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• VCASFU252

  Understand that Auslan and Deaf culture are interrelated, that they shape and are shaped by each other, that their relationship changes over time and across contexts, and that they may be differently interpreted by users of other languages

  Elaborations

  • appreciating distinctions between Deaf cultures and other cultural minorities, such as the fact that most deaf people are born to hearing parents and acquire Deaf culture in addition to the culture of their families of origin from peers and other Auslan users in school or adults in the Deaf community
  • exploring the nature and effect of culture, for example by comparing the cultural concept of Deaf identity with a medical model of deafness
  • analysing and discussing core cultural concepts reflected in Auslan, such as the collective nature of the Deaf community, respect for elders, the importance of reciprocity and responsibility, for example, the signing TAP-2h++ reflects the responsibility to share information and pass on knowledge
  • understanding that knowledge about past and present Deaf people and cultural values are embodied in and transmitted through Auslan, for example ways of producing the sign for SIGN embody cultural meaning regarding distinctions made and values placed on fluent or awkward signing
  • identifying cultural differences between the use of personal names in Auslan and in their own background language, for example, Auslan signers not using a person’s name sign when addressing them directly, in contrast to the practice in many spoken languages
  • considering cultural explanations for conversational strategies used by Auslan signers to avoid conflict and to maintain privacy, such as changing signing space and style, using indirect language such as signing lower or under the table, or fingerspelling instead of signing overtly
  • appreciating the cultural value and importance of festivals and events in the Deaf community, such as NWDP, as celebrations of language, history, culture and identity
  • recognising that Auslan signs change over time due to shifting cultural values and changing experiences, for example, the modification of the sign for APPRENTICE to refer to TAFE, and shifting values around the sign DEAF^DEAF as the sign for DEAF (culturally Deaf reference for deaf-mute) and unsuccessful attempts to reframe this with an audiological focus
  • reflecting on the ways that culture is interpreted by others, for example by identifying how stereotypes about deaf and hearing people influence perceptions
  • understanding that ‘sound’ is accessed differently in Deaf culture, that the meaning and importance of sound in deaf people’s lives is usually not the same as in hearing people’s experience
  • observing that concepts may be culture and language specific, for example in relation to time and space, as in the spatial mapping of timelines in Auslan

  VCASFU252 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | Role of language and culture

• VCASFU090

  Understand that Auslan and Deaf culture are interrelated, that they shape and are shaped by each other and that their relationship changes over time and across contexts

  Elaborations

  • exploring the relationship between language and culture, for example by analysing language used in pathological and sociocultural models of deafness and the impact that each philosophy and the language used to express it may have in regard to services for deaf people
  • appreciating the complexity of the relationship between language and culture, for example by discussing distinctions between Deaf cultures and other cultural minorities, such as the fact that most deaf people are born to hearing parents and typically access and experience Deaf culture through communicating with peers and other Auslan users in and out of school, in addition to their cultural experience in their families of origin
  • recognising the cultural significance of symbols and language features used in Auslan, for example the use of light and darkness in stories, poetry and performance, as in gaslight stories
  • considering cultural explanations for conversational strategies used by Auslan signers to avoid conflict and to maintain privacy, such as changing signing space and style, using indirect language such as signing lower or under the table, fingerspelling instead of signing overtly, or modifying a sign choice such as menstruation to suit the context
  • understanding that Auslan plays an important role in the expression and maintenance of Deaf culture, that each deaf person has a right to learn and use Auslan as part of their birthright and as a key element of their membership of the Deaf community, and that they become custodians and owners of the language
  • appreciating the cultural value and importance of festivals and events in the Deaf community, such as NWDP, as celebrations of language, history, culture and identity
  • analysing ways in which deaf people interpret and exploit the possibilities and cultural meanings of sound, for example, in games and stories which incorporate signs for sound and reactions to sound, for example, a door slamming
  • recognising that Auslan signs change over time due to shifting cultural values and changing experiences, for example, the sign for APPRENTICE modified to refer to TAFE, the shifting values around the sign DEAF^DEAF (culturally Deaf reference for deaf-mute), and unsuccessful attempts to reframe this with an audiological focus
  • reflecting on the ways culture is interpreted by others, for example by identifying how stereotypes about deaf and hearing people influence perceptions
  • recognising that cultural beliefs and behaviours are embedded in Auslan, for example, recounts by deaf people of interactions with hearing people might include language that reflects beliefs about English and ‘hearing-ness’, for example, an anecdote about a frustrating interaction might be concluded with hearing, their way
  • reflecting on the labels ‘deaf’ and ‘hearing’, considering what they mean to different people and their implications in terms of status, access, opportunity and privilege
  • analysing ways in which deaf people’s jokes and humorous narratives reflect cultural values about deaf/hearing relationships and how deaf people navigate the world, for example the ‘Bob’s House’ commercial
  • exploring how advocacy strategies can reflect deaf people’s cultural practices and values, for example the ‘TTY-in’ used to advocate for the National Relay Service

