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

The Auslan teachers would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the custodians of Auslan, the Deaf community. 

We acknowledge and respect the members of the deaf community in Australia who preserve their rich heritage, culture and our language; Auslan (Australian Sign Language).

We also acknowledge our custodians of Auslan, promoting awareness, equality and access through our sign language.

Through Auslan, we inspire future leaders in our deaf community to continue our legacy and heritage.

Click on the image below to watch the Auslan Deaf Acknowledgement.

Term One focus 

Welcome! During the first term, the students will be focusing on the broad umbrella topic of ‘People’. This has included all students creating a portrait of themselves and discussing that each student is valued in the Auslan space. We have spoken of the importance that all students belong, all attempts of signing (right or wrong) are welcomed and supported, and all mistakes are a chance for learning to occur. 

Throughout the term we will be learning the sign vocabulary related to family members, special people/VIP person in a child’s life and emotions. For many students, this will incorporate many new signs and for others it will be revision with opportunities for extension of signing knowledge, such as making longer signed phrases, new vocabulary, and expressing these signs in various ways.

Foundation 

Welcome to all of the new Foundation students! All three classes have quickly settled into the Auslan classroom and have been learning about our group expectations within the Auslan space. The students have been demonstrating their new knowledge of signs in the classroom and yard during play, by signing “hello, how are you?” 

It's wonderful to observe them so engaged and communicating with sign language already!

Year One and Two

It has been lovely to watch the Yr 1 and Yr 2 students becoming quickly re-engaged with signing activities after the long break.  An important aspect of Auslan is the ability to maintain engagement during a conversation and watch each other’s signing.  The images below demonstrate how the students understand the importance of watching each others' communication. 

A fun fingerspelling activity for the juniors.

Year 3 & 4

In Three/Four class we have been learning our family signs. We are working towards having a conversation about our families with a friend. Building vocabulary that connects directly to students lives outside of school is an engaging way for them to connect to the new language. Here are some basic family signs for you to learn.

Mother/Mum - Tap palm with extended pointer, middle and ring fingers, twice.

Hint: Fingerspell 'M' twice.

Father/Dad - Tap extended pointer and index fingers of both hands together twice.

Hint: Fingerspell 'F' twice.

Brother - Starting with fingers of fists together, move first hand upwards as you move the other down. Then the first down and the other up.

Sister - With pointer finger hooked, tap nose twice.

Grand Father - Sign 'G' for Grand (tap base of fist on the top of the other fist), then 'F' for father (by tapping extended pointer and middle fingers one onto the other, twice.)

Grand Mother - Sign 'G' for Grand (tap base of fist on the top of the other fist), then 'M' for mother (by taping extended pointer, middle and ring fingers on palm of other hand)

Year 5 & 6

The Five/Six classroom has been very busy with settling into the new year. We have also been working on the family vocabulary, extending our knowledge of signs about different members of our community. We are working on building more conversation skills about extended family and community members such as the ones below. 

Cousin - With hand in a C shape move hand from one side of chin to the other.

Aunty - Tap thumbs together twice.  Hint: Double 'A' (based on fingerspelling).

Uncle - Tap extended little fingers together twice.  Hint: Uncle starts with 'U'.

Teacher - Start with pointer finger and thumb extended in an L shape, pointer finger pointing up near ear. Move hand so that pointer finger points backwards, back up and backwards again.

Student - Form a flat circle with all fingers and thumb. Start by tapping fingertips on palm of other hand. Then tap fingertips to forehead.

Hint: The flat hand is like a book. Take knowledge from the book into your mind.

Class - With pointer finger and thumb extended from fist in a "C" handshape, on both hands. Start with palms facing each other. Rotate hands at wrist so that palms end facing you.

A big thank you goes out to my volunteers. Well done everyone. 

SWPBL: School Wide Positive Behaviours for Learning

As part of our settling in and establishing classroom routines, all of the Auslan classes have been unpacking the school values of Respect, Resilience and Responsibility, and relating them to the unique needs of the Auslan classroom. Whilst having these discussions and activities, all of the students have contributed to the classroom behaviour matrix. As a whole school class space we needed to make it very clear and concise which has also included some Auslan signs as well. 

Auslan Professional Development Day

We were excited to attend the AusHub (Auslan Hub) Professional Development day on Monday 12th February in the city. This day was facilitated by Kerrie Taylor who is  a secondary school teacher, author of children's books that have been written and illustrated to show the Auslan signs, and the owner or AusHub.  Kerrie is also Deaf and uses both spoken English and Auslan to communicate.  She provides many schools with training, resources, and information across both primary and secondary levels in relation to Auslan; the curriculum, useful resources, teaching ideas, lesson plans, assessments and strategies for engaging students when learning a new language. We were very thankful to be able to attend this professional development day and look forward to incorporating more exciting games and learning activities into the weekly lesson plans. 

Over the past 3 weeks we have been reading 'My First Day' and 'The Family Lunch' to support the learning of signs and experiences that the students have participated in over the holiday period and first weeks back to school.