Ella Martin is a Year 3 teacher at The Lakes College, Queensland. After gaining her qualifications in Auslan, Ella has introduced Australian Sign Language to her classroom as a tool to teach her students literacy and communication skills.
Her students have responded positively and are actively engaged in their learning journey. “Auslan increases effective communication, memory, cognitive development and students’ confidence, and so the benefits and use of Auslan, link or transfer to most subject areas,” Ella says. Every child has different learning abilities and motivations and AUSLAN is a language that everyone can use to communicate.
One of Ella’s students had low speech and language skills and was quite withdrawn and afraid to interact with her but after the student learnt a few initial signs, their confidence grew and they could communicate with Ella about simple daily needs like wanting to go to the bathroom, wanting a drink, needing help with school work, feeling cold or asking where Mum was.
The student started to enjoy communicating with Ella and the more that Auslan was used, the more engaged the student became and the world started to open up to them. Ella says, “Words would be softly spoken with the sign, one word here and there, then phrases. This student changed in confidence, communication, and happiness – and I will never forget it.”
Auslan forces young people to think before they speak allowing them to communicate accurately. I like to increase their curiosity and entice them in a way that engages them. I really believe state of mind is important and that if you can have an intrigued or happy state of mind, then you’re more focused for learning, you’re going to pair what you’re learning with as a happy experience.”
The NSW Government recently announced that schools will have the option to teach Auslan as part of the curriculum from 2023 with QLD hopefully following.
For more information about The Lakes College visit https://www.thelakescollege.com.au/