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• VCASFU034

  Recognise that there is variation in Auslan use, for example in different locations or physical environments

  Elaborations

  • exploring similarities and differences in Auslan dialects through building webcam relationships with other schools or through identifying and collecting signs that differ in the ‘northern’ (NSW, Qld and ACT) and ‘southern’ (Vic., SA, WA, NT and Tas.) dialects, such as DINNER or AFTERNOON
  • recognising that variation also occurs in spoken languages and noticing some different words for the same thing in English, such as cossie/cozzie, togs or bathers
  • identifying Auslan signs or informal home signs that might be different from signs used by other people
  • considering adaptations to Auslan use when communicating in different physical environments, such as in video chats, across a large yard, or when one or both hands are occupied, for example, variations in vocabulary, size of signing space, clarity of signs, use of fingerspelling and NMFs
  • recognising variation in adaptation of signing between different users of Auslan, for example, people who are deafblind use hand-over-hand signing and tactile fingerspelling

  VCASFU034 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 3 and 4 | Understanding | Language variation and change

• VCASFU160

  Recognise that there is variation in Auslan use, for example in different locations or physical environments

  Elaborations

  • exploring similarities and differences in Auslan dialects through building webcam relationships with other schools or through identifying and collecting signs that differ in the northern (Qld and NSW) and southern (Vic., SA, WA and Tas.) dialects, such as DINNER or AFTERNOON
  • recognising that variation also occurs in spoken languages and noticing some different words for the same thing in English, such as cossie/cozzie, togs or bathers
  • identifying Auslan signs or informal home signs that might be different from signs used by other people
  • considering adaptations to Auslan use when communicating in different physical environments, such as in video chats, across a large yard, or when one or both hands are occupied, for example, variations in vocabulary, size of signing space, clarity of signs, use of fingerspelling and NMFs
  • recognising variation in adaptation of signing between different users of Auslan, for example, people who are deafblind use hand-over-hand signing and tactile fingerspelling

  VCASFU160 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 3 and 4 | Understanding | Language variation and change

• VCASFU106

  Recognise that there is variation in in how Auslan is used depending on context, environment and influences of other signed languages

  Elaborations

  • exploring different ways to show the same concept, for example though a picture, a spoken word, a sign, a home sign or a gesture
  • exploring similarities and differences in the two main Auslan dialects, the northern dialect used in New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory, and the southern dialect used in Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory, for example through building webcam relationships with other schools or by identifying and collecting signs that differ in the two forms
  • noticing different ways that English words are borrowed into Auslan, for example, the use of fully fingerspelled words, such as D-U-E, N-O-U-N, the fingerspelling of the first letter of corresponding English words, for example TOILET, FATHER, or abbreviations of English words, for example, state names: S-A, N-S-W, V-I-C, T-A-S, and organisation names: N-A-B-S, W-A-A-D, N-S-W-A-D, D-C-S-S-A, and lexicalised fingerspelling, such as HOW, BUT, ABOUT, FOR
  • noticing the variation in ‘handedness’ between signers in relation to signs and to fingerspelling: right handers using their right hand as their dominant (main) hand; left handers doing the opposite
  • considering adaptations to language use when communicating in different physical environments, such as in video chats, across a large yard, or when one or both hands are occupied, for example choice of vocabulary, size of signing space, clarity of signs, use of fingerspelling and NMFs

  VCASFU106 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Language variation and change

• Auslan - Second Language Learner - F–10 Sequence: Foundation to Level 2 achievement standards

  By the end of Level 2, students interact with teachers and each other to talk about themselves, their families, friends and immediate environment. They follow instructions to complete action-based activities such as signing games or transactional activities, using repeated constructions, gestures...

  Level description | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Foundation to Level 2

• Auslan - First Language Learner - F–10 Sequence: Levels 5 and 6 achievement standards

  By the end of Level 6, students use Auslan to interact with people for a range of different purposes. They use descriptive and expressive language to share and compare experiences, ideas and opinions, such as THEATRE GOOD, LONG -_really, LONG-_really. They participate in class discussions and show...

  Level description | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 5 and 6

• VCASFC029

  Describe some ways in which Auslan and associated communicative behaviours are similar to or different from wider community spoken languages and forms of cultural expression

  Elaborations

  • reflecting on their observations of similarities and differences between ways of communicating in Auslan and in Australian English in different social situations, for example, when greeting/leave-taking, introducing people or using body language, facial expression and eye contact
  • considering the impact of the increased use of Auslan among their hearing peers when members of their school community are learning Auslan, and reflecting on their experience of interacting with these learners
  • comparing their own and each other’s reflections on the experience of learning and communicating in English as a second language
  • reflecting on similarities and differences in communication that relate to culture, such as the extent of incidental learning available to hearing children compared to deaf children through interaction with their external environment, for example by overhearing conversations or news on the radio
  • reflecting on the need for sustained eye contact when using Auslan in order to understand a message and before teacher instructions can proceed, and considering how this differs for hearing students in a spoken language environment
  • describing how it feels to use Auslan to communicate outside their inner circle or school, or to watch Auslan being used by others, for example by responding to questions such as What are the main differences you notice when observing a conversation between deaf people and one between hearing people?

