Languages- Auslan

Communicating with the Specialist Team

We look forward to partnering with you in 2023, and welcome your input:

Amanda Oakley (Languages- Auslan) Amanda.Oakley2@education.vic.gov.au

Student Agency sessions Foundation/Gr 1 and 5/6 students.

Thank you to the first rotation of eager students who are participating in the Student Agency sessions. Five students from 5/6 and five from Foundation/Class 1, have started putting ideas together for the first video that will be attached to the newsletter next term. A big thank you to Ryley and Leah, the Auslan Captains who will be involved each term. Stay tuned!

Student Electives Gr 3-6

What an amazing first session we had! The students all came together and we discussed what they wanted to learn and discuss during the sessions next term. So many great ideas and thoughtful suggestions. Many wanted to learn about topics such as; How to communicate with a Deaf person, question words and putting phrases together, songs, fingerspelling the ABC, greetings, how to order food, animals, how to sign and ask someone's name, and so many more.

It is Auslan Day on the 13th April during the school holidays! A day to celebrate the rich visual language of the Australian Deaf Community and to acknowledge the date of the first publication of the Auslan dictionary in 1989. Watch and listen to more information in the below links.

Expression Australia - Auslan, the language of the Australian Deaf Community. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWWQorhjoR0&t=123s

           Deaf Connect -  Auslan not AUSLAN  https://vimeo.com/535669929

 Grade 1

Over the past few weeks the Grade 1 classes have been continuing their learning of how to fingerspell the alphabet. We complete our class roll via fingerspelling with the children watching for the first letter in their name and in addition, they are beginning to recognise the following letters. Luckily for 1A, we were creating playdough letters immediately after the storm last week and it couldn't have been better timing! The class settled back into creating and learning, with the playdough calming us all. 

The past 2 weeks we have also been focusing on numbers 0-10 through drawing, saying, matching and signing numbers. 

Foundation

The Foundation students have been busy counting and singing to 10, manipulating their little fingers more quickly each week. Making the change to count to 10 on one hand is a challenging concept for some, but many are beginning to understand that it is the numeral name that we are signing, not always how many fingers you are holding up. 

The Foundation students continue to practise the alphabet and signing the letters within their name.  They have created bookmarks that will be coming home this term. In addition, I have inserted a video link for those that are interested, so that you and your child/children can continue to practise at home.  Learn Auslan - Fingerspelling the Alphabet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFP4a3foXLA 

We will be using all of the signs that the students have learnt this term for some games and revision in the last week such as 'I spy', 'Who has.....number/letter', and number matching.

We are looking forward to exploring many new topics next term, including Colours, Emotions, Animals, Weather, Time and Meal times.