  VCASFU090 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | Role of language and culture

• VCASFC244

  Recognise that the concept of identity is complex, dynamic and diverse, and consider how students learn more about their own identity through the exploration of other languages and cultures

  Elaborations

  • reflecting on how identity is expressed across cultures and through languages, for example by considering the idea of ‘belonging’ as expressed in different languages
  • investigating how particular policies and practices may affect the sense of identity of deaf people, for example, through the prohibition of the use of Auslan in schools in the past
  • viewing excerpts of different footage in Auslan or other signed languages and identifying language or behaviour that appears to be either inclusive or exclusionary and could impact on identity development, for example, the representation of deaf teenagers in the TV program Switched at Birth or in documentaries such as Welcome 2 My Deaf World and Deaf Teens: Hearing World, making connections or comparisons with their own experiences as teenagers
  • evaluating documentary footage of famous members of the Deaf community discussing identity and the experience of growing up deaf, comparing their commentaries with their own experience, paying attention to identified factors that can influence identity, such as gender or race
  • creating vlogs or filmed texts designed to share their understanding or views about Deaf/hearing identity and to prompt the intended audience to reflect on their own views of Auslan and the Deaf community and of what it means to be ‘hearing’
  • viewing signed news and other media texts, such as episodes of See Hear or SignPost, and discussing examples of discrimination, oppression or rejection experienced by deaf people, reflecting on how these may shape or reflect mainstream society’s perception of the Deaf community
  • considering the concepts of ‘Deaf gain’, Deafhood and audism, and comparing their response to these concepts as second language learners of Auslan
  • discussing the impact of language and culture on the shaping of identity and a sense of wellbeing
  • considering connections and shared identity between local, regional and national communities of deaf people for example, by inviting a deaf guest to share their experiences of travel or international contact

  VCASFC244 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Identity

• VCASFC078

  Analyse different types of imaginative, creative and performative texts, considering how different techniques and modalities are employed to communicate with different audiences

  Elaborations

  • analysing examples of signed performance poetry, identifying patterns and conventions such as repetition of handshapes and movement paths of signs to create rhyme and to convey meaning
  • interpreting visual representations of Deaf experience, including the use of metaphors, perspectives, colours and textures in visual art forms such as sculpture, painting, photography, printmaking or ceramics
  • responding to forms of Deaf art that challenge perceptions and stimulate discussion, such as the work of Christine Sun Kim or members of the Australian Theatre of the Deaf or Deafinitely
  • comparing responses to imaginative texts that present particular values or points of view, for example, Deaf slam poetry
  • reflecting on the multilayered dimension of signed narrative, identifying how dynamic handshapes, facial expressions and body movements provide simultaneous narrative, commentary and emotional expression
  • comparing different recordings of signed storytelling, for example of young children making up stories or older people telling traditional tales, noticing differences in their language
  • comparing their interpretations of/responses to performances by deaf comedians, storytellers or poets
  • viewing and reviewing media texts that use aesthetic, artistic or realistic techniques to interpret and communicate dimensions of the Deaf experience, for example the documentary Deaf Jam (2011)
  • exploring the use of technology in Deaf art, film or performance, for example to help build mood or emotional expression
  • identifying relationships between elements such as imagery or signed sequences in texts such as ballads, free verse or narratives, for example by working with Auslan translations of Shakespearean texts
  • responding to signed poems that use extended metaphor to communicate values and ideas or to express emotional experience, for example, ‘Butterfly Hands’ by Walter Kadiki
  • comparing the visual nature of signed narratives with oral traditions of Indigenous cultures
  • analysing responses of hearing audiences to deaf performances, for example by evaluating comments made by judges on reality/talent television shows
  • discussing the complexity of live theatre performance interpretation and the use of deaf interpreters and consultants
  • creating highly complex narratives combining and switching between ways of reference, for example, CA, DS, lexical signs and frames of spatial reference

