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• VCZHC131

  Gather and organise factual information from familiar sources about countries and places

  Elaborations

  • interviewing familiar people, such as parents, teachers, peers and community members, and appreciating their significance as sources of information about Chinese language and culture, identifying possible sources of information beyond the classroom, for example, 我可以问我的妈妈，因为她去过新加坡
  • gathering information by surveying family and friends about languages spoken, country of origin, or participation in cultural events and leisure activities, and displaying information on frequency charts
  • collating key information to share with others, such as summarising and sharing one aspect of a topic to contribute to a group response, for example, experiences of participating in organised activities involving aspects of Chinese culture (龙舟比赛;剪窗花)
  • making connections between images and charts and the content of texts, and identifying key words to locate information, for example, in the chapter titles of a book
  • identifying key structural words to assist in understanding information, for example, in a procedural text

  VCZHC131 | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 3 and 4 | Communicating | Informing

• VCZHC102

  Respond to and create or adapt simple narratives that describe experiences and characters from folk tales or popular fiction

  Elaborations

  • composing a creative account of an imagined experience with Chinese visitors to the local community, for example, hosting a Chinese student or taking a tour group to a local sporting event
  • creating narratives that hold the attention of readers (for example, beginning a story with 你知道吗？), experimenting with 正叙，倒叙，插叙 to sequence events and using descriptive language to set the scene
  • collaboratively creating short plays describing the experiences of imagined characters in different cultures, for example, 《James在上海》
  • exploring how alternative words can be used to convey varying degrees of emotion and attitude towards people, places and events, for example, 我真高兴。你快乐吗？他很幸福!
  • taking on a role in a story and retelling the story from one character’s perspective, describing their feelings and emotions, for example, 我真高兴！ 太棒了！ 哎哟，吓死我了！

  VCZHC102 | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Creating

• VCFRU104

  Recognise and use features of common spoken, written and multimodal texts, and compare with features of similar texts in English

  Elaborations

  • identifying the purpose, intended audience and key language features of familiar texts such as road signs, instructions or postcards, for example, Grosses bises! Défense de fumer; stationnement interdit
  • listening, viewing and reading for gist, context and purpose, drawing on knowledge of types of text, context and language features to predict and confirm meaning, for example, the use of imperative verb forms and specialised vocabulary in an in-flight safety demonstration (en préparation pour le décollage, le gilet de sauvetage, respirez normalement, gardez votre ceinture attaché…)
  • identifying elements of common types of text (le courriel, la météo, les slogans), and explaining relationships between language, structure and textual purpose
  • building understanding of text features through activities such as ‘genre substitution’; that is, transferring typical features from one genre to a different one, for example, a greeting that sounds like an announcement (Attention, Madame, comment-allez vous!), or a weather report that reads like a recipe (Un litre de pluie, un peu de vent, six nuages…)
  • understanding how to create textual cohesion, using elements such as conjunctions or causal phrases to sequence and link ideas and maintain the flow of expression, for example, donc, mais, à propos de, pendant, si, grace à, à cause de…

  VCFRU104 | Languages | French | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCJAC019

  Initiate and sustain interactions to share experiences, personal opinions, aspirations, thoughts and feelings and to discuss aspects of young people’s experience

  Elaborations

  • comparing experiences of teenage life and expressing opinions and aspirations, for example, 行きたいです。先生になりたいです。 つまらないとおもいます 。
  • sharing information about significant or special events in their own life and comparing with those of Japanese teenagers, such as birthdays, holidays, celebrations, sporting events and festivals, for example, 土曜日はぼくのたん生日パーティーでした。 どうでしたか。 たくさん友だちが来て、 たのしかったです。
  • developing strategies to initiate and sustain interactions, such as asking for clarification or confirmation, acknowledging and showing interest, using appropriate gestures and expressions such as あいづち, ああ　そうですか。いいですね。そうですね。 へえ。はい　うん。
  • maintaining and extending conversations by requesting additional information, asking appropriate questions, and using conversation fillers such as いつしますか。だれとしますか。 どうですか。
  • providing evidence or reasons to justify own opinions or planned actions, for example, べんりです。 だからコンビニで買(か)いものをします。
  • communicating with one another and with other young Japanese speakers via email, online conferencing or school-based exchanges about shared interests such as popular culture, sports and special events, or comparing aspects of school or home life, for example, 私(わたし)のしゅみはスポーツです。山川(やまかわ)さんはスポーツをしますか。私はスーパーでアルバイトをしています。 デービッドさんはアルバイトをしていますか。 or ぶかつに入っていますか。
  • using appropriate levels of formality for everyday exchanges such as greetings, introductions and apologies, for example, こんにちは。おそくなってすみません。ごめんね！、 and for thanking, inviting or congratulating one another, for example, メールをどうもありがとう。 いっしょにカラオケをしませんか。

