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Result list

• VCASFC167

  Convey information in different formats to suit different audiences and contexts

  Elaborations

  • assembling an information pack about their school to support newly arrived deaf students, including a signed glossary of key people and places and simple directions to navigate the school
  • creating a rehearsed digital report/reflection in Auslan for a school website on the experience of interacting with Deaf visitors
  • presenting information for Deaf visitors at a school open day about significant school or community events, such as festivals or sports carnivals
  • presenting information using visual support to engage the interest of the wider school community in a selected Deaf organisation or community activity
  • explaining a favourite game that can be played in Auslan or English, highlighting key Auslan terms and supporting information with pictures, gestures and demonstrations
  • planning, rehearsing and delivering short presentations about their use of Auslan in different contexts, taking into account context, purpose and audience
  • explaining a procedural text to the class, such as a recipe

  VCASFC167 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 5 and 6 | Communicating | Informing

• VCASFC129

  Develop interaction and communication skills for participation in regular class routines and activities

  Elaborations

  • recognising and using fingerspelled names for roll call and games
  • following instructions for class routines, such as:
    DS:line-up PLEASE
    Line up, please.
    LOOK-AT-_me PRO1
    Eyes to the front.
    PLEASE WITH-2++
    Please find a partner.
    
  • asking for help or permission, for example:
    PLEASE HELP-_me?
    Can you help me, please?
    PRO1-_plural CAN SHARE?
    Can we share these?
    
  • gaining attention in appropriate ways, for example by waving or tapping a shoulder or table
  • stopping activities and paying attention when lights are flashed or hands are waved
  • using NMFs such as focused eye gaze, nodding and head shaking to show affirmation and negation
  • using voice-off when possible while signing and keeping appropriate signing space between signers
  • positioning seating to keep visual communication clear or sitting across from/opposite signers when communicating
  • using visual applause to show enjoyment of entertainment or commendation

  VCASFC129 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Foundation to Level 2 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCASFC110

  Participate in shared learning activities that involve planning, transacting and problem-solving, using simple signed statements, questions and directions

  Elaborations

  • negotiating roles and responsibilities in shared learning activities, using expressions such as:
    PRO2 TYPE PRO1 WRITE
    You type and I’ll write.
  • understanding and using expressions of support, encouragement or praise during shared activities, for example, EXCELLENT, THAT GREAT
  • playing games that involve detailed information exchange, such as a ‘murder mystery’ type game, asking for and supplying descriptions about the suspect, for example:
    PRO3 HAVE GLASSES?
    Does he have glasses?
  • working collaboratively to plan an event such as a handball competition, using expressions related to place, time and numbers, for example:
    BEST PLAY WHERE?
    Where will we play?
    TEAM+ HOW MANY?
    How many teams are there?
  • following and giving directions for outdoor activities such as an obstacle course
  • expressing preferences in relation to roles and responsibilities in shared learning activities, using NMFs and statements such as:
    HANDWRITING PRO1 DON’T-LIKE RATHER TYPING
    I don’t like handwriting; I prefer to type it
    
  • working with peers to plan for a visit from a Deaf community member, prioritising and sequencing tasks

  VCASFC110 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCASFC199

  Interact with peers at school and contacts in the wider community to build relationships, engage in debate and to discuss aspirations or social issues

  Elaborations

  • explaining or justifying positions in discussion or debate, for example, by using space and NMFs to contrast views
  • elaborating on opinions in relation to social, community or educational matters, for example, exchanging views on a newspaper article about eugenics and deaf people
  • using researched information to contribute to formal group interactions, for example, panel discussions on issues such as the roles and responsibilities of interpreters
  • creating hypothetical situations to contextualise a discussion or debate, for example:
    PRETEND PRO2 DEAF….
    Pretend that you’re deaf …
    I-F PRO2 BOSS WILL CHANGE WHAT?
    What would you change if you were boss?
  • communicating via video calls or social media platforms using Auslan in different online contexts to build relationships and share views
  • using strategies to initiate and support discussion, for example by providing the context of a conversation to a new participant:
    PRO3 SAY…
    She was saying that …
    
  • demonstrating awareness of social sensitivities or conventions, for example by using euphemistic signs or allusions, such as TOILET, BIRTH
  • using complex sentence structures to discuss current affairs or to justify a position in relation to issues of interest to their group, for example, gender equity, conservation or social media

  VCASFC199 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCASFC055

  Initiate and sustain interactions to share ideas and interests, report on experiences, offer opinions and connect with events in their school and local community