  VCASFC078 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Creating

• VCASFC208

  Recognise the complex and multifaceted nature of identity and how exploration of cultural identity in relation to a different language can provide insights and different perspectives to a first culture and language

  Elaborations

  • using photographs or digital images to create stories using elements of identity such as gender, ethnicity, social justice, disability or difference
  • reflecting on a range of filmed texts to identify examples of inclusive or exclusionary language that might impact on a person’s sense of identity, for example, the representation of deaf teenagers in the TV program Switched at Birth or the documentaries Welcome 2 My Deaf World or Deaf Teens: Hearing World, comparing these representations to their own experiences as teenagers
  • viewing and evaluating documentaries such as Audism Unveiled or commentaries by well-known members of the Deaf community on their sense of identity development in relation to growing up deaf, considering the impact of additional factors in individual stories, such as gender or race
  • creating vlogs or filmed texts to explore aspects of Deaf/hearing identity and to encourage consideration of common views among hearing communities on Auslan and the Deaf community and to reflect on what it means to be deaf, hard of hearing or hearing
  • viewing signed news and other media texts, such as episodes of See Hear or SignPost, to identify examples of discrimination, oppression or rejection experienced by deaf people, and considering how these may shape identity or affect societal perceptions of the Deaf community
  • surveying deaf people about their perspectives on the significance of Deaf places that contribute to a shared sense of identity, for example, the Deaf Club, Deaf schools or sites of historic significance such as original Deaf Society/Mission buildings or other former meeting places
  • making comparisons between different international Deaf communities in relation to perceptions/representations of Deaf identity and changing values of place and space, for example, the loss of Deaf clubs or closure of deaf schools, considering the implications of such changes on the development of Deaf identity
  • analysing notions of ‘Deaf gain’, Deafhood and audism, and sharing their response to these concepts as second language learners of Auslan

  VCASFC208 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Identity

• VCASFC039

  Contribute to discussions and shared learning activities by asking and responding to questions to clarify or indicate comprehension, managing interactions and monitoring and evaluating their learning

  Elaborations

  • helping to manage discussion, for example by asking specific questions to check meaning, making constructive comments to keep conversation moving, reviewing ideas expressed and conveying tentative conclusions
  • using strategies that support effective participation in shared learning activities, including signing clearly, pausing for others to respond, asking pertinent questions, rephrasing, repeating and linking their own contributions to those of others
  • exploring and clarifying others’ ideas and summarising their own, and reporting back to a larger group
  • engaging in conversations and discussions with guest speakers, using active watching behaviours and contributing their own ideas, questions and opinions
  • reflecting on their learning experiences, checking on their own and each other’s progress and providing each other with feedback, advice or reminders
  • sharing information and providing context for a new participant joining a conversation
  • contributing to discussions by clarifying and critiquing ideas and developing and supporting arguments, using statements such as:
    I FEEL YOU RIGHT TALK OVER …. BECAUSE…
    I think it’s good you are talking about …., because…
    
  • making connections between ideas, actions and effects, using reflective language such as:
    FAIL WHY? BECAUSE THAT DS:length WRONG, FAIL
    Because this happened … then …
    IF LIE++, HAPPEN TRUE, PEOPLE STILL DOUBT.
    If you always lie, when you tell the truth, people will still doubt you.
    

