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• 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

• 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

• Languages | Auslan: Scope and Sequence

  The curriculum sets out what students are expected to learn and is designed as a continuum of learning. The curriculum is being presented in a scope and sequence chart to support teachers to easily see the progression and assist in planning teaching and learning programs to meet the diverse needs...

  Overview material | Auslan

• Languages | Auslan: Resources

  A range of resources to assist with implementing the Victorian Curriculum F – 10 are available. Please visit the following websites to access these resources (links open in a new window):

  • Victorian Curriculum F – 10 Resources and Support (VCAA)

  Includes general advice and information...

  Overview material | Auslan

• VCASFC172

  Demonstrate understanding of the nature of identity in relation to themselves and to members of the Deaf community

  Elaborations

  • describing key milestones or important influences in their lives, including people, events, experiences, community traditions or travel experiences, explaining how these have helped shape their sense of identity and their perspectives
  • viewing a series of Auslan identity stories, such as those found in the Griffith University Introduction to Deaf Studies Unit 1 set, comparing their own experiences to those described by deaf children and adults in the footage
  • making and sharing ‘hand identity charts’ to illustrate similarities and differences in how students define themselves or may be defined by others, using sketches of signs or gloss in the fingers of the chart and views of others outside the handshape
  • identifying Deaf community identities associated with significant places, such as Martha Overend Wilson and the sites of the former Queensland Adult Deaf and Dumb Mission, or Eugene Salas and the original South Australian Deaf Society/Mission building

  VCASFC172 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 5 and 6 | Communicating | Identity

• VCASFC076

  Research and evaluate information from different sources and perspectives, summarising opinions and critically appraising relationships between texts and contexts

  Elaborations

  • evaluating information collected from different sources to debate issues of interest and significance to the Deaf community, such as eugenics, deaf technology or interpreter ethics
  • using critical literacy skills to recognise textual bias and to distinguish between fact and opinion in differently sourced texts relating to the Deaf community and/or deafness
  • researching a significant event that affects/has affected the Deaf community, summarising findings in the form of contributions to a panel discussion or debate
  • evaluating information presented by their peers or teachers, providing constructive feedback supported by evidence
  • appraising and summarising opinions expressed in formally and informally signed texts
  • using stories by elders and excursions to sites of significance to document, describe and provide explanatory detail of places of importance to the Deaf community
  • using primary or secondary signed sources to research significant events in Deaf history to present a critical overview of how information can be differently presented

  VCASFC076 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Informing

• VCASFC098

  Translate familiar words and phrases from Auslan to English and vice versa, noticing similarities and differences in meaning

  Elaborations

  • recognising that every language uses words or signs to make meaning
  • identifying aspects of Auslan which are the same in English, such as the fingerspelled alphabet
  • participating in shared reading of age-appropriate high-interest, low-readability books containing images and plain English text, asking and answering questions about unfamiliar words and phrases, working collaboratively to produce an Auslan version of the text
  • comparing key signs used in Auslan versions of familiar and simple texts, such as stories from the Auslan Storybooks site, to words used in written English texts, and noticing how signs can convey rich, multilayered meaning, which might not have a direct match in English captioning
  • playing matching-pair games with Auslan sign flashcards and English word cards, matching cards in each language associated with concepts such as weather or animals
  • identifying examples of words and signs that seem to have direct matches/equivalents in Auslan and English and examples of those that do not, such as GO-TO in Auslan requiring more than one English word
  • finding and using phrases that have direct sign-for-word translations between Auslan and English, such as Goodnight, Happy birthday and Happy New Year and others that do not, such as None of your business!
  • identifying challenges associated with Auslan–English translation, such as multiple meanings for words like run, the fact that meaning is not always literal and that sign translations of a word will vary according to the meaning in context
  • paraphrasing and summarising short Auslan texts containing familiar content, providing simple translations in written English, and following the reverse process working from texts in written English into Auslan

  VCASFC098 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Translating

• VCASFC226

  Demonstrate understanding of the nature of identity in relation to themselves, the Deaf community and the wider hearing community

