Auslan: Second Language Learner 7–10 Sequence / Levels 7 and 8 / Communicating / Reflecting
Content description
Reflect on ways in which Auslan and associated communicative and cultural behaviours are similar to or different from their own language(s) and forms of cultural expression
Elaborations
describing how it feels to use Auslan to communicate, or to watch Auslan being used by others, for example by responding to prompts such as What are the main differences you notice when observing conversations between hearing people and deaf people?
discussing changes or adaptations they have to make to their communicative style when using Auslan, for example waiting until they have a deaf person’s visual attention before signing to them, and maintaining eye contact
examining similarities and differences between ways of communicating in Auslan and in Australian English in different social situations, for example, in relation to ways of greeting/leave-taking, introducing people and using body language, facial expression and eye contact
reflecting on the need for sustained eye contact when using Auslan in order to understand a message and before teacher instructions can proceed
noticing differences in forms of address in signed and spoken languages, for example, not using a person’s name when signing directly to them, unlike in Australian English
examining general misconceptions held by hearing people about deaf people, Auslan and Deaf culture, for example, that all deaf people can hear with hearing aids, or that deaf people may not drive
reflecting on and providing possible explanations for assumptions deaf people might have about hearing people or about spoken languages
