AUSLAN

Auslan
This year, all P-2 students at Nar Nar Goon Primary School will explore Auslan as our LOTE subject.  

 

What is Auslan?

Auslan is Australian Sign Language, the native language of the Australian Deaf community, and is a visual-spatial, natural language with its own grammar and vocabulary.

Auslan has linguistic elements including:

HOLME- hand shapes, orientation, location and movement

NMF - non-manual features (including eye gaze, facial expressions, arm, head and body postures).

Auslan also has its own grammar, which is different from English. Auslan grammar is composed of precise hand shapes, facial expressions and body movements that convey concrete and abstract information.


Why learn Auslan?

Incorporating Auslan into the school program has many benefits for both deaf and hearing children.

Sign language can:

  • enhance children’s educational and personal development
  • increase memory retention and motion processing
  • stimulate brain development and mental flexibility
  • increase enjoyment in communicating for both hearing and deaf children.

Foundation

This Term Foundation students will explore what Auslan is and who might use it.  They will learn basic greetings and dialogue. Students will learn a variety of signs and then be exposed to a number of known picture story books in Auslan to build on their receptive skills. 

Year 1/2

This Term Year 1/2 students will learn to identify which is their dominant hand and the different parts of the hand.  They will learn the signs for everyday classroom items and to sign the Auslan alphabet so they can continue to use fingerspelling.  Students will also learn to introduce themselves and fingerspell their name. 

 

Keira Vukovic

 


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