  Elaborations

  • using visual representations such as concept maps, posters or captioned slide presentations to identify groups that they each identify with, for example, friends, family, sporting, interest and community groups, discussing how these group associations contribute to their sense of identity
  • discussing how their upbringing and personal experience impact on assumptions or attitudes that they bring to interactions with people who have different backgrounds or experiences, considering concepts such as communication, personality, family and community
  • noticing and comparing their own and each other’s ways of communicating and interacting, identifying elements that reflect cultural differences or influences of other languages
  • viewing a series of Auslan identity stories, such as those found in the Griffith University Introduction to Deaf Studies Unit 1 set, comparing their experiences to those described by deaf children and adults in the footage
  • investigating the identity of deafblind people and their connection to the Deaf community by inviting deafblind guests into the classroom to share their personal journeys
  • exploring ideas about identity through journal writing, documenting challenges and rewards related to second language learning and identity change
  • analysing ways in which Deaf people design and adapt spaces in cultural ways (‘Deaf space’), for example, by eliminating visual obstacles to signed communication, using circles or semicircles for meeting and learning spaces, using open-plan areas, lighting and window placement to maximise visual access to information, for example, Gallaudet University’s deaf space design principles
  • surveying deaf people about their experiences and perspectives on the importance and 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
  • identifying and researching Deaf community identities associated with significant historical places, such as William Thomson establishing the first deaf school in WA

  VCASFC226 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Identity

• 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

• VCASFC028

  Consider how individual and community relationships combine to create family and social networks, influence social behaviours and contribute to a sense of belonging and identity

  Elaborations

  • creating individual family trees and identifying deaf and hearing family members
  • interacting with Deaf elders to discuss visual ways of being, interacting and behaving associated with identity
  • designing visual representations such as concept maps, posters or captioned slide presentations to show individual and group connections within the Deaf community such as friendship, family or sporting groups, or state and national Deaf community associations, discussing how these contribute to a sense of identity
  • exploring the concept of ‘family’ as it relates to the Deaf community, considering how it extends beyond the traditional concept to include broader social networks
  • explaining how deaf families play a key role in language maintenance and shared sense of identity across generations
  • exploring how name signs are created and form part of an individual identity, for example by providing contemporary examples such as signs for their peers, teachers and Deaf elders
  • using a vlog journal entry to discuss how having peers who share the same language develops social bonds, personal confidence and a sense of shared identity
  • responding to presentations by Deaf visitors to the classroom who share their experiences of education, family life, social networks, community and sense of identity, for example by discussing similarities and differences to their own lives
  • sharing views on why certain places have special significance to the Deaf community, evoking a sense of belonging and pride and representing particular bonds between people, place and experience, for example, Deaf schools or sites of historic significance such as original Deaf Society/Mission buildings or other former meeting places
  • identifying how deaf people share modifications to space to maximise visual attention, such as adjusting seating or removing visual obstacles

  VCASFC028 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 3 and 4 | Communicating | Identity

• 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

• VCASFU179

  Explore the current status and profile of Auslan and of the Deaf community in contemporary Australian society, considering issues such as language transmission, usage and documentation