  VCJAC019 | Languages | Japanese | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCJAU180

  Understand that Japanese language and culture, like all languages and cultures, are interrelated, both shaping and reflecting each other

  Elaborations

  • explaining language associated with familiar routines that reflects cultural values, for example, きりつ、れい and しつれいします。
  • interpreting the significance of differences in family kinship terms when referring to one’s own or others’ family, for example, 父(ちち)/お父(とう)さん、あね/おねえさん
  • reflecting on the cultural significance of the presentation of information in simple Japanese texts, for example, じこしょうかい, how the ordering of information on business cards (company, title, surname, given name) reflects the relative importance of company/collective, family and individual status
  • explaining language used in Japanese interactions that reflects humility or deference, for example, expressions used to refuse or deflect praise of self or family, or to defer to others
  • considering how and why Japanese speakers use conversational strategies to avoid conflict, such as using indirect or softened language, for example, もうすこし　がんばりましょう。
  • comparing core cultural concepts reflected in Japanese language, such as 和(わ) (‘harmony’), with similarly significant cultural concepts reflected in some Australian terms or expressions, for example, mateship

  VCJAU180 | Languages | Japanese | F–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Role of language and culture

• VCVIC181

  Translate and interpret texts for different audiences and contexts, and explore how cultural concepts, values and beliefs are represented differently in Vietnamese and English

  Elaborations

  • viewing English-language films with Vietnamese subtitles (and vice versa), evaluating the effectiveness of the translations and explaining associated cultural aspects
  • reading short texts and excerpts from a range of informative, personal and literary texts, identifying cultural elements and reflecting on how they are encoded differently in Vietnamese and English, for example, the use of family terms, titles and terms of address (cô, chú, anh, chị, em)
  • analysing and discussing similarities and differences and cultural influences in common Vietnamese and English idiomatic expressions, for example, Có chí thì nên = ‘Where there’s a will there’s a way’, Đừng có trông mặt mà bắt hình dong = ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’, đẻ bọc điều = ‘To be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth’, Dạy con từ thuở còn thơ = ‘Strike while the iron is hot’
  • translating written expressions associated with politeness and social behaviours in Vietnamese, for example, opening and closing of formal/informal letters with phrases such as Kính thưa giám đốc, Ba mẹ kính yêu/Bạn thân mến/Em yêu, Thân/Thân mến/Thương mến/Thân chào/Trân trọng kính chào, and comparing them with standard expressions in English, such as ‘Dear …’, ‘Yours sincerely/faithfully’, ‘Kind regards’/‘Regards’
  • experimenting with translating idiomatic expressions and proverbs as well as a range of short texts that involve cultural elements, exploring how to convey meaning and cultural significance in Vietnamese and English, and recognising that the translation of expressions, idioms and proverbs requires both literacy skills and cultural knowledge to mediate between languages
  • translating a range of texts, such as advertisements, speeches, songs, and story or film extracts, and examining the appropriateness of translation for specific audiences and contexts

  VCVIC181 | Languages | Vietnamese | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Translating

• VCZHC201

  Reflect on personal responses and reactions during interactions in Chinese such as talking with a Chinese adult or interacting online with Chinese peers