  Elaborations

  • exchanging opinions about topics such as food, sport, lifestyles, health, music or travel
  • participating in videoconferencing to compare and contrast aspects of their school experience, for example by communicating online with deaf students from different schools in another state/territory
  • discussing the relationship between events in their school or local community and interest groups they identify with by conducting an in-class survey
  • describing aspects of their school, community, home or social lives, for example:
    SCHOOL DS(5CLAW):located-at DS(C):l-shape…
    The school is located here, and then there’s a large L-shaped building on the right.
    WEEKEND, I VISIT HEARING FRIEND WE2 WATCH MOVIE OR DS:2-people-walk SHOPS OR SOMETIMES STAY HOME DS:press-console
    On the weekends, my hearing friend and I like to go to the movies or the shops, but sometimes we just play video games.
    
  • offering opinions about issues under consideration in their class or school community, such as their school policy on social media use
  • developing narrative and expressive skills by exchanging accounts of personally significant influences, experiences or milestones, identifying common experiences, such as describing their favourite holiday or their personal hero
  • comparing their experience of involvement in the Deaf community, and sharing their views on the importance of this experience in their lives by describing their relationships with deaf people outside of school

  VCASFC055 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCASFU197

  Understand historical and contemporary factors that impact on awareness, support and use of Auslan and its vitality in contemporary Australia, comparing it with that of other signed languages around the world

  Elaborations

  • considering the impact of international historical events such as the Milan Congress (1880) and the linguistic recognition and documentation of signed languages (1960s and 1970s) on the use of signed languages in education and deaf people’s feelings of ownership and pride in their languages
  • analysing the impact of migration and settlement of deaf people from the UK and other countries in Australia, 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
  • considering the contemporary influences and pressures on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander signed languages and how these may affect their vitality
  • describing the role religion has played in influencing Auslan in terms of usage and spread, for example, by religious orders, early Deaf Societies and Bible translation projects
  • exploring the history and acceptance of signed languages and Deaf community and culture around the world, for example by creating a timeline or a research poster
  • exploring multilingualism in the Deaf community, including the use of Auslan, English and other signed and spoken languages such as Irish-Australian sign language, and how and when users typically switch between languages and dialects
  • investigating the use and impact of generic digital technology and specific forms of communication by Auslan users, for example, video chat, social media, SMS/texting, and NRS and VRS
  • reflecting on the role of Auslan interpreters in raising awareness and understanding of Auslan in the wider community and in influencing the function and nature of Auslan, for example by the introduction of new signs for temporary use in certain contexts
  • exploring the role of deafblind people in the Deaf community
  • investigating historical patterns of employment of deaf people in certain trades and fields of work, and the impact of these traditional employment domains on Auslan development
  • considering ways that Auslan is evolving due to influences such as globalisation and the capacity for new technology to store, record and share sign languages internationally
  • comparing levels of endangerment of different sign languages, such as NZSL, village sign languages, ASL, Scandinavian, South American sign languages and Auslan, for example by using UNESCO data by reviewing the iSLanDS survey findings
  • understanding the challenges faced by Auslan and other signed languages due to intergenerational disjunction in language transmission
  • investigating how new or specialised language associated with domains such as technology, engineering, cooking or fashion are used but not documented in the Deaf community, and how such language impacts on language vitality
  • identifying contexts and circumstances that support increased usage and acceptance of newly coined Auslan terms, for example, a workplace with several deaf employees
  • recognising reasons for the shared sense of identity of sign language users and the notion of reciprocity in the Deaf community
  • researching the role of the World Federation of the Deaf in mapping and monitoring the vitality of sign languages around the world and in protecting sign language diversity
  • analysing ways in which Deaf people design and adapt spaces in cultural ways (‘Deaf space’) in order to use a visual language, for example, by eliminating visual obstacles to signed communication; using circles or semicircles for meeting and learning spaces; and using open-plan areas, lighting and window placement to maximise visual access to information, with reference to Gallaudet University’s Deaf space design principles

  VCASFU197 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Language awareness

• VCASFC181

  Interact appropriately with people in different contexts, sharing experiences, interests and opinions about current events or school and community experience

  Elaborations

  • using signs to agree or disagree on relevant topics, such as:
    AGREE YES HOMEWORK SHOULD
    Yes, I agree we should do homework.
    PRO1 KNOW WHAT MEAN, BUT….
    I know what you mean, but …
    PRO1 DOUBT
    I’m not sure.
    AGREE-NOT, PRO1 THINK…
    I don’t agree; I think …
    
  • participating in videoconferencing exchanges with deaf children or other Auslan students from another state to compare and contrast aspects of their school and learning experiences
  • contributing to online videoconferencing with other Auslan users to compare and contrast aspects of their school and learning experiences
  • using appropriate NMFs when turn-taking, for example:
    HOLD
    Hold that thought.
    QUICK INTERRUPT
    Can I just interrupt you quickly?
    WAIT….COME
    Can you just wait a moment … Right, what did you want?
    
