Auslan News

Errol St Campus

From Caen, Senior School Auslan teacher

A few of our favourite things!

As we head towards the end of term, I want to take a moment to share how proud I am of our students and the amazing progress they have made in Auslan. Their enthusiasm, effort, and curiosity this term have been truly wonderful to see.

Over the past two weeks, we have been focusing on emotions signs. Students have not only learnt new and more advanced vocabulary but have also been revising the signs we covered earlier in Term 2. It has been fantastic to watch them build confidence and accuracy, particularly with their Handshape, Orientation, Location, and Movement (HOLM), as well as their Non-Manual Features (NMF) – an essential part of signing emotions clearly and expressively.

To support this learning, we have been engaging in a range of fun and interactive activities. One of the highlights has been Emotions Bingo, which has quickly become a class favourite! This game allows students to practise recognising, signing, and recalling a wide range of feelings while keeping the lesson playful and competitive. We have also incorporated role-play activities where students act out different scenarios and practise expressing emotions using Auslan. These activities not only consolidate their signing but also deepen their understanding of how emotions can be conveyed through expression and movement.

Another big focus has been on encouraging students to use their new signs in meaningful contexts. It has been so rewarding to see them integrate emotions signs into everyday classroom routines – for example, signing how they feel at the start of the day or during group discussions. This shows their growing confidence in using Auslan naturally and authentically.

How you can support at home

• Practice daily: Encourage your child to sign how they are feeling during everyday routines (e.g., before school, at dinner, or before bed).
• Play Emotions Bingo: Just like regular bingo, but with emotions signs instead of numbers. A copy is attached in this newsletter if you’d like to play as a family.
• Use posters: Posters with emotions signs are also attached – put one up at home so your child has a quick reference and can practise independently.
• Role-play: Ask your child to show you how to sign “happy,” “confused,” or “tired” and respond by acting out the same feeling.

As always, I’m so proud of how engaged and motivated our students have been. They are not only building their Auslan vocabulary but also developing valuable communication skills that support empathy, expression, and connection.

Thank you for continuing to support your child’s Auslan journey at home – every little bit of practice makes a big difference!