  Elaborations

  • engaging with Chinese speakers through organised school activities, for example, communicating with students at a Chinese school via Skype or welcoming visitors to own school), recording moments when difficulty is experienced in communication, reflecting on the cause of the difficulty, and noticing how next interaction improves
  • observing interactions between Chinese speakers and noticing the difference word choices and use of gesture among participants
  • identifying language use in different contexts, such as a family eating out in a restaurant (for example, noticing the seating arrangement, the background environment and how dishes are ordered and presented) and discuss how this compares to one’s own experience
  • comparing how language and gesture are used to communicate in English and how these features would be understood when interacting with Chinese people; identifying how their communication style may need to be altered when conveying ideas in Chinese
  • improving language choices across cultures, such as when meeting people for the first time (for example, when being introduced to a parent’s friend);
  • comparing how the residential address in Chinese and English reflects certain values in the different cultures
  • recognising their own tendency to generalise or stereotype during interactions (for example, 地域歧), and considering questions to ask about the other person’s cultural background, being sensitive to the possibility of causing offence
  • participating in cultural events and reflecting on how cultural practices change in a different context, for example, 我们家不过中秋节，因为大家都觉得不太重要。母亲节有时候我们全家回去爷爷奶奶家一起吃饭
  • being aware of how own ideas may be perceived by others based on language choice, for example, 我妈妈不喜欢我说汉语中间夹英语，但是我和朋友经常这样说，她也经常这样说。有的时候姥姥听不懂，我就会想想全用汉语怎么说

  VCZHC201 | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Reflecting

• VCASFC100

  Explore the concepts of identity, social groupings, relationships, community and place and space, and deaf people’s visual ways of being and negotiating these networks

  Elaborations

  • identifying themselves as members of different groups and describing their relationships with deaf, hard of hearing and hearing students, family members, the larger Deaf community and wider ‘hearing’ world
  • identifying and describing physical markers of identity among deaf people, such as the use of sign language and/or hearing devices such as hearing aids, cochlear implants and FM systems
  • creating a poster depicting their own family and labelling immediate and extended family members as deaf/hearing
  • identifying and discussing family names, given name/s and name signs for themselves and for others
  • exchanging views on how their individual biographies, including family origins, traditions, beliefs, communicative practices, interests and experiences, shape their sense of identity and impact on their ways of communicating
  • building an understanding of the concept of Deafhood and how each individual’s journey of identity development contributes to social relationships and to the formation of community, for example, by creating an individual identity map or a hand map
  • discussing visual ways of being, including interacting, transmitting and receiving information and behaving according to Deaf cultural values, and how these influence group learning and information sharing among Deaf people
  • investigating Deaf cultures around the world and how they shape visual ways of being, for example by considering how Deaf people from different countries and ethnic groups express shared group identity through practices such as gathering formally as a national or international community via opportunities such as Deaf film festivals; performing arts events, for example, Deaf Way; theatrical events; art exhibitions; or sporting events such as ADG, Deaflympics
  • responding to deaf people from different groups and backgrounds who visit and present about their education, families, social networks and sense of community/identity, for example by discussing similarities and differences between visitors’ reported experiences and their own lives
  • identifying the importance of place and space in the Deaf community, exploring why some places and spaces make deaf people feel comfortable or promote a sense of belonging, for example by identifying factors that make a classroom ‘Deaf friendly’, such as U-shape seating, minimisation of window glare/reflection, good lighting and acoustics, flashing lights, suitable interpreter location
  • identifying examples of deaf people’s visual orientation towards the world (‘people of the eye’), such as waving in space or using flashing lights to gain attention, visual applause
  • identifying their own stories, history, roles, responsibilities and links to the Deaf community and considering how these relate to their sense of identity
  • recognising that signed language is a birthright which establishes their identity with respect to the Deaf community and its traditions
  • viewing and creating accounts of their own and each other’s experience and roles in the Deaf community and identifying examples of the different ways of being deaf that they describe
  • discussing behaviour associated with cultural practices and traditions, for example, by discussing the concept of reciprocity as a manifestation of how community members share responsibility for each other’s wellbeing

  VCASFC100 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Identity

• VCITC077

  Initiate, sustain and extend discussions related to aspirations, relationships and contemporary social issues