  Elaborations

  • 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
  • discussing the diversity of Auslan users in the Australian community, including people who are deaf, those who are hard of hearing and hearing people such as CODAs and interpreters
  • investigating the signed languages used by deaf and hard of hearing members of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
  • exploring variation in Auslan fluency among classmates and members of the Deaf community, considering the relevance of factors such as where and when individual users learnt to sign and whether they are from a Deaf or hearing family
  • mapping sign language use around the world using data from Ethnologue, for example by identifying and labelling countries with correct naming of the sign language used, such as France = LSF: Langue des Signes Française; Germany = DGS: Deutsche Gebärdensprache
  • finding representations of signing deaf people in the media or in literary texts, and evaluating how they and the language are represented
  • investigating the profile and distribution of members of the Deaf community, for example across states of Australia or by age or gender, using data from censuses and other sources to summarise and represent information in graph/visual forms, and to suggest possible explanations of patterns or statistics
  • understanding the role and function of Auslan–English interpreters and Deaf interpreters and the access and opportunities they provide to language users
  • recognising that many languages are well-documented, strong, healthy and widely used by many people across generations while others are less well-documented and robust
  • recognising that some languages have no written form and have historically been passed on face to face/orally, which means that they are less well recorded or documented
  • recognising language documentation as an important means of recording, maintaining, transmitting and revitalising a language
  • understanding the nature of transmission of Auslan, for example, that in most cases Auslan is not passed on from parent to child but from peers, or is learnt by children from adults outside the family, and that some Deaf people learn Auslan later in early adulthood
  • describing how Auslan has been transmitted across generations and how it has been recorded, investigating reasons for the ‘oral’ tradition language transmission
  • using the UNESCO atlas to map the world’s minority languages and those that are in critical endangerment and to document the vitality of signed languages
  • exploring how different technologies are used by deaf people to support social networks and strengthen their community and language
  • explaining the significance of stories linked to Deaf social history and the responsibility of the Deaf community to convey shared experiences that relate to Deaf history and significant sites, for example by sharing stories about school days in the past
  • identifying examples of deaf people who have been recognised for different reasons in wider Australian society, for example, Alastair McEwin or Drisana Levitzke-Gray, and discussing how such recognition contributes to broader awareness of Auslan in Australia

  VCASFU179 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 5 and 6 | Understanding | Language awareness

• VCASFU215

  Investigate and compare the nature and status of Auslan and other signed languages, considering issues such as language and education policies, language rights, representation and processes of language preservation and language building

  Elaborations

  • identifying historical events, government policies and educational initiatives that have impacted on the status of Auslan and the identity of the Deaf community, such as ALLP, DDA, the mainstreaming of deaf students
  • researching the nature of International Sign, including its relationship to national signed languages and its use by deaf people
  • exploring how deaf people around the world build shared group identity, for example through gathering formally as national and international communities through activities such as Deaf film festivals, performing arts or sporting events such as Deaf Way, Australian Deaf Games, Deaflympics, and how these contribute to language building, language preservation and greater awareness of signed languages
  • analysing subjective measures of language vitality, such as societal attitudes towards Auslan or the perceived strength of the language identity group, and identifying challenges facing Auslan in terms of societal attitudes, provision of resources, access, education systems and social networks
  • analysing the status and use of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander signed languages and comparing these to Auslan
  • appreciating the impact of the use of Auslan in settings such as education, health care and different workplace settings in terms of the evolution of the language and specialised terminology
  • analysing representations of deaf people and sign language in the Australian media and wider community, making comparisons with representations of other languages and cultures
  • exploring the role of the Deaf ecosystem in language and cultural maintenance
  • investigating how Auslan and Deaf culture are promoted in the wider community, for example, through the influence of organisations such as Deaf Australia, of high-profile individuals such as activists or actors and of events such as NWDP Deaf Festival, Australian Deaf Games or Deaf art exhibitions
  • considering how processes of language building and evolution may expand existing Auslan linguistic and cultural resources in the Australian community
  • investigating programs and initiatives that maintain and strengthen Auslan use, such as school language programs; bilingual education and research programs; recording, archiving and documentation of the language; and the establishment of websites and databases
  • appreciating the importance of documenting and promoting Auslan in raising community awareness of the richness and value of signed languages
  • recognising that Auslan requires maintenance, development and documentation, considering historical and contemporary circumstances which have either contributed to or impeded these processes, for example the use of technology such as ELAN for capturing and documenting the language
  • considering domains where Auslan may grow in the future, and contributing to localised Auslan signbanks on specific topics, for example, creating a bank/dictionary of signs used by deaf students and interpreters in Year 9 Science
  • researching the status and recognition of signed languages in other countries, for example, New Zealand, the USA, the UK, the Scandinavian nations, considering issues such as language rights, documentation and development efforts
  • identifying the changing status of sites of significance in different international Deaf communities, for example, the loss of Deaf clubs or closure of deaf schools in some countries, comparing this to the Australian context, and reflecting on the implications of these changes over time for the Deaf community and for the status of Auslan
  • recognising different philosophical and social views about deafness, considering the impact of varying attitudes on a deaf person’s understanding of their rights and how they are represented and perceived in wider society
  • explaining the influence of other signed languages such as BSL, ISL and ASL on Auslan over different periods of time and in different domains of language use, and discussing reasons for such influence
  • looking at style shifts in domains where English is in closer contact with Auslan, such as the use of more English-like structures in educational settings
  • discussing the concept of ‘language health’ and how it applies to Auslan, for example by designing a chart of relevant factors such as status (social, economic, historical), demography (number and distribution of users) and institutional support (media, government, education, religion, industry, culture)