  VCASFC039 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 5 and 6 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCASFC007

  Express imaginative experience through creative games, role-play and mime, using familiar signs, modelled language and constructed action

  Elaborations

  • changing elements of favourite stories to create their own versions, with a focus on varying manner or constructed action
  • interacting with imaginary characters using lexical and non-lexical signs and NMFs to express emotions such as excitement, fear or amazement
  • using iconic signs to create their own variations on familiar nursery rhyme actions, such as in ‘Incy Wincy Spider’
  • depicting the movement of people, animals or means of transport by using handshapes in creative ways
  • creating amusing sequences of signs using a fixed handshape, such as YOU THINK PRO1 SHY
  • experimenting with NMFs and handshapes to play games such as ‘Simon Says’, taking turns to be Simon
  • experimenting with facial expressions to match different emotional expressions, such as HAPPY, SCARED, TIRED
  • changing an aspect of a cartoon or picture story, using gestures, handshapes and NMFs to explain differences
  • representing objects using combined bodies and hands in amusing or creative ways
  • exploring the use of constructed action such as eye gaze change, body shift and head orientation when enacting imagined adventures
  • making their own handshape creations
  • assuming the role of a character from a story and responding to signed questions from classmates, such as:
    YOUR NOSE DS:long-nose WHY?
    Why is your nose so long, Pinocchio?
    

  VCASFC007 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Foundation to Level 2 | Communicating | Creating

• VCASFC191

  Reflect on their intercultural interactions and experiences, for example by considering their responses when engaging with Auslan users or digital resources, and on how these responses reflect their own languages and cultures

  Elaborations

  • reflecting on their interactions in Auslan and with Deaf culture, for example, through face-to-face or online interactions with other Auslan learners or deaf people, visits to Deaf community places and events or interactions with visitors to the school, analysing these experiences in terms of their previous or existing perceptions, understandings or attitudes
  • analysing cultural assumptions they made prior to learning Auslan and considering if these have changed through the experience of learning the language and interacting with deaf people
  • reflecting on the labels deaf and hearing, what these may mean to different people and their implications in terms of status, access, opportunity and privilege
  • reflecting on the concepts of insider and outsider views of the Deaf community and on their own position as second language learners of Auslan
  • reflecting and reporting on how learning Auslan provides general insights into the nature of language and culture and on how their assumptions about deaf people and ways of reading the world are changing as a result of intercultural language learning
  • reflecting on general social attitudes and responses to differences in behaviours or communicative styles, such as those that characterise communication in Auslan
  • reflecting on their identity as ‘second language learners’ and considering whether the experience of learning an additional language/culture impacts on their aspirations, career considerations or social-networking opportunities
  • reflecting on how their own ways of communicating may be interpreted when interacting with deaf people, and on the need to modify elements of their behaviour, for example in relation to the use of eye contact, facial expression or body language

  VCASFC191 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Reflecting

• VCASFU121

  Understand that signs can include different information, including a gestural overlay, and identify how signers establish spatial locations, types of depicting signs and ways of showing constructed action

  Elaborations

  • noticing that meaning is created in Auslan from fully-lexical signs, partly-lexical signs and non-lexical signing and gesture
  • understanding that fully-lexical signs are in the dictionary and have a standard handshape, movement and location, and partly-lexical signs can be changed to show information such as location or who is involved in indicating verbs
  • noticing that single-digit numbers can be separate lexical items or merged into other signs (numeral incorporation) such as those for ages, for example, 5-YEARS-OLD or adverbs of time, for example, 3-WEEKS-AGO or pronouns, for example, WE3, WE4
  • identifying where and how a signer has established a location in space (through pointing, modifying the movement of a verb, or locating a non-body-anchored noun sign)
  • recognising that signers must make explicit which referent is associated with a location
  • recognising that signers can set up referents in the signing space close to them (viewer space), for example, using a bC handshape (use of non-dominant hand) to indicate putting a glass on a table or distant (diagrammatic) for example, using 5claw in two locations to represent two houses
  • identifying independently instances of DSs and their type
  • learning that the function of CA is to represent the words, thoughts or actions of a protagonist in a text, either themselves or another
  • knowing that in CA a signer can shift into the role of another, or themselves at a different time, through eye gaze change, body shift, head orientation change, and matching facial expressions

  VCASFU121 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCASFU108

  Explore connections between language, identity and cultural practices, values and beliefs and the expression of these connections in Auslan