  Elaborations

  • corresponding with peers throughout the year (for example, by phone, Skype, email or wikis) to build relationships and share views about home, school, lifestyle, leisure activities and interests
  • interacting in speaking or writing with an Italian contact to seek personal information about their past, current activities and future plans, and to ask about life in Italy and the possibility of visiting in future, for example, Questo è il dottor Bianchi. Le presento la dottoressa Russo. Piacere! Che lavoro fai? Cosa facevi tre anni fa, in Italia? Cosa bevi a tavola? Ben arrivato/a! Entri! Prego. Le dispiace inviarmi una copia di … Distinti saluti
  • sustaining exchanges with others by acknowledging, asking for repetition or clarification, or questioning further, for example, Scusi non ho capito, può ripetere, per favore? Potrebbe ascoltare, per favore? Può aiutarmi a … Mi sono dimenticato/a di …
  • using contextual clues and gestures to assist in comprehending and expressing meanings during spoken conversations, such as responding to facial expressions showing emotion or confusion, for example, Ah, ora capisco! È davvero interessante. Come hai/ha detto? Eh sì! Ma scherzi!
  • interviewing class members to gauge views about aspects of daily life (such as school, pastimes, relationships and the local environment), and discussing as a class the major themes and concerns that emerge, for example, Come mai …? Perché …? Secondo te …? Forse ... pensi che …? È chiaro che …
  • sharing opinions with peers about experiences, events and interests incorporating language to express emotions and opinions such as approval, gratitude, regret, appreciation or boredom, for example, Ti è piaciuto/a la puntata/il concerto di …? Cosa pensi di …? Preferisco … Penso che … Vorrei … Mi piace di più … Purtroppo ... Insomma!
  • debating pros and cons related to topics such as adolescenti a dieta or the l’uso dei social media, for example, Sono pro/contro ... perché ... Di pro/contro c’è
  • exchanging letters, emails and videos with peers in Italy, comparing aspects of youth lifestyle, school and environment, using comparisons when expressing thoughts and ideas, for example, Come trascorrerete le vacanze estive? Come voi, anche noi andiamo in Italia …

  VCITC077 | Languages | Italian | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCARC009

  Create bilingual texts such as posters, games and signs for the classroom and school community, making decisions about words and expressions that do not readily translate

  Elaborations

  • creating a digital bilingual dictionary for classroom use
  • making bilingual greeting cards for family celebrations such as Mother’s Day, using greetings in Arabic alongside English ones, for example,

    عيد أم سعيد؛ عيد أم مبارك؛ كل عام وأنت بخير؛ كل عام وأنت بألف خير؛ دمت لي سالمة

  • creating captions in Arabic and in English for a display of a class event or experience such as a sports day or school concert
  • producing a parallel bilingual word list by relating known Arabic words or expressions to English equivalents and vice versa, noticing that direct translation is sometimes inappropriate
  • designing bilingual texts such as posters or signs for class or school assembly performances, a sports carnival, displays or events
  • creating parallel lists of informal Arabic and English expressions for own use in everyday interactions with friends and family, including expressions drawn from various Arabic dialects represented within the classroom, for example, ‘see you later’, ‘no worries’
  • composing bilingual texts such as a board game or an instruction manual for a game

  VCARC009 | Languages | Arabic | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Translating

• VCARU182

  Understand how rules of Arabic pronunciation, including patterns of stress and rules of pause, and writing conventions enhance meaning and aesthetic effect

  Elaborations

  • understanding that certain sounds in Arabic words can be dropped from pronunciation, such as the t sound in السماء صافية and tashkeel in البنت مريضة؛ الشمس مشرقة
  • understanding that sentences can contain one or more verbs and can be joined with و or other cohesive devices
  • recognising the need for a pause or change of tone in complex sentences with embedded clauses, for example, كنت مع صديقي عماد؛ صديقي من المدرسة؛ عندما شاهدنا الحادث الأليم
  • applying understanding of how tone can convey emotions and shade meaning, such as distinguishing between colloquial or formal language, for example, حقًا؟ يا إلهي! معقولة؟ تعال إلى هنا حالًا
  • reflecting on the role of pronunciation, rhythm, word stress and intonation in effective communication, and applying this knowledge to own interactions
  • using knowledge of Arabic pronunciation and spelling rules when engaging with authentic spoken and written texts
  • evaluating own spelling and pronunciation in relation to their understanding and expression