  VCASFU215 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | Language awareness

• VCASFC080

  Translate Auslan and English texts composed for different audiences and contexts and consider the dynamic nature of translating and interpreting and the role of culture when transferring meaning from one language to another

  Elaborations

  • experimenting with literal Auslan translations of popular English idioms, noticing when this creates confusion (for example, raining cats and dogs) and discussing how to interpret such idioms accurately
  • comparing online Auslan and English public announcements and government policy/information texts in terms of different approaches to translation and preservation of content, for example, free versus literal
  • viewing and discussing the effectiveness and accuracy of online Auslan translations, such as the Catching Fire series of safety videos or the emergency disaster preparedness videos
  • trialling different resources to assist in translation, including online dictionaries and footage, for example by comparing individual translations, back-translating, and reviewing useful references
  • considering the nature of translation with reference to different strategies such as decoding literal meaning (word for sign), reading for meaning (sense for sense) and cultural reading (between the lines)
  • recognising the need to sometimes recast language and considering why one language may use more words/signs than another to communicate a particular meaning or concept, for example, in relation to the use of space and depicting signs in Auslan in describing a scene compared to the linear spoken modality of English
  • critically evaluating the accuracy and effectiveness of English subtitles to an Auslan text, for example the range of community service Auslan messages produced by the Deaf Society of NSW
  • providing annotated examples of translations of poems or other types of text, identifying challenges involved in transferring meaning, expression, culture and mood from one language to another
  • comparing examples of BSL and Auslan literature and evaluating translations from both/each into English, for example of poems by Dorothy Miles or Walter Kadiki
  • translating suitable jokes, songs, poems, stories or plays from English into Auslan and vice versa
  • analysing existing translations of texts, such as short subtitled films or TV programs containing deaf characters using various sign languages, making comparisons with their own translations into Auslan or English and reflecting on identified variations
  • identifying the range of reference materials and resources available to assist in language documentation and translation tasks, for example ELAN, and exploring how to use them
  • researching aspects of available interpreting services in their area, for example, the role of interpreters, qualifications required, ethical considerations and issues associated with interpreting and translating in specialised contexts such as health, education, legal settings
  • exploring the role of deaf people as Deaf interpreters and as language consultants on interpreted theatre events, considering the work this involves and the skills needed for it
  • considering culturally appropriate and ethical behaviour when interpreting and translating, for example by explaining appropriate behaviour in interpreting contexts and considering potential consequences of inaccurate interpreting
  • analysing codes of ethics of interpreters, comparing existing codes in Australia, such as the ASLIA and AUSIT codes, and developing simple translations of the main principles of each code
  • role-playing the part of a Deaf interpreter for unfamiliar deaf guests who are non-conventional Auslan users or users of another signed language in a simple context such as an interaction in a library
  • comparing signed texts in International Sign with translated Auslan versions created by students, using H3 broadcasts as a resource
  • participating in formal situations where interpreters are working, discussing observed translation choices made

  VCASFC080 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Translating

• VCASFC206

  Consider the dynamic nature of translating and interpreting and the role of culture when transferring meaning from one language to another

