Sign Language 1 offers students the unique and fun experience of learning how to communicate visually using Auslan (Australian sign language), the native language of the Australian Deaf Community.

Auslan Community courses are for people who:

• Want to be introduced to Auslan (Australian Sign Language) and Deaf culture
• Want a short course at a relaxed pace
• Want to attend classes within their local area
• Are managers, employers, teachers, health professionals, friends, and colleagues of Deaf people
• Are interested in working with Deaf people

You will:

• Develop an appreciation for Auslan
• Access genuine Auslan with Deaf teachers
• Develop practical Auslan skills
• Learn through fun and informal classes
• Receive a good introduction before committing to accredited courses

Taught by Deaf teachers only, by the end of sign Language 1 students will be able to:

• Use basic communication skills in Auslan
• Use visual-gestural communication strategies
• Identify the Deaf Community
• Explain effective ways of communicating with Deaf people

Course Outline:

By the end of Sign Language 1, students will be able to:

• Greet others and introduce yourself
• Provide and request personal details, e.g. phone number, address
• Fingerspell in Auslan
• Count in Auslan
• Ask and answer simple questions using ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘when’, ‘where’, etc.
• Communicate practical vocabulary, including colours, days of the week, and family relationships
• Express agreement and disagreement
• Use visual-gestural communication strategies
• Identify the Deaf Community
• Explain effective ways of communicating with deaf people

Course Outcome:

• Sign Language 1 is the recommended starting point for people who would like to learn Auslan (Australian sign language).
• With further study and qualifications, students will be able to pursue employment working with deaf people and/or other Auslan users, e.g. in education, childcare, disability services, or as an Auslan/English interpreter.
• Together with Sign Language 2, Sign Language 1 provides a pathway into studying nationally-recognised accredited Auslan courses, i.e. Certificate II, III, and IV in Auslan, the Diploma of Auslan, and the Diploma of Auslan/English interpreting.

Important Information:

• Your Sign Language 1 trainer is deaf. Please remember to ‘voice off’ in class
• Minimum age for this course is 16 years
• No pre-requisites required

What to Bring:

• Comprehensive student notes will be emailed when the course is confirmed. You do not need to print these notes, but please save them to your preferred electronic device for future reference, preparation, and/or review.
• Pen and paper, in case you wish to take additional notes.
• This is a 7-week course. No prerequisite.

What our students are saying:

“Learning a new language as an adult can be tricky, thankfully our teacher Sue made is so much fun. Also, doing the Auslan 1 course with my daughter meant we could practice at home. My classmates were a great bunch of people and I now feel better equipped to communicate with my Deaf and Hard of Hearing friends and family.” Tracey

Other Information:

• To ensure resources are ready for you at the start of your course, we ask you ideally enrol at least one week before the course commences.
• All courses need a minimum number of students to run ("we try our hardest to get those") . If your course does not have enough students it will be cancelled before the commencement and you will be informed.