for 'I', 'Me/My' and 'Family'. Last week was our first lesson talking about and signing the alphabet, and they will gradually learn and use the alphabet over the year. Below is an easy to follow video of A-Z for you to share with your children at home.

 Year One

The Year Ones have jumped back into Auslan lessons with their full focus and energy. We have been playing games to revise signs that they learnt last year and have been expanding their knowledge and building upon their sign vocabulary. I love that they are always eager to ask "what sign is this word" or  "how do you sign....". For me, this shows that they are comfortable and feel free to ask, make mistakes and explore new signs in our Auslan space where we strive to build positive attitudes about inclusion, diversity, respectful behaviour and resilience.  They have been creating an 'All about Me' balloon picture that you can see in the passageway outside our Auslan room. Once completed they have been communicating the information to their peers and myself in Auslan.

Year Two

The Year Two students continue to build on their sign knowledge and it is wonderful to observe their engagement and participation in our 3rd year together. Already halfway through Term one and we have revised our family signs and are working on a presentation piece to share with the class. The students are drawing or writing about their families and the activities that they enjoy together. Once complete, they will communicate this information with a pair, the class and one-to-one with me for their portfolio task. 

Year Three and Four

The Year three and four students have been putting together their learning about dominant and non-dominant hand use in Auslan. They have been trying really hard to not swap their hands whilst signing. They have also been thinking about the groups they belong to and expressing things that are important to them on their own flag. I am very pleased with the results so far and looking forward to seeing their Auslan presentations of their designs. 

Year Five and Six

The Year five and six students have been learning about their hands, different handshapes and the elements of signing, handshapes, orientation, location, movement, and non-manual features. We have also been looking at the expression of our identity through flags and symbols. Designing their own flag following the Deaf flag design to show important parts of their identity and culture. This will be presented with an Auslan description as part of their portfolio for the semester. I am very impressed by everyone's interesting designs.