  Elaborations

  • recognising that people from different places and backgrounds may use different languages and have ways of living and communicating that differ from their own
  • appreciating that culture and cultural difference means that people may value different things or live differently, noticing observable examples of ‘difference’, such as ways of greeting (bowing versus shaking hands) or conveying information (through words versus signs)
  • recognising how they as deaf people live in ways that may be different from how hearing people live and that these ways are primarily visual, for example by responding to prompts such as: Compare how deaf and hearing people get the attention of someone on the other side of the room; and How do deaf and hearing people make sure they wake up at a particular time in the morning?
  • recognising the importance of facial expression, eye gaze and non-manual features in conveying information in a visual-gestural language and culture
  • understanding that culture is more than the visible aspects of people’s lives, that it also includes invisible elements such as beliefs and values, how people think about themselves and others, how they relate to their social and physical environments; and considering how this understanding applies to themselves as users of Auslan
  • recognising that in each culture there are general rules for what to say and do, when, where and with whom, and that these rules differ from culture to culture, for example, the Deaf culture places greater importance on eye contact than cultures that communicate through spoken languages
  • identifying the importance of signing space and proxemics in Auslan, particularly in relation to a person passing between two signers, or the positioning of communication partners
  • recognising that shared experiences shape cultural values in Auslan and in other cultures, for example, the experience of deaf children being excluded from family and social discourse during dinner table conversations or social events gives rise to the value placed in the Deaf community on sharing information with each other
  • considering how some spaces make deaf people feel comfortable, for example, open-plan spaces with long sight lines allowing easy visual access

  VCASFU108 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Role of language and culture

• VCASFU067

  Distinguish between character and observer space, categorise different verb types and identify constructed action in a text

  Elaborations

  • noticing that meaning is created in Auslan from fully-lexical signs, partly-lexical signs and non-lexical CA and gesture
  • recognising that signers can set up referents in the signing space as if they are part of that space (character space, for example, using a bC handshape (use of non-dominant hand) to indicate putting a glass on a table) or as if they are outside it (observer, for example, using 5claw in two locations to represent two houses)
  • recognising that in character space, signers can use locations for present referents, non-present referents, or abstract referents that do not exist in space
  • recognising that signers can give information about how a verb happens over time by changing the movement, for example, signing WATCH versus WATCH -_{for-a-long-time}, or with lexical signs such as WATCH AGAIN++
  • recognising that nouns can be pluralised by locating them repeatedly regardless of their original location
  • categorising the type of depicting sign being used by a signer
  • distinguishing between directional and locational indicating verbs
  • observing examples of CA in an Auslan text and discussing how it was marked

  VCASFU067 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCASFU054

  Reflect on how communities’ ways of using language are shaped by and reflect cultural values and beliefs, and how these may be differently interpreted by users of other languages

  Elaborations

  • explaining the role of Auslan and Deaf culture in maintaining, reflecting and strengthening the Deaf community and its networks and significant places
  • understanding that knowledge about past and present Deaf people and cultural experience and values is embodied in and transmitted through Auslan, for example ways of producing the sign for SIGN reflects cultural values placed on fluency
  • identifying the cultural importance of different elements of communication, such as the use of signing space and proxemics by Auslan users, particularly in relation to a person passing between two signers or the positioning of communication partners
  • identifying cultural differences between the use of personal names in Auslan and other languages, such as the fact that Auslan signers do not use a person’s name when addressing them directly as do users of many spoken languages
  • recognising that different types of expressive and imaginative performance in Auslan carry cultural as well as linguistic information, for example, a film or theatrical performance that represents typical miscommunication experiences
  • understanding that ‘sound’ is accessed differently in Deaf culture, that the meaning and importance of sound in deaf people’s lives is usually not the same as in hearing people’s experience
  • exploring ways in which deaf people’s art incorporates sign language motifs and images as forms of cultural expression
  • analysing stories about deaf people’s history for the ways in which they embody cultural values and information, for example accounts of Thomas Pattison, FJ Rose and William Thomson establishing the first schools for deaf children

  VCASFU054 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 5 and 6 | Understanding | Role of language and culture

• VCASFU156

  Identify the movement and location of different signs and notice how they combine with handshape to form signs, and understand that Auslan can be videoed and transcribed to assist learning

