Auslan News

Molesworth St Campus

From Simone, Junior school Auslan teacher

Immersive experience

What an incredible year we’ve had at Molesworth. I (Ms Simone) couldn’t be prouder of all the students of NMPS have achieved in Auslan. Our preps came in with no prior knowledge and can now successfully identify flashcards, play voice-off games, sing and sign Auslan songs, count, recite the alphabet, and excelling preps can spell their own name! Prep classes have been brainstorming their learning from this year and celebrating how far they have come. 

All students have shown an enormous respect for the Deaf community this year as they begin to ask deeper questions in class discussions. 2B asked what happens when a person is blind and deaf, and I modelled touch communication for those in the Deafblind community (you fingerspell on the other person’s hand). 

I have been overwhelmed with the amount of knowledge our Molesworth students have absorbed this year, as they continue to impress me at lunchtime by joking in Auslan (Nate in Prep D calls me cherry, and I call him mango back). 

For our final week I am challenging all of our students to a voice-off class by asking them to wear noise-cancelling headphones as a physical reminder to rely on their other senses to communicate with me and their peers. Students have been identifying flashcards, answering simple questions, following instructions, and Year 2’s have been playing board games. 

How can I help? 

Preps, 1’s and 2’s: Print and practice these family signs over the holidays to refresh their memories!  

Year 6’s: For students who are interested in continuing their learning journey after primary school, Expression Australia offers online and in-person courses for Adult learners. I got in contact with them and asked if students around 12-13 years old would be permitted to participate and the good news is, they said yes! 

Lastly, our Auslan Student of the Week awards celebrate students who demonstrate exceptional effort, creativity, or improvement in their Auslan learning. This fortnight's winners are: