Auslan News

Errol St Campus

From Simone McGenniskin, Senior School Auslan teacher

Revision and Grammer

Week 1 started off with a bang as we watched Andy Dexterity sign part of the song ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’by Queen, sparking a fascinating discussion around music in the Deaf community. Each class was asked ‘what is the point of signing music if Deaf people might not be able to hear it?’. Students’ responses were deep and thoughtful, reflecting on Andy Dexterity’s expressiveness, sense of storytelling, musicality and entertainment value as being visually satiating. Should the Deaf community miss out on such a huge aspect of entertainment? Is that fair? 

We continued our class with the biggest Wheel of Fortune yet! With a whopping 33 signs on the wheel. Students drew a 16 square bingo in their workbook and filled it with all of the terms we learnt last year from a long list including breakfast signs, meal time signs, medical signs and time signs. When the wheel was spun, students weren’t allowed to say the answers, instead ticking them off their Bingo card or grunting in frustration. 

Week 2 is all about transactions in Auslan as we learn Shop signs. Students are learning the signs for bank, chemist, buy, sell, money, toy shop, cafe, butcher, ice cream shop, fruit shop and supermarket. 

How can I help? 

Print and practice: Put up our Shops signs on the fridge and practice with your children! They’ll love teaching you.