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Sign Language Week
New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) is the main language of the deaf community in New Zealand and is unique to the country. It is a visual-gestural language primarily communicated through hand gestures, body language, and facial expressions.
This week was our sign language week and our Kaiako ( teachers) have been implementing sign language into our practice. The tamariki (children) got to experience a different form of communication and were encouraged to use their body gestures to express themselves. Throughout the week, we have been singing actions songs with sign language and use it in our daily conversation to enhance tamariki’s learning about sign language. We had lots of fun learning this special language and will keep weaving it into our daily learning and teaching. We chose short phrases and songs to facilitate sign language as music is anytime best medium to introduce a new language to young children.
NZSL became an official language of New Zealand in April 2006 under the New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006, which aimed to ensure that the Deaf community had the same access to government information and services as everybody else. Being aware of the significance of Sign language, BS Epsom team will continue to teach and learn Sign Language.