  VCASFC029 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 3 and 4 | Communicating | Reflecting

• VCASFC154

  Consider how their ways of communicating and responding to each other shape and reflect their sense of identity

  Elaborations

  • using visual representations such as concept maps, posters or captioned slide presentations to identify groups that they identify with, such as friends, family, sporting, interest and community groups
  • creating a profile to capture their sense of self, for example through creating an avatar or montage, using key signs, fingerspelled letters or simple Auslan expressions in a digital file to identify significant characteristics, traits or experiences
  • comparing their own and each other’s ways of communicating, identifying elements that reflect cultural differences or influences of other languages
  • identifying markers of identity that may be important across all cultures and communities, for example, family membership, environment, language background, age or gender

  VCASFC154 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 3 and 4 | Communicating | Identity

• VCASFU162

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

  Elaborations

  • exploring culture as an essential part of human life, understanding that it is shared, passed on between generations and is closely connected to language and to 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 how this understanding applies to themselves as users of their first language and as learners 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
  • recognising that language reflects values and beliefs, for example in expressions of personal identity or in the recognition of others (sameness and difference), for example by identifying deaf family members as part of introductions, and by relaying cultural information about background and context and shared knowledge when interacting with others

  VCASFU162 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 3 and 4 | Understanding | Role of language and culture

• VCASFC238

  Engage with a range of signed texts to locate and evaluate information, infer or interpret meaning and to present key points in new forms

  Elaborations

  • interviewing an Auslan user, using prepared questions to find out about their experiences or opinions on selected topics, such as early language learning for deaf babies or their experience of education, selecting key elements of their commentary to produce a digital profile to share with the class
  • observing informative signed texts from the Deaf community and deaf-related organisations, such as emergency or advocacy texts, and rephrasing key points in a form suitable for a younger audience
  • collecting information from a variety of signed sources to inform class discussions on current affairs, for example the prevalent use of social media by young people, and access to this by deaf students
  • following more complex procedural signed texts, such as directions to follow in an unfamiliar environment, such as a school camp or excursion
  • watching and summarising information provided by a guest speaker and comparing their noted ideas and opinions with those of their peers
  • viewing texts such as interviews, news reports or vlogs and selecting points of information or details to use in their own texts or opinion pieces
  • viewing Auslan texts from other content areas, using depicting signs to explain key concepts, such as states of matter or climate variation
  • forming and signing questions to request information from a deaf organisation or person, in order to produce a digital information text such as a brochure or web page
  • obtaining information about high-profile members of the international Deaf community to create profiles for an e-magazine

  VCASFC238 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Informing

• VCASFC065

  Participate in and reflect on intercultural interactions and experiences, for example by considering and comparing their responses and strategies when engaging with hearing people

  Elaborations

  • comparing their experience of interacting with hearing people in various domains online or face to face, such as after-school sports clubs, analysing these experiences in terms of their perceptions, understandings or attitudes
  • reflecting on how differences between signed and spoken language users may be perceived, for example in relation to different protocols when joining interactions, taking turns, using names, or passing between people who are communicating with each other
  • reflecting on the concepts of insider and outsider views of the Deaf community and on their own position as first language learners of Auslan
  • reflecting on their own and others’ social attitudes and responses to differences in behaviours or communicative styles, for example on how they feel when hearing people do not make eye contact during an interaction
  • reflecting on how their own ways of communicating may be interpreted by hearing people, and on how they need to modify or consider other communication strategies and behaviour, such as the use of eye contact, facial expression or body language
  • comparing strategies used by deaf and hearing adults to negotiate the physical environment, for example, different behaviours that reflect different perceptual perspectives in contexts such as travelling in a lift

  VCASFC065 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Reflecting

• VCASFC041

  Present information to describe, explain, persuade or report on different experiences or activities in ways likely to engage the intended audience

