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 Four

Time, Seasons and Weather

Term Four brings exploration of signs related to the time such as days of the week, time markers; yesterday, tomorrow, today and now. In addition, across Foundation to Year 6, all students are learning signs to discuss the seasons and weather. 

Our Auslan Day Butterfly collaboration

You may have heard whispers of a giant butterfly on the wall in the corridor! Created with all of the hand prints that were created on Auslan Day, we carefully placed each hand, one by one together and linked with others to symbolise our school community learning about Auslan together. 

Foundation

The foundation students have been learning many new signs these past 4 weeks. They revised their number signs when learning how to ask and state 'how old' they were. The students participated in pair work to practise these signs, give eye contact and respond to the other student's question.

Time markers, seasons and weather.

During weeks three to six, the students have been, and will be continuing to work towards building their sign knowledge about the weather, seasons and temperatures.

This is a fairly large unit as we are introducing many signs to the students, and they are gradually building confidence in expressing some new phrases.

Images below include work with the signs Morning, Afternoon, Today, Yesterday. 

We also had some drawings with people templates that the students drew clothes on to match the season such as Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring.

Year One and Two

Year One and Two students continue to revise signs that they learnt last year in relation to time, seasons and weather. Once they have completed a quick review they are ready to use their past sign knowledge with new content and create longer phrases.

Years Three and Four

We have started the term with a new project, Weather forecasting. This has introduced many new signs to talk about the weather, and extending the students use of Non-Manual Features like facial expressions and body movements to indicate the type of rain, or how windy it is. The students have been using their creative skills to sign and translate to each other that I have missed many opportunities to take photos but I have some of their wonderful drawings to share here. 

Years Five and Six

Years Five and Six have been learning about inclusive spaces and Deaf culture around Deaf connection to music and dancing. The catalyst for this was the Ability Fest music festival held recently in Melbourne and Brisbane. It was a great opportunity to look at how Deaf people are included in community events and how these spaces are allowing more people to access music in new and inclusive ways.

The students have also been working on Weather signs. We have started with the lexicalised (dictionary) signs and expending them using our body and facial movements to show torrential rain or pitter patter rain, a nice breeze or a tornado! It has been very interactive. Some of their translated drawings are seen below.