Languages- Auslan

Communicating with the Specialist Team

We look forward to partnering with you in 2024, 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 Two

This term our learning focus is on places. 

We are building our vocabulary around different places that we can visit such as a farm, home or our school. The Foundation students have contributed to our new display wall with their colour studies. The Three-Four students have been building their vocabulary around fruits and vegetables and we are adding a farm and market to our display.

Reconciliation Week

Students across the school have been discussing Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week. The Foundation to Year Two students have been practising the signs for Australia, Country and World. In addition to the current 'Australia' sign, we have been discussing the Indigenous sign for Australia that is more relevant, respectful and meaningful to many Aboriginal Indigenous Peoples.  All year levels have been becoming familiar with the Auslan Acknowledgement of Country.

The Three to Six students have begun learning the Upwey South Primary School Auslan Acknowledgement of Country. We have discussed how the signs are specifically chosen to represent the land of USPS with the hills and to point to Ferny Creek when we sign about the water. This creates a special Acknowledgement of Country that is our very own.

Foundation

The Foundation students have been completing their portfolio assessments over the past few weeks, and demonstrating their knowledge of colours and numbers in sign language. An important aspect of this work has been their developing understanding of the importance of eye contact when communicating and receiving information. 

 Reconciliation Week

Foods, colours, likes and dislikes!

We had a bit of  'I spy' fun, pulling food out of our lunchboxes that Mrs Oakley signed. Eating time has been a great way to revise and consolidate signs while the children listen and watch. Never an excuse to 'talk with your mouth full' during the Auslan sessions, but signing with hands is allowed!

Year One 

Students in Year One have been developing their signing fluency through practising signing their name. Many can now sign their name without a visual prompt and those that need a prompt are independent in finding the letters on their Auslan ABC mat. As their spelling skills, and awareness of signs grow, they are learning that not all words have a sign, and some words need to be finger spelled. Seeing these two skills come together and their problem solving being put into place, is always a joy to observe.

Students are also building confidence to sign a short phrase in front of their peers. We have been practising "I like" and "I don't like" phrases with regards to foods.

Year Two

Likes, dislikes, wants and don't want!

The Year 2 students had fun with a class wide food survey of likes and dislikes. After revising the signs for familiar foods, they moved around the room and asked their peers in sign language, which foods they liked. Students used tally marks to keep track of preferences and I'm sure that ice cream was the top favourite.

The Year 2 students have been learning that some words do not have a particular sign, but may need fingerspelling. As well as discussing the traditional sign for Australia and the Indigenous sign for Australia, we also discussed how each of the states were signed. For example VIC, NSW, WA and so forth, and they coloured the separate states on their map.

Year Three and Four

The Three/Four classes have been busy working on their farm vocabulary and can sign many fruits, vegetables and a few other farm items. They have been using flashcards, videos, storybook translations and games to experience Auslan in a variety of engaging ways. They have just started building their display on the outer Auslan wall to show the whole school what they are learning. 

Year Five and Six

The Five/Six students have been busy researching different signs that use the same handshape. The handshape of a sign is as important as the letters we use in English to write a word and put sentences together. As the H of the HOLM + NMF it is an integral to the way signs are created and used. 

The Five-Six students have also been watching stories be translated by Deaf community members, playing games with flashcards, signs and Farm building blocks from family donations. The games have been very engaging and building strong connections to the signs for the students to recall them in a fast environment.

Well done to every student.