  Elaborations

  • identifying the location of a sign on the body or in space
  • noticing the five major locations of signs on the body or in space, and identifying signs associated with each, such as SEE (head/face), SAY (mouth/chin), WHY (chest), TALK (hand) and ONE (signing space)
  • recognising that handshapes must be performed in a particular orientation
  • identifying and demonstrating signs with a change in handshape, for example FIND or BEST
  • identifying and demonstrating signs with a change in orientation, for example CAN-NOT or HOW
  • understanding that NMFs can also be an element of a sign and can show emotional states such as a happy expression or grammatical information, for example, a frown to mark a negative
  • identifying single, double and two-handed signs, and recognising which hand is dominant (the pen hand) and which is non-dominant (the paper hand) within two-handed signs
  • comparing iconic signs that provide visual images of referents, such as DRINK, ELEPHANT with English words that map to the sound images of the referents, such as animal noises, or words for sounds such as bang
  • learning to film themselves and analyse the video or to read simple glosses produced by the teacher, and understanding that the English word used is often not an exact match for the meaning of the sign

  VCASFU156 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 3 and 4 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCASFU013

  Recognise that signing happens in a finite space that can be used meaningfully within individual signs, learning in particular how depicting signs, some verbs, pronouns and enacting make use of spatial relationships

  Elaborations

  • realising that meaning is communicated through the use of signs, pictures, written or spoken words or miming
  • describing the range of signing space in normal signed discourse
  • noticing that single-digit numbers can be separate lexical items or merged into other signs (numeral incorporation) such as those for ages (for example, 5-YEARS-OLD) or adverbs of time (for example, 3-WEEKS-AGO) or pronouns (WE3, WE4)
  • noticing that Auslan pronouns are different from English ones because they don’t show gender but they can show location and a specific number of referents, for example, WE2 (inclusive) and WE3 (inclusive) or WE2-NOT-INCLUDING-YOU (exclusive)
  • noticing that enacting a role or modifying the beginning and end locations of some verbs can show the referents involved, for example:
    PRO1 ASK PRO3 versus PRO1 ASK-_her
    PRO3 ASK-_me CA:I-was-shocked
    
  • identifying what sort of things can be represented in a DS by a particular handshape, for example a distant person, pole or tree can be represented by a point handshape, and a cylinder can be traced by a C handshape

  VCASFU013 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Foundation to Level 2 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCASFU030

  Identify and demonstrate how the formational elements of handshape and its orientation, movement, location and non-manual features can be arranged in signs which may be iconic, and explore ways of recording Auslan

  Elaborations

  • noticing the orientation of handshapes in signs
  • identifying and demonstrating signs with a change in handshape, for example FIND or BEST
  • identifying and demonstrating signs with a change in orientation, for example CAN-NOT or HOW
  • distinguishing between single, double and two-handed signs, and identifying which hand is dominant and which is non-dominant in two-handed signs
  • thinking of body-anchored signs, such as HEAD or WHY, and signs that are not body anchored, such as HAVE or STOP and recognising that non-body anchored signs can be located in space around the signer
  • understanding that NMFs can also be an element of a sign and can show emotional states such as a happy expression or grammatical information, for example, a frown to mark a negative
  • comparing iconic signs that provide visual images of referents, such as DRINK, ELEPHANT, with English words that map to the sound images of the referents, such as animal noises, or words for sounds such as bang
  • describing how the movement changes between groups of related numbers, for example, 5, 15, 50, 5th
  • learning to film themselves and analyse the video or to read simple glosses produced by the teacher, and understanding that the English word used is often not an exact match for the meaning of the sign

  VCASFU030 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 3 and 4 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCASFU234

  Explore connections between language, identity and cultural practices, values and beliefs and the expression of these connections in Auslan