  Elaborations

  • providing step-by-step instructions to peers, for example directions to a location or explanations of how to build a model
  • creating signed announcements that use persuasive techniques to inform others about upcoming events, for example a Deaf theatre performance or National Week of Deaf People
  • reporting in digital form on their experiences of shared events such as school camps or concerts to send as feedback to the organisers
  • creating a video report of an event in Deaf history as a contribution to a shared e-book resource
  • developing a signed news report or public announcement to inform or alert an imagined audience of a recent or impending natural disaster
  • providing instructions for a group activity such as a maths or computer game
  • creating a digital clip or social media post that presents information on a selected issue in ways designed to persuade or dissuade the intended audience, for example an anti-smoking post or a clean-up-the-environment appeal
  • engaging with deaf visitors from different groups and backgrounds by creating a vlog about the visits and their responses to different identity stories
  • explaining a new concept encountered in content areas such as geography or history, such as erosion or revolution
  • preparing a short signed presentation for their peers drawing on information obtained from library resources or media texts on topics related to other curriculum areas such as visual arts or history

  VCASFC041 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 5 and 6 | Communicating | Informing

• VCASFC101

  Reflect on ways in which Auslan and associated communicative and cultural behaviours are similar to or different from other language(s) and forms of cultural expression

  Elaborations

  • comparing aspects of their lives as young deaf people with those of young hearing people as represented in digital images, video clips and narratives, for example, ways of engaging in different games and activities, exchanging stories and interacting socially at school, at home and in the community
  • discussing changes or adaptations they make to their communicative style when communicating with non-signers
  • reflecting on similarities and differences between ways of communicating in Auslan and in Australian English in different social situations, for example, 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, and considering how this may differ for hearing students in a spoken language environment
  • reflecting on language differences in forms of address in signed and spoken language, for example, using a person’s name when addressing them directly in Australian English but not in Auslan
  • examining general misconceptions that deaf people may have about hearing people and culture, for example, that hearing people hear and understand everything, or that hearing people can hear from a distance
  • reflecting on and providing possible explanations for assumptions hearing people might have about deaf people or about signed languages

  VCASFC101 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Reflecting

• VCASFU036

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

  Elaborations

  • exploring culture as an essential part of human life, understanding that it is shared and passed on between generations and is closely connected to language and to 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 how these understandings apply to themselves as users of Auslan and members of the Deaf community
  • 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
  • recognising that language reflects values and beliefs, such as in expressions of personal identity or in the recognition of others (sameness and difference), for example by identifying deaf family members as part of introductions, and by relaying cultural information about background and context and shared knowledge when interacting with others
  • appreciating the social and cultural nature of deaf humour in a visual language

  VCASFU036 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 3 and 4 | Understanding | Role of language and culture

• VCASFU107

  Develop awareness of the sociocultural context, nature and status of Auslan and of the Deaf community in Australia and the impact of this on language change

  Elaborations

  • identifying where and when different people learnt to sign and whether they are from deaf or hearing families
  • exploring and providing possible explanations for variation in Auslan fluency among their classmates and members of the Deaf community
  • understanding the nature of the transmission of Auslan, for example, how in most cases Auslan is not passed on from parent to child, but from child to child (horizontal language transmission) or to children by deaf adults outside the family
  • investigating the use of digital technology/communication by Auslan users, for example, social media, SMS/texting and NRS and VRS, discussing how these modes of communication impact on accessibility and communication for members of the Deaf community
  • considering ways that Auslan is evolving due to different influences, including the capacity for new technologies to store, record and share sign languages
  • discussing the degree to which their classroom/school is an Auslan-accessible and Deaf-friendly environment, and how this might be further enhanced
  • investigating how Auslan and Deaf culture are promoted in the wider community, for example through the influence of organisations such as Deaf Australia, high-profile individuals such as activists or actors or events such as NWDP, Deaf festivals, Australian Deaf Games or Deaf art exhibitions

  VCASFU107 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Language awareness

• VCASFC118

  Identify and analyse ways in which deaf people behave and relate within society as a distinct social group as ‘people of the eye’, demonstrate responsibility for connections between the Deaf community and the wider ‘hearing’ society, and for culturally rich and appropriate places and spaces