  VCARU182 | Languages | Arabic | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCASFC209

  Reflect on the experience of learning and using Auslan, considering how intercultural communication involves shared responsibility for making meaning

  Elaborations

  • reflecting on how learning Auslan provides a distinctive and additional means of understanding the world in which they live
  • reflecting on the relationship that exists between language, culture and issues of access, identity and audism, and considering issues of discrimination, inclusion and exclusion
  • keeping a journal of their experiences (humorous, satisfying or challenging) associated with learning and using Auslan in different contexts, noting changes in their responses and reflections over time, and comparing insights gained into their own languages and cultures
  • considering the layers of complexity and depth that characterise the Deaf community experience, for example in relation to implicit hierarchical structures such as deaf members of deaf families
  • sharing and comparing cultural and intercultural experiences and capabilities in different languages including Auslan, and exchanging views on benefits associated with using more than one language, such as a larger repertoire of communication skills and strategies, additional insights and perspectives and opportunities for new experiences
  • reflecting on the experience of communicating in a visual world and on challenges they have experienced in relying on visual cues
  • considering how intercultural communication is a two-way process which involves shared responsibility for meaning-making and ensuring understanding

  VCASFC209 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Reflecting

• 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

• VCASFC083

  Reflect on the experience of learning and using Auslan formally in school, and considering how intercultural communication involves shared responsibility for making meaning

  Elaborations

  • reflecting and reporting on how learning Auslan formally in school provides insights into the general nature of language and culture as well as an explicit means of interpreting the world in which they live
  • considering the relationship that exists between language, culture and issues of access and identity, and the significance of issues of discrimination, inclusion and exclusion
  • keeping a journal of experiences (humorous, satisfying or challenging) associated with using Auslan in school and in wider community contexts, noting changes in their responses and reflections over time and comparing insights gained through interactions with other languages and cultures
  • considering the layers of intercultural complexity and depth in the Deaf community, for example in relation to the insider/outsider concept or the role of deaf members of deaf families, and reflecting on their own position within such frameworks
  • sharing and comparing cultural and intercultural experiences and capabilities in different signed and spoken/written languages including Auslan, and identifying benefits of using more than one language, such as a larger repertoire of communication strategies, additional insights and perspectives, opportunities for new experiences
  • reflecting on their experience of living and communicating in a visual world and on particular challenges and benefits they have experienced
  • discussing how intercultural communication is a two-way process which involves shared responsibility for meaning-making and ensuring understanding

  VCASFC083 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Reflecting

• VCASFU123

  Explore the relationship between particular text types, audience, purpose and context and analyse language features used by signers to create cohesion and achieve the purpose of the text

  Elaborations

  • identifying differences in different types of texts, for example by looking at a monologic recount compared to a dialogic one, and noticing differences such as the use of back-channels or hesitations
  • conducting an analysis of a selected sign text, taking into account audience, purpose and topic to explain language choices made by the signer
  • noticing how signers can compare or contrast ideas by locating things in the same or opposing sides of signing space
  • noticing how signers achieve textual cohesion and coherence through the use of connectives that create links between clauses, for example BUT and G:WELL
  • identifying where signers have established referents in locations in a text and noticing how this helps the audience to recognise who or what the referents are (actor and undergoer)
  • noticing how signers construct cohesive and coherent texts through the use of text connectives such as lexical signs NEXT or G:WELL or NMFs and pausing

  VCASFU123 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCASFU194

  Understand and control additional elements of Auslan grammar, such as the use of non-manual features for negation or conditional forms, and understand how signers use constructed action and depicting signs in composite utterances

