Handy lessons

By Alison Noonan
SILENCE is golden at Lynbrook Primary School when students let their fingers do the talking.
The school is one of a few across Victoria to teach Auslan, the only recognised sign language for the hearing impaired in Australia.
Staff and students in all 14 grades attend special sign classes once a week, led by two trained Auslan teachers.
Vice principal Colin Avery said the school decided to start the sign classes as a unique alternative to other languages commonly taught in schools, such as Japanese or French.
He said Auslan was a rewarding language that could be used to communicate with future deaf students at the school.
“We had to choose a LOTE (Language Other Than English) and we thought Auslan would be a good way to go,” Mr Avery said.
“We currently don’t have any hearing impaired students at the school, but we have one child enrolled for next year so we are gearing up for that.
“There is also a rather large deaf community in the local area.”
Mr Avery said both staff and students had already learnt the alphabet and other signs since the Auslan classes commenced in January.
“The students absolutely love it.
“As children, they pick it up so quickly and easily. They start by learning the vowels on their hands and progress from there.
“They all learn together which means they can practise with each other. It’s great to watch.
“Eventually we hope they will be able to sign at a reasonable level and communicate with other hearing impaired people,” he said.
School council president Debbie Pike said she was excited to be part of a class offered in just a handful of schools throughout the state.
“We wanted to do something different and this has such a positive result.
“I love it and the kids love it. It’s just brilliant,” she said.