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 One  

Foundation 

The foundation students are rocketing along with enthusiasm and continuing to build on their signing vocabulary. They have a routine of signing "hi, how are you", around the circle and are also regularly using this greeting in the yard when they see me nearby.

During the past couple of sessions, they have been introduced to the alphabet and have been matching the letter that they are learning in class with the sign of specific letters. Last week the students practised signing the first letter of their name and then creating it with playdough.  

The Foundation students have also explored the signs "I like" and "I love" and completed some drawings to reflect these signs. This week we have started learning the number signs from  zero to ten, and will be enjoying many hands on activities during this topic.

Year One and Two

Year One and Two students have been revising the emotion signs and discussing the importance of showing the emotion in the face and body and not just a sign with the hands. Both year levels have been working on portfolio tasks that enable them to demonstrate this learning in addition to becoming the character they are referring to  which is known as constructed action (CA).

Rolling the emotion dice and showing the sign with facial expression.

Year 3 & 4

The Three/Four classes have been busy extending their understanding of asking and answering questions and signing about the important people in our lives. The students have also been learning how to describe people using Depicting Signs (DS). Playing 'Guess Who' is a great way for the students to practice their question and answers as well as their new DS vocabulary. 

Year 5 & 6

The Five/Six classrooms have been extending their fingerspelling experience by being challenged to fingerspell their friends' names during the role. This is an important skill in Auslan, as fingerspelling is used for names of people, places and businesses, among other things. Receptive practice (watching someone else sign) is especially important for names which the students have been building up their skills with activities in every class.

Congratulations to our 2024 Auslan Leaders!

Justyna and Hannah

A warm welcome to our 2024 Auslan leaders; Justyna and Hannah. Both of these students have demonstrated enthusiasm and commitment to improving their Auslan skills and knowledge since 2023, and are both well deserving of the leadership position they now hold. We are so excited to be working with you both this year.