  Elaborations

  • using a vlog journal entry to discuss how having peers who share the same language provides a social bond and builds confidence
  • identifying characteristics of deaf people’s visual awareness, such as good observation of body language and heightened alertness to hazards in the environment while walking/driving and signing
  • comparing strategies used by deaf and hearing adults to negotiate physical environments, for example, different behaviours at a bank of lifts, identifying how deaf people draw on additional perceptual resources in ways hearing people are unaware of
  • exploring technologies used by deaf people to communicate visually, such as videoconferencing apps, to support social networks and to strengthen a sense of individual or shared identity
  • investigating ways in which a sense of confidence in relation to identity influences awareness and a capacity for advocacy for Deaf rights, for example in relation to issues such as the provision of interpreters or captioning
  • discussing how their sense of identity may shift according to context and situation, and how as people mature they learn to manage ‘multiple identities’ in relation to different elements of experience, such as background ethnicity and culture and Deaf identity culture
  • identifying strategies used by deaf people to negotiate the hearing world, such as travelling with paper and pen or smart phone to take notes
  • using the concept of Deafhood to map and communicate their own journeys of identity development, for example, their identification with particular Deaf role models, and considering the role identity plays in contributing to individual, peer group and community health and wellbeing
  • engaging with deaf visitors from different groups and backgrounds about their experiences in the Deaf community, for example by interviewing the visitors and recording their responses
  • using drawings, photos or presentations to describe characteristic features of Deaf spaces beyond the classroom, such as removal of visual obstacles to signed communication, circles or semicircles for meeting and learning spaces, open-plan areas, lighting and window placement to maximise visual access to information
  • documenting and discussing places of importance to the Deaf community, such as Deaf schools, and understanding the value of these based on stories by elders and excursions to sites of significance
  • responding to elders' guidance on how cultural values, beliefs and traditions are connected through shared life experience and visual ways of being, and how they are demonstrated in community behaviour and interactions with the wider community
  • describing ways in which they can take responsibility for increasing others’ awareness of their communication and learning preferences, for example in the classroom and with extended family
  • exploring the concept of ‘Deaf gain’ and identifying examples of how wider society may ‘gain’ from the Deaf community, for example, benefits of captioning for other sectors of the broader community, such as elderly people or newly arrived migrants
  • discussing their sense of responsibility for each other as members of the Deaf community, and the need to support younger deaf individuals in the community

  VCASFC118 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Identity

• VCASFC237

  Interact appropriately with the teaching team, peers and members of the Deaf community, adjusting language when necessary and demonstrating understanding of appropriate protocols in and out of the classroom

  Elaborations

  • demonstrating use of appropriate protocols within and beyond the classroom, such as gaining group attention through flashing lights, tapping, foot stomping and waving, and maintaining eye gaze, back-channelling and limiting the use of voice when interacting with unfamiliar Auslan users
  • adjusting the physical environment, including people and objects, to enable communication in a well-lit environment without glare or obstructions
  • demonstrating culturally appropriate behaviours when using or accessing an interpreter, such as not interrupting or blocking the line of sight
  • using appropriate discourse markers and NMFs to facilitate clear communication, for example:
    SURPRISE
    Oooh (with appropriate intonation)
    INCREDIBLE
    No way!
    WOW
    Wow!
    UM
    um …
    HOLD…
    Hang on a minute …
  • clarifying information, such as:
    WHAT? PLEASE AGAIN
    Could you repeat that, please?
    RIGHT PRO2 SAY PRO1 FIX THAT?
    So, you want me to fix that?
    PLEASE SLOW SIGN
    Could you sign that slowly, please?
    PRO2 SAY BEFORE WHAT?
    What did you just say, sorry?
  • asking for elaboration of information by adding comments, for example:
    RIGHT-YEAH INTERESTING BUT I WANT ADD COMMENT
    Well, yes, that’s interesting but I’d like to add something.
    STILL GO-AHEAD
    Go ahead …

  VCASFC237 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Socialising

• Languages | Auslan: Learning in Auslan

  Auslan (Australian Sign Language) is the language of the Deaf community of Australia and is descended from British Sign Language (BSL). Auslan and other signed languages around the world are fully-fledged languages that are visual-gestural in nature. They have a complete set of linguistic...

  Overview material | Auslan

• VCASFC119

  Reflect on the experience of learning and using Auslan in and out of school, and ways in which their understanding of intercultural communication has developed

  Elaborations

  • describing how it feels to use Auslan to communicate outside their inner circle or school, or to watch Auslan being used by others, responding to prompts such as What are the main differences you notice when observing a conversation between deaf people and one between hearing people?
  • reflecting on similarities and differences in language and communication access, such as the extent of incidental learning acquired by hearing children through interaction with their external environment, for example by overhearing conversations or news on the radio
  • reflecting on similarities and differences between signed language and spoken language users when joining interactions, taking turns, using names, or passing between people who are communicating with each other
  • identifying and comparing how various emotions and different attitudes such as respect, shyness, exuberance or embarrassment are expressed across different languages and cultures
  • reflecting on the experience of interacting with hearing people in various domains online or face to face, such as after-school sports clubs, analysing these experiences in terms of their own perceptions, understandings or attitudes
  • reflecting on social attitudes and on their own reactions to observed responses to differences in behaviours or communicative styles, such as their feelings when hearing people fail to make eye contact with them during interactions in the wider community
  • reflecting on how their own ways of communicating may be interpreted when interacting with hearing people, and on how they may need to modify elements of their behaviour, such as the use of eye contact, facial expression or body language, and to consider other communication strategies such as the use of notes or gestures

  VCASFC119 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Reflecting

• 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

• 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