  Elaborations

  • recognising that people from different places and backgrounds may use different languages and have ways of living and communicating that differ from their own
  • appreciating that culture and cultural difference means that people may value different things or live differently, noticing observable examples of such difference, such as ways of greeting (bowing versus shaking hands) or conveying information (through words versus signs)
  • exploring how deaf people live in ways that may be different from how hearing people live and that they are primarily visual, for example by responding to stimulus questions such as How do deaf people ensure they can always see other people who are signing?
  • recognising the importance of facial expression, eye gaze and non-manual features in conveying information in a visual-gestural language and culture
  • exploring the nature of culture as an essential part of human life, understanding that it is shared, passed on between generations and is closely connected to language and identity
  • understanding that culture is more than the visible aspects of people’s lives; that it also includes invisible elements such as beliefs and values, how people think about themselves and others, how they relate to their social and physical environments; and considering how this understanding applies to users of Auslan
  • recognising that in each culture there are general rules for what to say and do, when, where and with whom, and that these rules differ from culture to culture, for example, the Deaf culture places greater importance on eye contact than cultures that communicate through spoken languages
  • identifying the importance of signing space and proxemics in Auslan, particularly in relation to a person passing between two signers, or to the positioning of communication partners
  • recognising that shared experiences shape cultural values in Auslan as in other cultures, for example the experience of deaf children being excluded from family and social discourse during dinner table conversations or social events gives rise to the value placed in the Deaf community on ensuring inclusivity and sharing information with each other
  • recognising the importance of community and culture in relation to their own lives and communities and in relation to other language groups and their communities
  • recognising the role of the Deaf community and its networks and significant places in maintaining, reflecting and strengthening Auslan and Deaf culture

  VCASFU234 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Role of language and culture

• VCASFC219

  Communicate appropriately and clearly with the teaching team and peers using appropriate Auslan protocols for classroom interaction

  Elaborations

  • following classroom protocols specific to an Auslan context, such as:
    • responding to flashing lights and waving for class attention
    • tapping, pointing and waving for peer attention
    • maintaining eye gaze
    • back-channelling such as nodding
    • limiting the use of voice
    • maintaining a clear line of sight
  • following and using classroom language such as instructions for class routines, for example:
    PLAY GAME. PLEASE STAND UP
    We’re going to play a game; please stand up.
    LOOK-AT-_me PRO1
    Eyes to the front.
    PLEASE WITH-2++
    Please find a partner.
  • using language to facilitate clear communication, such as asking for help or permission, for example:
    PLEASE HELP-_me?
    Can you help me, please?
    G:HANDS-UP PLEASE PRO1 NEED TOILET
    Can I go to the toilet please?
  • showing agreement/disagreement, for example, respectful manner, for example:
    AGREE YES or PRO1 AGREE
    Yes, I agree.
    PRO1 KNOW WHAT MEAN, BUT…
    I know what you mean, but …
    DOUBT
    I’m not sure.
    AGREE-NOT
    I don’t agree …
  • indicating understanding, for example by nodding, or signing SURPRISE, or KNOW++
  • apologising and thanking, for example:
    THANK-YOU HELP-_me
    Thank you for helping me.
    SORRY PRO1 FORGOT
    I’m sorry; it was an accident.
  • asking for repetition or clarification, for example:
    PLEASE SLOW SIGN
    Could you sign that slowly please?
    PRO2 SAY BEFORE WHAT?
    What did you just say, sorry?
  • negotiating turn-taking, for example:
    PRO1 FIRST YOUR-TURN
    It’s my turn first, then your turn.
    

  VCASFC219 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCASFC020

  Contribute to class activities and shared learning tasks that involve transacting, planning and problem-solving, using collaborative language

  Elaborations

  • working together in shared tasks such as cooking, craft activities or creating displays, signing questions or statements, for example:
    BOOK WHICH WANT MAKE WHICH? PICK.
    Which recipe do you want to make? You choose.
    PLEASE PRO2 BRING SCISSORS PLUS PAPER?
    Can you please bring scissors and paper?
    
  • negotiating roles and responsibilities and expressing preferences when working on shared projects, using expressions such as I would prefer to do that; What job do you want to do?
    PRO1 FILM PRO2 QUESTION-_her
    I’ll film; you ask her the questions.
    
  • contributing to the development of a set of class rules
  • engaging in activities such as treasure hunts that involve making choices, solving problems and giving and following directions, for example:
    LIBRARY IN DS:turn-right AUSLAN DICTIONARY DS:fat-book SHELF++ THAT. PLEASE BRING-_me
    Go into the library, turn right and the Auslan dictionary will be on the second shelf. Bring that back to me.
    