  • clarifying meaning, for example by using fingerspelling to explain unfamiliar vocabulary, as in, PRO2 MEAN [fingerspell word]?
  • using appropriate protocols to join or leave conversations, for example, waiting for eye gaze or for the signer to finish and not asking for a full recount
  • engaging with deaf visitors from different groups and backgrounds and creating a vlog about the visits

  VCASFC181 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCASFC183

  Participate in extended interactions by explaining and clarifying answers, responding to others’ contributions, asking follow-up questions and observing protocols in and beyond the classroom

  Elaborations

  • contributing to discussion and debate by expressing opinions, responding to others’ perspectives and using reflective language, such as:
    NEVER THOUGHT YEAH-RIGHT
    Oh yeah, I hadn’t thought of that before.
    
  • responding to signed class and school announcements with more elaborated responses, for example:
    YES I CAN COME-TO-YOU HELP BUT CAN-NOT THURS
    Yes, I can help you with that, but not on Thursday.
    
  • commenting on information provided by others to indicate or to clarify understanding, for example:
    NOD INTERESTING
    Mmm, interesting.
    TRUE WHAT ABOUT…?
    True, but what about …?
    
  • extending discussion or debate by asking follow-up questions, clarifying their own contributions or suggesting relevant comparisons
  • organising standing or seated positions and ‘signing space’ when talking to one or more people, and adjusting the physical environment to be well-lit and without glare to enable effective communication
  • adjusting styles of communication according to situation, for example, getting someone’s attention for a non-urgent matter versus an emergency situation
  • investigating appropriate ways to join or take leave of a group interacting in Auslan and following appropriate protocols in interpreting situations outside the classroom, for example in the playground
  • sharing responsibility for providing information and context for a new participant joining a conversation

  VCASFC183 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCASFC224

  Translate and interpret short texts from Auslan to English and vice versa, noticing which concepts translate easily and which do not

  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
  • identifying and comparing key signs and words in Auslan and English versions of familiar texts such as short stories or fairytales on the Auslan Storybooks website, noticing how signs can convey rich, multilayered meaning which might not have a direct match in English
  • shadowing a story in Auslan as a pre-interpreting skill, noticing which phrases and concepts need more unpacking
  • demonstrating the use of Signbank, for example by using it to look up various meanings of the word ‘run’, comparing variations in signs for the concept in different contexts, and using it to translate Auslan into English and vice versa
  • translating simple filmed texts in Auslan into written English captions
  • sight translating short English texts such as news articles or short speeches into Auslan for review by their peers
  • considering the bimodal nature of Auslan–English interpreting and discussing the possibility of consecutive and simultaneous interpreting of information in communicative exchanges

  VCASFC224 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Translating

• VCASFC096

  Participate in the viewing of recorded or live imaginative signed texts, responding through drawing, miming, gesture or modelled signs

  Elaborations

  • viewing narratives in Auslan, for example, from the Auslan Storybooks website, demonstrating understanding through drawing, gesture and modelled signs
  • responding to short expressive texts that involve the movement of people, animals or vehicles, demonstrating understanding through drawings or familiar signs
  • responding to key elements of short signed stories, for example by mimicking facial expressions or repeated signs
  • participating in interactions in Auslan that involve imaginative responses to stimuli such as cartoons using gestures, handshapes, facial expressions and simple signs to suggest what happens next in the story
  • engaging with different forms of Deaf art, such as handshape creations, and responding by creating their own piece of art on a similar theme
  • shadowing NMFs in short Auslan poems or narratives
  • retelling favourite events of an Auslan story using modelled signing
  • engaging in imaginative interactions that involve the creation of mood or momentum through repeated use of signs, handshapes and facial expressions to modify manner or intensify adjectives
  • responding to performances of Deaf poetry that evoke emotions such as sadness, fear or excitement, for example by indicating enjoyment or different personal feelings

  VCASFC096 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Creating

• VCASFC220

  Identify gist and some points of factual information from a range of signed texts about familiar topics and use the information in new ways