  Elaborations

  • recognising the nature and function of word classes and understanding that the context of the sign is important and Auslan signs will not always have the same word class as an English word, for example, adjectives can act like verbs in Auslan
  • recognising that signers may include linguistic and gestural elements in a clause, that is, signers can tell, show or do both simultaneously
  • noticing, with support, when signers are using composite utterances, that is, those that have elements of CA, DSs, points and fully-lexical signs in the same utterance
  • understanding the different functions of a range of NMFs, such as those used for questions, topicalisation, negation or conditional forms
  • distinguishing between yes/no questions and wh- questions and statements and their corresponding NMFs
  • recognising that clauses can be joined by conjunctions to make longer sentences and these conjunctions can be shown with separate signs, such as PLUS, or THEN or NMFs, for example by pausing between clauses
  • recognising that clauses can be linked equally or unequally where one clause depends on another

  VCASFU194 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCASFU088

  Investigate and analyse the nature of and community attitudes to variation in the use of Auslan

  Elaborations

  • recognising that there is a greater degree of flexibility and variability in ‘oral’, face-to-face languages such as Auslan compared to spoken/written languages passed on from parents to children, for example, less standardisation and minimal ‘frozen texts’, and considering reasons for such differences
  • researching different aspects of variation in the use of Auslan, considering influences such as geographical location, social groupings, history, educational experience, age of learning, family background and contact with Signed English or other languages
  • debating the merits and disadvantages of creating a standard form of Auslan, for example the benefits of mutual comprehensibility versus the practical problems involved in who decides on the standard and how to get signers to comply
  • considering the effect that expanding sign language interpreter services might have on standardising Auslan, especially in the areas of education and medicine
  • noticing ways people might adapt language according to situation of use, such as when signing to a large audience, the use of one hand or two, clarity of sign production, size of signing space, pace, NMFs, pauses and amount of fingerspelling
  • considering how Auslan has been influenced by the use of Signed English in education settings (especially from the 1970s to the 1990s) and cultural attitudes towards Signed English

  VCASFU088 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | Language variation and change

• 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

• VCASFU035

  Develop awareness of the social and cultural nature and context of Auslan and other sign languages, of their different modes of expression and of the related issue of language vitality

  Elaborations

  • identifying different ways Deaf community members communicate with each other and with members of the wider hearing community, including face to face or via technology such as NRS or VRS, through social media, the use of English or the use of interpreters
  • describing the visibility and use of Auslan in the wider community, for example in television programs; on the news; at community events, sporting fixtures; and in emergency announcements
  • recognising that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ use of signed languages is culturally determined and shaped by their beliefs and values
  • exploring the vitality of Auslan and other spoken and signed languages, appreciating that a language with strong vitality is one used by many people in the home and other domains, across generations, to talk about most topics
  • understanding that some languages used in Australia such as English have large numbers of users, while others, such as many spoken and signed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, are endangered or in the process of being revived or reclaimed
  • understanding that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander signed languages arise from specific needs, for example, certain cultural restrictions on speech, or the presence of deaf people
  • identifying behaviours, rights, roles and responsibilities in relation to the ownership and maintenance of Auslan, and identifying how this ownership rests with the Deaf community and is determined by traditional social groupings/families, place, history and stories

  VCASFU035 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 3 and 4 | Understanding | Language awareness

• VCASFU214

  Investigate and analyse the nature of and community attitudes to variation in the use of Auslan

  Elaborations

  • recognising that there is a greater degree of flexibility and variability in ‘oral’, face-to-face languages such as Auslan compared to spoken/written languages passed on from parents to children, for example, less standardisation and minimal ‘frozen texts’, and considering reasons for such differences
  • researching different aspects of variation in the use of Auslan, considering influences such as geographical location, social groupings, history, educational experience, age of learning, family background and contact with Signed English or other languages
  • debating the merits and disadvantages of creating a standard form of Auslan, for example the benefits of mutual comprehensibility versus the practical problems involved in who decides on the standard and how to get signers to comply
  • considering the effect that expanding sign language interpreter services might have on standardising Auslan, especially in the areas of education and medicine.
  • noticing ways people might adapt language according to situation of use, such as when signing to a large audience, the use of one hand or two, clarity of sign production, size of signing space, pace, NMFs, pauses and amount of fingerspelling
  • considering how Auslan has been influenced by the use of Signed English in education settings (especially from the 1970s to 1990s) and cultural attitudes towards Signed English

  VCASFU214 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | Language variation and change