Auslan

Auslan at WGPS

At WGPS we teach Auslan to the students as their language subject. By learning Auslan students have opportunities to engage with the Deaf community and to develop their intercultural capabilities by understanding and respecting others while growing their appreciation of diversity in today’s society.

During Auslan lessons, students engage in hands-on tasks that promote student learning and engagement. Students gain skills that allow them to feel confident and excited to use Auslan in their day to day lives, at home and at school.

Sign Language is a dance with words, to be enjoyed from babyhood through childhood to adulthood.

-Marilyn Daniels

Auslan in the beginning stages

When beginning to learn Aulslan students develop an understanding of Auslan and they interact with their peers and teachers to discuss themselves, their families, friends and the environment. The students follow simple instructions to complete tasks, such as games or short activities. The students develop an understanding of sign language for familiar classroom routines and by asking and responding to simple questions. Additionally, students learn the protocols that are culturally accepted, such as maintaining eye contact and gaining the attention of the person they wish to talk to.

During these year levels students are explicitly taught the following subjects:

  • Protocols

  • Greetings

  • Alphabet

  • Numbers

  • Colours

  • Size/shapes

  • Describing people/objects

  • Expressing likes and dislikes

  • Expressing feelings

  • Classroom objects

Auslan in the consolidating stages

Students continue to develop their understanding and ability to communicate with their teacher and peers. Students gain a deeper understanding of how to communicate their daily routines and how to explain further details about themselves and the people they know. The students gain skills to communicate with their peers in simple instructions, such as in games and how to express simple texts.  

During these year levels students are explicitly taught the following subjects:

  • Express their preferences

  • How to express classroom routines

  • Express their hobbies

  • Expressing recounts

  • Signing events using depicting signs

  • Recounting simple texts

Advancing in Auslan

Once students have a firm understanding of their previously learnt subjects and progress to conversing in greater detail. Students develop skills to accurately discuss aspects of their lives, such as social activities and school experiences, with their peers and teachers. Additionally, students gain an understanding of following and expressing more complex instructions while completing activities or games. Students also learn how to compare and how to discuss this with their peers.

During these year levels students are explicitly taught the following subjects:

  • Events that occur in daily lives

  • Social activities

  • Describe relationships

  • Describe characteristics of people and objects

  • Express others emotions

  • Negotiating skills

  • Time

  • Sequencing

  • Locations

  • Paraphrasing signed texts

  • Identify connections between Auslan and other signed languages

Learning showcase from some of our students

1/2’s revising the colour signs once they had finished their activity.