  Elaborations

  • gathering information from their peers in relation to their interests and preferences or home and school routines and summarising findings in formats such as tables or graphs
  • observing informative signed texts such as weather reports or simple public announcements about events and celebrations, identifying key points of information to exchange with a partner in a barrier/information-gap game
  • collecting information from signed texts about people, time or activities and using the information in new ways, for example, by creating a timeline, diary or timetable to show a sequence of activities
  • viewing and following procedural signed texts such as cooking demonstrations or craft activities
  • watching/viewing a signed text and identifying specific points of information such as locations, for example, by labelling key locations on a school map
  • viewing and responding appropriately to simple class and school announcements and directions
  • watching short Auslan texts about topics such as hobbies or sports, and recording key points of information using tables or graphic organisers
  • paraphrasing content of selected community texts, such as public service or promotional announcements on the Deaf Emergency Info website

  VCASFC220 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Informing

• 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

• 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

• VCASFC165

  Communicate appropriately while involved in shared learning activities by asking and responding to questions, managing interactions, indicating understanding and monitoring learning

  Elaborations

  • responding to signed class and school announcements such as assembly procedures
  • showing agreement or disagreement or asking for clarification, for example:
    PRO1 AGREE
    I agree.
    PRO1 AGREE-NOT
    I don’t agree …
    THAT RIGHT THAT?
    Is that right?
    …RIGHT PRO1?
    … am I right?
    
  • using discourse markers in conversation to indicate understanding, attention or consideration, for example:
    SURPRISE
    oooh (with appropriate intonation)
    INCREDIBLE
    No way!
    WOW
    Wow!
    UM
    um
    
  • respecting protocols for interrupting conversations, for example by walking between signers, waiting for eye contact and pauses in signing and using language such as EXCUSE or SORRY INTERRUPT
  • monitoring their own and each other’s learning, for example by making comments such as:
    SURPRISE KNOW-NOT PRO1
    I didn’t know that …
    THANKYOU PRO2 EXPLAIN CLEAR
    Thank you – that was really clear.
    
  • following appropriate protocols when interacting with interpreters, for example not standing between the interpreter and the deaf person
  • using non-auditory ways of signalling enjoyment, support or encouragement in large group or audience activities, for example, by foot stomping at a deaf basketball game

  VCASFC165 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 5 and 6 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCASFC056

  Engage in collaborative activities that involve planning, project design, problem-solving and evaluation of events or activities

  Elaborations

  • working with a partner to create a visual resource that promotes Auslan as an important subject choice
  • working in groups to create a series of promotional resources for the school website
  • organising and participating in visits by respected members of the Deaf community to their school to share knowledge and to promote Auslan skills in the wider community
  • planning presentations to showcase aspects of Deaf culture likely to be unfamiliar to the hearing community
  • reporting on and evaluating completed events or activities that they had planned together, for example:
    FIRST PRO1 DOUBT I-F WILL GO-WELL, HAVE-A-LOOK GO-ALONG GOOD
    At the start, I wasn’t sure it would work, but after a while I thought it went well.
    PRO1 WRONG NEVER AGAIN DO SAME
    I won’t do that ever again.
    
  • following sequenced directions that involve the use of practical information, for example:
    SEE DS:wavy-surface, KNOW WHERE SCRATCH? S-A-N-D POLISH MORE DS:thick-to-thin 2MM SMOOTH
    See where the surface is uneven? You sand that back 2 mm and it gets smooth.
    
  • working in pairs to create instructional or procedural texts that demonstrate and explain activities
  • planning and presenting a cultural item for a school open day, such as celebration through drama or visual story of an important member of the Deaf community
  • discussing in pairs possible design options for an item such as language flag, artefact or logo that incorporates elements of significance to the Deaf community, presenting reasons for specific design suggestions, then voting as a class on a preferred design

  VCASFC056 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCASFU089

  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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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)

  VCASFU089 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | Language awareness

• VCASFC182

  Engage in different processes of collaborative learning, including planning, problem-solving, task completion and evaluation

  Elaborations

  • working in pairs or small groups to design and create visual resources that promote Auslan as an important area of study
  • brainstorming, planning and working together to advertise and present an intercultural event for their year-level peers
  • working collaboratively to create instructional or procedural texts for younger learners
  • preparing for the visit of a member of the Deaf community, discussing how to ensure effective communication between the visitor and deaf and hearing members of the class
  • providing feedback on completed events or activities, exchanging reflections such as:
    FIRST PRO1 DOUBT I-F WILL GO-WELL, HAVE-A-LOOK GO-ALONG GOOD
    At the start, I wasn’t sure it would work, but after a while I thought it went well.
    PRO1 WRONG NEVER AGAIN DO SAME
    I won’t do that ever again.
    
