This is a General Key Word Signing Course, held in the evenings from 6:15pm to 7:45pm, for anyone wanting to learn to sign with family, friends or clients, or just for general interest. Week 1: Thursday 24th of October Week 2: Thursday 31st of October Week 3: Thursday 7th of November Week 4: Thursday 14th of November The course is suited to: Primary School Teachers Disability Workers Allied Health Professionals Parents / Family Members / Friends of people who use key word signing Anyone with a general interest to learn to sign with people of all ages and abilities People with some degree of hearing loss who wish to learn how to sign Early childhood Educators and people wanting to learn baby sign are advised that there are specific key word signing courses for preschool aged children and babies, however, this course is still suitable and may be attended if preferred All Areas Speech Pathology offer Key Word Signing (Auslan signs) from Level 1-10. Our beginners course Level 1 & 2 is ideal for participants starting to learn or refreshing their skills. Key word signing can be used to encourage speech and language development, to communicate with friends / family and enhance job skills/potential employment opportunities. Key word signing consists of signing important words, at the same time as using slow, simplified speech. The spoken words, the ‘signed’ words and facial expression are all important, as they all convey meaning. In Australia, spoken words are combined with Auslan signs. Key word signing is ideal for anyone learning language, such as babies, toddlers and children with a communication delay. Key word signing is also suitable for people wanting to learn sign language at a basic level. Some people have heard the term ‘Makaton’ signing. Signing using the Makaton vocabulary (often used in the disability field) follows the principles of key word signing. (NB: Makaton in Australia has now changed its name to “Key Word Sign Australia”). REASONS FOR LEARNING KEY WORD SIGNING To Support People With A Disability Or Difficulties Communicating Verbally Children and adults with disabilities may use key word signing as a form of communication, even though they can hear and speak. The use of hand signs helps to make the message clearer, by providing extra information in addition to the spoken words. This is helpful when the person is not able to speak clearly and is difficult to understand without other clues. Signing may also be adopted as a short or long term method of communication when injury, trauma or brain damage result in impaired speech skills. To Teach Hearing Children To Communicate, Read and Spell Effectively Key word signing may help with the development of literacy skills (spelling and reading). This has been demonstrated through success with individual children, as well as being proven through research studies. Key word signs provide a motivating and visual way of teaching pre- schoolers and school aged children. This is particularly useful for children who learn best through visual or ‘hands on’ modes. To Enhance Job Skills for Current Or Future Employment Basic sign language is a beneficial skill in many workplaces, including child care centres, schools, disability services, retail, hospitality and health centres. Learning key word signing enables people to develop useful signing skills quickly and easily. For People Who Develop Some Degree Of Hearing Loss People who develop hearing loss throughout their lifetime may look for ways to maintain their verbal communication skills. Key word signing can provide such a way by using basic hand signs for expression and comprehension of language, in addition to spoken words. For Deaf/Hearing Impaired People Who Choose to Learn to Sign Later in Life Not all deaf/hearing-impaired adults know sign language. For example, this may be the case for a person born into a hearing family, where no one else is deaf. Some deaf children are encouraged to lip read and speak in preference to learning sign. As adults, these people may decide that sign language would be beneficial. Key word signing provides a basic starting point for deaf/hearing-impaired adults who have no previous experience with sign language or communicating with people from the Deaf Community. To Communicate with people who are Deaf and use Sign Language as their Primary Language Key word signing (using Auslan signs) can be used to communicate at a basic or beginner level with people from the Australian Deaf community. The deaf person (fluent Auslan user) follows the key word signing through a combination of lip reading, finger spelling and recognising the individual Auslan signs. The deaf person uses their knowledge of spoken English to sign and finger spell slowly back to the beginner signer. This basic form of communication between a fluent and beginner signer is known as “contact signing”. Becoming fluent in Auslan (Australian Sign Language) In order to achieve a high degree of fluency in Auslan and embrace the cultural aspects of Australian Sign Language, learning is recommended to occur in the context of the Deaf Community. The Deaf Society and TAFE offer courses for people wanting to achieve a high degree of proficiency in Auslan, including pathways to become an Auslan interpreter. KEY WORD SIGNING AT ALL AREAS SPEECH PATHOLOGY – LEVEL 1 & 2 FOR BEGINNERS Small friendly interactive classes Suitable for teenagers and adults (children aged 8 – 14 may attend with a paying *****) Learn the alphabet/finger spelling Develop a basic sign vocabulary (Auslan signs) Increase confidence to communicate through sign with other people Remember signs by signing along to music The Level 1 + 2 course runs for six hours. The beginner course is taught over 4 x 1.5 hour classes. Participants can choose to continue on through the remaining levels (3 – 10) when they are offered, or can stop after completing levels 1 and 2. Cost includes a colour booklet containing photos of the signs taught.