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. Over the term each grade level will contribute to this display. We look forward to updating you with the progress.

Auslan Day 13th April 2024

During the school holidays, on the 13th of April, Auslan Day was celebrated. It is a day that celebrates the rich history, culture and language of the Australian Deaf community. This date marks the publication of the first Auslan Sign Language Dictionary by Trevor Johnston in 1989, and was the world’s first signed language dictionary to organise signs.

Auslan day raises awareness of the importance of communication, linguistic diversity, equality, respect and expression of cultural identity.

Through teaching Auslan, including all of the above aspects, we endeavour to inspire, educate and nurture, thoughtful, respectful, informed and aware students, that move around our community now and in the future and whom can bridge gaps between hearing and Deaf communities.

Foundation

The foundation students have leapt into Term 2, ready and eager to expand their Auslan learning. Not only have they retained many signs from Term 1, but are demonstrating the ability to follow classroom routines , expectations and instructions in sign language.

The foundation students have contributed to our presentation wall areas by creating displays that explain colour signs. Somehow we managed to complete many painted circles without painting ourselves! Well done Foundation!

Over the next two weeks the foundation students will be working on a portfolio task that enables them to share their understanding of the colour signs through one-to-one discussions with the teacher in Auslan, using their new sign knowledge. 

Year One and Two

Our Year One and Year Two students have been revising their colour signs through class games such as colour Fruit Salad and Rapid Fire (racing to sign the correct colour or identifying the signed colour). They have been incorporating their number skills to complete small group games such as building or drawing colour towers. Last week the students completed a colour display for our Auslan classroom by making window circles that we can enjoy from the inside and outside of the room. 

Over the next few weeks we will be investigating shopping, foods and linking agreement/disagreement signs such as like/don't like, want/don't want, have/haven't and favourite. They may even be able to sign some foods and preferences for you already!

Year Three and Four

The Three/Four classes have made a great start to Term 2. They have been learning about how Auslan signs can be similar and different within their five parameters. 

HOLM+NMF

Handshape (66 different ways to shape the hands, 38 main handshapes used)

Orientation (the different directions the palms and fingers can face)

Location (the position of the sign on the body or in the signing space)

Movement (most signs have a particular movement of the hand/s)

+

NMF (Non-Manual Features which covers things such as facial expression, body language, and eye gaze) 

They may even remember this rap!

Year Five and Six

The Five/Six classrooms have started the term well by participating in a classroom vote. This vote was to decide which "place" focus we would use this term. The choices were Shops, Home, School and Farm. There was an landslide vote for Farm and so we are starting with learning different fruits. This will be in combination with some simple statements such as, I like, don't like, my favourite and I eat. Over the term we will be exploring giving and receiving directions with games utilising the Woolworths Farm Building sets that were generously donated by families last year.