  • problem-solving around collaborative activities such as website design, science experiments or model-building, using wh- questions such as:
    WHY FAIL WHY?
    Why isn’t it working?
    WHO THINK CAN FIX?
    Who thinks they can fix it?
    FINISH, NEXT WHAT?
    What do we do next after we finish this?
    
  • giving directions for outdoor activities such as an obstacle course or bushwalk, including expressions such as:
    HAVE DS:round-oval FIRST RUN DS:draw-line THEN STOP. NEXT CLIMB DS:climb-over DS:land-on-feet THEN CRAWL DS:crawl-under-flat-thing
    There’s a big oval. First you will run along one side of it. Then stop at the wall. Next you will climb over the wall then crawl under the net.
    

  VCASFC182 | Languages | Auslan | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Socialising

• 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

• VCASFC001

  Communicate with teacher, peers and familiar adults in guided and free interactions that develop social and communicative skills

  Elaborations

  • interacting with others using greetings according to relationship, context and time of day, for example: HELLO, HOW-ARE-YOU? SEE LATER, GOOD MORNING M-R-J-O-N-E-S
  • asking and answering questions about families, friends, pets, routines or pastimes, for example:
    PRO2 ARRIVE SCHOOL HOW? CAR TAXI WALK G:WELL?
    How do you get to school?
    WHAT POSS2 FAVOURITE SPORT WHAT?
    What’s your favourite sport?
    POSS1 BIRTHDAY WHEN D-E-C
    My birthday is in December.
    
  • using everyday social exchanges such as thanking, apologising, expressing wishes or congratulations, for example:
    THANK-YOU HELP-_me
    Thank you for helping me.
    SORRY A-C-C
    I’m sorry, it was an accident.
    GOOD-LUCK POSS2 RACE
    Good luck for your race.
    
  • introducing themselves or a friend to class visitors, for example:
    HELLO POSS1 NAME G-A-V-I-N SIGN-NAME:GAVIN
    Hi, my name’s Gavin and this is my sign name.
    
  • supporting interaction when socialising with their peers, for example by indicating agreement or disagreement through nodding or head shaking
  • recounting personal experiences using specific time markers such as BEFORE, AFTER, LONG-TIME-AGO, YESTERDAY
  • recounting experiences shared as a class, such as excursions or special visitors, using appropriate sequencing of information
  • describing family members, friends or teachers in terms of physical appearance and characteristics, for example:
    PRINCIPAL YOU-KNOW SHORT LONG-HAIR GLASSES?
    You know the principal? She’s short, has long hair and wears glasses.
    POSS1 BROTHER OLD++ TALL SKINNY
    My brother is older; he’s tall and skinny.
    
  • comparing likes, dislikes and preferences, for example:
    PRO1 LIKE APPLE PRO1 DON’T-LIKE ORANGE
    I like apples but I don’t like oranges.
    
  • exploring different ways of expressing emotion through the use of NMFs and lexical signs, for example:
    PRO3 TEASE-_me
    She teased me.
    NOW PRO1 HAPPY BEFORE PRO1 CRANKY
    I’m happy now but before I was cranky.
    
  • sharing their opinions about classmates or classroom resources using evaluative language and superlatives, for example:
    S-A-M RUN FAST C-H-R-I-S WOW FAST SPEED
    Sam runs fast but Chris runs the fastest.
    THAT BEST COMPUTER
    That’s the best computer.
    
  • sharing information about personal experiences or recent events, using time markers that incorporate numerals, such as THREE-DAYS-AGO, NEXT-WEEK, LAST YEAR, IN-TWO-DAYS
  • referring to family members’ and classmates’ names using fingerspelling or sign names as appropriate
  • describing class activities using plain or indicating verbs, modifying the indicating verbs some of the time, for example:
    THERE SIT BOOK READ, FINISH PUT++
    Over there we sit and read books, and when we’re finished we put them away.
    PENCIL PRO1 GIVE++
    I’ll give out the pencils.
    
  • conversing with friends using appropriate turn-taking strategies
  • asking and answering questions related to time, place, number, days of the week, months and seasons, for example:
    WHY SHOULD LOOK-_left LOOK-_right BEFORE ROAD CROSS
    Why do we need to look left and right before crossing the road?
    ONE WEEK DS:length HOW-MANY DAY?
    How many days in a week?
    
  • describing relationships between members of their family or between classmates, for example:
    PRO3 POSS1 COUSIN WE2 GOOD FRIEND.
    She’s my cousin; we’re good friends.
    POSS3 FATHER PUNISH PRO3
    Her father punished her.
    

  VCASFC001 | Languages | Auslan | First Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Foundation to Level 2 | Communicating | Socialising