Core Skills Analysis
Australian Sign Language
Danae completed Lesson 1 of Auslan Basics, focusing on handshapes and fingerspelling. She followed an online tutorial, practiced each handshape using a provided chart, and then applied the fingerspelling chart to spell her own name. By the end of the session, Danae demonstrated that she could correctly form the basic handshapes and accurately fingerspell "Danae" in Auslan. This activity introduced her to the visual‑spatial nature of sign language and built foundational decoding and production skills.
Tips
To deepen Danae's Auslan fluency, have her record short video clips of herself signing everyday words and review them for accuracy. Pair her with a peer or family member for a sign‑language scavenger hunt, where they must locate objects and sign their names. Introduce simple Auslan storybooks and ask her to retell the plots using signs only, reinforcing narrative structure. Finally, explore cultural context by watching short Auslan‑language videos or documentaries about Deaf Australian community life.
Book Recommendations
- Signing Made Simple: A Complete Course in American Sign Language by Barrie Jones: A beginner-friendly guide that teaches sign language fundamentals, including handshapes and fingerspelling, applicable to any visual language learning.
- The Sign Language Book: The Complete Guide to Signing by Jean C. Bickmore: Comprehensive introduction to sign language with clear illustrations of handshapes, alphabet, and everyday vocabulary.
- The Joy of Signing: A Complete Guide to Learning Sign Language by Catherine B. Fennell: Engaging handbook that combines visual learning with cultural insights, helping teens practice signing in real‑world contexts.
Learning Standards
- Australian Curriculum – Languages (Year 10): ACTDEK019 – Identify and use signs and symbols to communicate in a second language.
- Australian Curriculum – English (Year 10): ACELA1579 – Interpret and analyse visual and multimodal texts.
- Australian Curriculum – ICT (Year 10): ACTDIK014 – Use digital technologies to create, edit and share multimodal communication.
Try This Next
- Create a printable handshape matching worksheet where Danae connects each handshape image to its corresponding letter.
- Design a short quiz with pictures of handshapes; ask Danae to write the spelled word for each sequence.