Sign Language Day

Episode 27 Teacher Resource 18th September 2018 Sign Language Day

1. Summarise the BTN Sign Language Day story. Students will investigate ways we communicate and learn to 2. What is Auslan? fingerspell using Auslan. 3. What does Auslan stand for? 4. How do people communicate using Auslan? a. Using hand movements b. Using body movements

c. Using facial expressions Health and PE – Years 3 & 4 d. All of the above Describe how respect, empathy and valuing diversity can positively 5. Auslan is used in Australia and Britain. True or false? influence relationships. 6. When did Australia start using Auslan? 7. When was the first Auslan dictionary published? Health and PE – Years 5 & 6 Investigate community resources 8. Why do community groups think it’s great that more people are and strategies to seek help about learning Auslan? health, safety and wellbeing. 9. Name one of the words or phrases that Bradley teaches in the BTN Identify how valuing diversity story. Practise it in pairs. positively influences the wellbeing of 10. What did you learn watching the BTN story? the community.

What do you see, think and wonder? After watching the BTN Sign Language Day story, respond to the following questions:

- What did you SEE in this video? - What do you THINK about what you saw in this video? - What did you LEARN from this story? - What was SURPRISING about this story?

Class Discussion Discuss the BTN Sign Language Day story as a class, using the following questions to guide the discussion. • How do hearing impaired people communicate? • What is Auslan? • How did you feel after watching the story? • What surprised you about the story? • List some facts that you learnt from this story? • Should sign language be taught in all schools? Why or why not?

©ABC 2018

Learn the Auslan alphabet Students will learn to fingerspell using the Auslan alphabet. Fingerspelling is an important part of Auslan. Words are spelt letter by letter using both hands. It is mainly used to spell proper nouns such as names of people or places. Visit the Auslan Signbank for tips on finger spelling.

Test your classmates by finger spelling some simple and short words. • Learn some everyday phrases in Auslan, for example: o Hello, my name is... o Good morning o Please o Thank you • Practise your fingerspelling with randomly generated words. • What was challenging about this activity? • What did you enjoy?

Students can have a go at learning some basic words in Auslan. Watch the Can: Do Classroom video for examples of words to learn.

©ABC 2018

Learn about the ear Students watch the How we hear video to learn how sound waves travel into the ear and are interpreted as meaningful sounds by the brain. Ask students to reflect on the following questions:

• What three important facts did you learn watching the video? • What was the most surprising thing you learnt? • What do you understand more clearly since watching the video?

Students can test their knowledge of the ear. Match the parts of the ear to the diagram below.

1. Cochlear, 2. Outer ear, 3. Ear bones, 4. Eardrum, 5. Nerve, 6. Sound vibrations, 7. Ear canal

Students watch the BTN Hearing Impaired story then respond to the questions below.

1. How long has Tanya been deaf? 2. What is Tanya’s level of hearing loss? 3. How does she communicate with her friends? 4. What subject does Tanya like at school? 5. How does she work out which notes she’s playing? 6. Which notes vibrate more? Low notes or high notes? 7. What has Tanya done with the help of her teacher?

©ABC 2018 The BTN Signing the News story explains how a group of hearing impaired students have created their own special news service. Students watch the story then respond to the following questions.

1. How do the kids in the BTN story read the news? 2. What is Australian sign language called? 3. Auslan is recognised as an official language in Australia. True or false? 4. Which students learn sign language at Klemzig Primary School? 5. Where might you see Auslan interpreters? 6. Why did the kids set up the newsroom at their school? 7. What are the benefits of having a news service at the school?

Students watch the BTN Signing Class story then respond to the questions below.

1. What is Australian sign language called? 2. When was it first recognised as an official language by the Federal Government? 3. Why did Sasha move to the city? 4. Why is it important for all students at the school to learn sign language? 5. Why are facial expressions important when using sign language?

Parts of the ear - Answers

BTN- Hearing Impaired http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s4581038.htm

BTN – Signing the News http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s4309152.htm

BTN – Signing Class http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3469100.htm

Auslan Signbank – Finger spelling http://www.auslan.org.au/spell/twohanded.html