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I use Auslan to communicate with my hearing impaired student in school. I am useing peer to peer support to teach the whole school (800 students) the Australian National Anthem - Advance Australia Fair in Auslan. With this youtube link, I show the students how 'easy' it is to learn the signs required for Auslan and Advance Australia Fair. I also use this link as a reference for showing them how some Auslan signs are used 'in context' with the user and in this case the learner. As the students are primary school level and as we are in a different part of Australia than where this video was taken (think of this as an accent or jargon) some Auslan signs are different. Each week, two students from each class come to a lesson (in their lunch break) and we practice the Anthem. Those students then return to their class and during the week they teach their peers in their class at appropriate times (lining up for parade, waiting for teacher, teacher is talking to a parent). They also must teach their teacher!! The response has been incredible and I have had to go beyond this youtube video to keep the students engaged in learning. We have been comparing the difference between ASL (American Sign Language) and Auslan (Australian Sign Language), and the students are applying their new knowledge by interpreting the next youtube link (below) from ASL to Auslan. The group that I work with once a week would like to be able to sign "I gotta feeling" from Black Eyed Peas for the school talent show next term. They are researching the new Auslan signs they need to know, and have taken ownership of their own learning.
This clip just makes you want to get up and dance. The music has inspired the students, and they can start to understand the culture of the Deaf Community, and appreciate what it may be like to be hearing impaired. This has inspired them to learn more Auslan signs, and by using music to do this I have linked into their prior knowledge and their own social environment. The benefits of this have been fantastic as as I walk around the school, the students use Auslan to communicate with me, and also with the hearing impaired student I work with. She just absolutely loves the fact that so many more students are now using Auslan and can communicate with her. Even the simple fact of signing their name to her is wonderful and it is really breaking down the communication barriers within our school.
I really enjoyed reading this section. What a great way to embed the use of video in learning. Not only does it incorporate classroom learning requirements, the learning can clearly be extended to include all students - whole school in fact, and it links to a real world context. Fantastic!
ReplyDeleteWow! I think that not only does it boosts students self esteem, both the hearing impaired student, and the students learning sign language, it also helps them relate to the wider world! One day they may meet a hearing impaired person they wish to befriend, and they will probably remember and appreciate their teacher for teaching them how to communicate with their new friend! This activity encourages inclusivity, which, as stated by the Department of Education (2002) defines inclusive classroom practices as intentionally acknowledeing, supporting and incorporating the diversity of students abilities.
ReplyDeleteDepartment of Education. (2002). A guide to productive pedagogies, classroom reflection manual. Brisbane, QLD: Queensland Government.
Thank you Rachel and Melissa for your comments on this link, and the activities that I am using it for. Sometimes when we are doing our own little thing in our own little part of the world, we forget the wider implications or the 'butterfly effect' that we have on everything else around us. It was great to get your feedback.
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