  • playing games that involve the exchange or discovery of hidden information, using descriptive language and appropriate questioning, for example:
    HAVE BROWN EYES CURLY HAIR?
    Does he have brown eyes and curly hair
    CAN COOK WITH?
    Can you use it for cooking?
    
  • checking on understanding when completing learning activities, for example:
    KNOW WHAT PRO1 MEAN?
    Do you know what I mean?
    THIS PRO2 FINISH THIS?
    Do you think that’s finished now?
    
  • participating in games that involve turn-taking, active watching, memory and information exchange
  • working together in design projects such as short films or displays to demonstrate content knowledge from different curriculum areas, sharing decisions about content, vocabulary and sequencing

  VCASFC020 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 3 and 4 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCASFC235

  Socialise and exchange views on selected issues using different communication strategies, language structures and techniques

  Elaborations

  • explaining or justifying a position in relation to personal and social issues, such as the inclusion of deaf jury members, using simple clauses and more complex constructions, such as statements, if…then… or when constructions, for example:
    IF DS:place-person DEAF TEACHER MEANS DEAF HEARING STUDENTS EQUAL-_all
    If there were a deaf teacher in the class as well, then all the students would be equal.
  • debating issues such as whether schools should have a school uniform, using a range of conjunctions and complex clauses, for example:
    SPORT, PRO1 THINK GOOD BECAUSE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE GO-OUT MEET-VARIOUS PEOPLE
    I think sport is great because it encourages people to go out and meet others.
    PRO1 THINK SCHOOL UNIFORM GOOD BECAUSE ALL STUDENT SAME-_all DOESN’T MATTER RICH POOR SAME-_all
    I think school uniforms are good because they keep students equal, and it doesn’t matter if they are rich or poor.
  • participating in conversations with their peers using strategies to sustain interactions, such as turn-taking and asking for repetition, clarification or confirmation, for example:
    WHAT? PLEASE AGAIN
    Could you repeat that, please?
    STILL GO-AHEAD
    Go ahead …
    RIGHT PRO2 SAY PRO1 FIX THAT?
    So, you want me to fix that?
  • communicating with other Auslan users via digital media to exchange views or to express personal opinion on topics such as co-educational or single-sex schools
  • adjusting their language to socialise with different audiences, such as primary school Auslan users, using appropriate code-switching techniques

  VCASFC235 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCASFU102

  Identify and describe all elements of sign production, including handshape and its orientation, movement, location and non-manual features and understand that signs can look like what they represent

  Elaborations

  • realising that meaning is communicated through the use of signs, pictures, written or spoken words or miming
  • identifying the handshape of a sign, for example, COCKATOO (hs:5, palm left) and SOCCER (hs:fist, palm towards signer) and identifying signs of a particular handshape
  • identifying and demonstrating signs with a change in handshape, for example FIND or BEST
  • identifying and demonstrating signs with a change in orientation, for example CAN-NOT or HOW
  • noticing the path movement of a particular sign and identifying signs associated with the major types of path movements, for example, THROUGH (forwards) or FULL (down to up)
  • describing how the movement changes between groups of related numbers, for example, 5, 15, 50, 5th)
  • noticing the five major locations of signs on the body or in space, and identifying signs associated with each, such as SEE (head/face), SAY (mouth/chin), WHY (chest), TALK (hand) and ONE (signing space)
  • understanding that NMFs are important in sign language for showing feelings of the signer or others
  • identifying single, double and two-handed signs, and recognising which hand is dominant (the pen hand) and which is non-dominant (paper) within two-handed signs
  • thinking of body-anchored signs, such as HEAD or WHY, and signs that are not body anchored, such as HAVE or STOP, and recognising that non-body anchored signs can be located in space around the signer
  • understanding that signs can be organised by handshape, for example in Johnston’s Auslan dictionaries or localised handshape dictionaries in schools, and that this is useful if an English word for a sign is not known
  • recognising that some signs are iconic, that is, provide a visual image of a referent, for example, HOUSE, TREE, DRINK, ELEPHANT, and that some are not, such as SISTER, WHY, SIMPLE
  • experimenting with different methods of capturing the signed language, such as: a class-invented script, drawing pictures, videoing, English glosses or ASL-phabet

  VCASFU102 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Systems of language