  Elaborations

  • experimenting with literal Auslan translations of popular English idioms, noticing when this creates confusion (for example, ‘raining cats and dogs’) and recognising the nature and function of cultural elements of communication and their impact on language use
  • comparing different translations of online Auslan and English public announcements or government policy/information texts in terms of approaches to translation, for example, free versus literal translation
  • using different resources, including online dictionaries and footage, to assist in translation, for example by comparing individual translations, back-translations and reviewing useful references
  • viewing and discussing the quality of online Auslan translations, such as the Catching Fire series of safety videos
  • recognising the need to sometimes recast language, and considering why one language may use more words/signs than another to communicate a particular meaning or concept, for example, Auslan uses spatial concepts or depicting signs to describe the scene of a car crash, which will take longer to explicate in a linear spoken language
  • translating small chunks of unfamiliar English text such as a news update from an autocue or poster card into Auslan in consecutive mode
  • providing annotated examples of translations of poems or other text types, identifying challenges involved in transferring meaning, expression, culture or mood
  • translating songs, poems or short stories from English into Auslan, for example, ‘I Am Australian’
  • exploring the role and function of Deaf interpreters and differences between Deaf interpreters and Auslan–English interpreters
  • researching aspects of available interpreting services in the area, for example, qualifications required for employment, ethical considerations, and issues of interpreting and translating in specialised contexts such as health, education, legal settings
  • developing guidelines on culturally appropriate and ethical behaviour when interpreting and translating, for example explaining ways people should act in interpreting contexts, considering potential consequences of inaccurate interpreting
  • role-playing interpreting in a range of contexts, for example, in a shop or at a sports match
  • participating in an excursion to an interpreted theatre event, with prior knowledge of the text/story and attending to the interpretation for discussion later in class

  VCASFC206 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Translating

• VCASFU210

  Understand the perceptual and articulatory reasons for the structure of signs, consider limitations of glossing and explore how video annotation software can improve transcription

  Elaborations

  • noticing limitations on perception of signed languages, such as the more limited space for signed communication compared to space for mime
  • exploring perceptual and articulatory reasons why some handshapes are more common than others
  • understanding that the elements of a sign can be arbitrary (for example, the handshape or movement of the sign WHY) or meaningful, such as the movement and the handshape in the sign GIVE
  • beginning to identify and describe metaphorical iconicity, for example, LOVE, AVOID/RESIST, and discussing how it relates to metaphors in English, for example the ‘time as space’ metaphor in both languages
  • applying knowledge of iconicity in signed languages, for example how the path movement of a verb can be a metaphor for the timing of an action, for example PRO1 WAIT-_{for-a-long-time} PRO2, observing that English can do the same with changes to the length of phonemes, for example, I screeeeeeaaaaaamed!
  • evaluating video annotation software such as ELAN as a tool to assist in the transcription and analysis of signed languages
  • glossing a text, including identifying which signs are used, and transcribing DSs and periods of CA

  VCASFU210 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCASFU251

  Understand the range of factors that influence the profile, diversity and distribution of Auslan use in the wider Australian society, and consider the concept of Auslan vitality in comparison with other spoken and signed languages used around the world

  Elaborations

  • understanding that strong and healthy languages are those used by many people across generations in most domains to communicate about most topics
  • mapping the distribution of Auslan users across Australian states and demographics, using data from censuses and other sources to present findings in graph/visual representation forms
  • describing the role religion has played in influencing the usage and spread of Auslan, for example, through religious orders, early Deaf Societies and Bible translation projects
  • considering the impact of historical international events such as the Milan Congress (1880) and the linguistic recognition and documentation of signed languages in the1960s and 1970s on the use of signed languages in education, and on deaf people’s feelings of ownership and pride in their languages
  • analysing the impact of migration and the settlement of deaf people from the UK and other countries on the development of Auslan
  • investigating the geographical location, origins and history of deaf schools in Australia and the impact of these institutions on the transmission, use and status of Auslan
  • exploring how Auslan is used by deafblind people and their role in the Deaf community
  • investigating historical patterns of employment of deaf people in certain trades and fields of employment, and the impact these traditional domains have on the development of Auslan
  • reflecting on the role of Auslan interpreters in raising awareness and understanding of Auslan in the wider community, and considering ways in which they influence the function and nature of Auslan, for example by the introduction of neologisms
  • identifying language documentation as an important way of recording, transmitting and maintaining the vitality of languages
  • recognising that some languages have no written form and have historically been passed on face to face/orally, and so are less well recorded and documented
  • 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
  • recognising that languages may be perceived as ‘weak’ or ‘strong’ based on community values and the existence of documentation and literature in the language
  • exploring the vitality of different languages by obtaining information from the UNESCO interactive online atlas and/or Ethnologue to compare numbers of speakers/signers of different languages
  • considering ways that Auslan is evolving due to various influences, including the capacity for new technologies to store, record and share sign languages internationally
  • exploring the role of globalisation in terms of what technology offers signed languages in terms of maintaining their vitality, for example, the use of ELAN for capturing and documenting Auslan
  • understanding the importance of advocating for Deaf rights to address existing gaps in services, for example in relation to issues such as the increased provision of Auslan interpreters, Deaf interpreters or captioning
  • responding to Deaf elders' guidance on how cultural values, beliefs and traditions are connected through shared life experience, language and visual ways of being, and how they are demonstrated in community behaviour and interactions with the wider community
  • comparing strategies used by deaf and hearing adults to negotiate physical environments, for example, different behaviours at a bank of lifts, and identifying how deaf people draw on additional perceptual resources in ways hearing people are unaware of
  • exploring technologies such as videoconferencing apps used by deaf people to communicate visually, to support social networks, to strengthen a sense of individual or shared identity as sign language users and to promote language vitality
  • considering likely contemporary influences or pressures on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander signed languages and the possible impact on their future
  • understanding how and why some deaf children face challenges with communication in hearing families or in social settings
  • recognising the important role of deaf families and deaf schools in preserving and maintaining Auslan and cultural identity
  • identifying behaviours, rights, roles and responsibilities in relation to the ownership and maintenance of Auslan and how such ownership rests with the Deaf community and is determined by traditional social groupings/families, significant places, history and stories
  • 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
  • discussing the diversity of Auslan users in the Australian community, including people who are deaf, those who are hard of hearing and hearing people such as CODAs and interpreters
  • identifying examples of deaf people who have been recognised for different reasons in wider Australian society, for example, Alastair McEwin or Drisana Levitzke-Gray, and discussing how such recognition contributes to broader awareness of Auslan in Australia
  • researching the status and recognition of signed languages in other countries, for example, New Zealand, the USA, the UK or the Scandinavian nations, considering issues such as language rights, language documentation and development efforts
  • identifying the changing status of significant sites in different international Deaf communities, for example, the loss of Deaf clubs or the closure of deaf schools in some countries, comparing this to the Australian context and reflecting on how such changes impact over time on Deaf communities and on Auslan
  • recognising different philosophical and social views about deafness, considering the impact of varying attitudes on a deaf person’s understanding of their rights and how they are represented and perceived in wider society

  VCASFU251 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | Language awareness

• VCASFC003

  Participate in classroom routines and activities such as following directions, attracting attention, responding to questions and turn-taking

  Elaborations

  • recognising their own and their classmates’ fingerspelled names used in games or routines such as roll call
  • asking for help, offering assistance or requesting permission in polite ways, for example:
    PLEASE HELP-_me?
    Can you help me, please?
    CAN SHARE?
    Can we share these?
    
  • demonstrating attentive watching across a range of school contexts, such as assemblies or classroom discussions
  • following instructions for class routines, for example:
    PLEASE WITH-2++ DS:sit-opposite
    Please find a partner and sit opposite each other.
    DS:line-up PLEASE
    Line up, please.
    LOOK-AT-_me PRO1
    Look to the front.
    
  • gaining others’ attention in appropriate ways, relying less on tap and more on other strategies, and responding to others’ attempts to gain their attention
  • following protocols such as stopping when lights are flashed, and observing appropriate distance between signers
  • learning to be a supportive group discussion member, for example by asking relevant questions, providing feedback, prompting, using NMFs to indicate agreement or disagreement
  • formulating different kinds of open and closed questions, including WHEN, WHY and HOW questions
  • signing appropriately to maintain or change a topic, to remain on task and take turns
  • interacting with each other or the teacher by using eye gaze and other NMFs to indicate agreement/disagreement or understanding/lack of understanding
  • negotiating turn-taking, for example:
    PRO1 FIRST YOUR-TURN
    It’s my turn first, then your turn.
    
  • watching, remembering and responding to increasingly complex instructions of two or more steps, for example by moving or locating objects in the classroom
  • using the appropriate NMFs for asking questions and making statements when interacting in small groups

  VCASFC003 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Foundation to Level 2 | Communicating | Socialising