Introducing vocabulary and aspects of Deaf culture
The students will learn the vocabulary for naming particular events and holidays and will reflect on what they have learnt about Deaf culture.
Holidays and events
Play Clip 19.1 (Words related to holiday) and ask the students to notice how the names of particular events and holidays are signed. Replay the clip several times to help them to learn the vocabulary. Have the students join in with the presenters to practise their signing.
Hand out copies of Worksheet 19.1 (words related to holidays) for the students to keep for their reference.
Ask which events, holidays, and festivals they have experienced. Are any of these Deaf events?
Find out whether they understand the significance of these Deaf events. Use inquiry strategies to help them to reflect on their own lives in the communities where they belong. Discuss with them how they could find out more about the significance of the events they have described. For example, they could ask members of their family or do a search on the Internet.
Deaf cultures in Aotearoa
Point out to them that there are deaf people in all the different ethnic cultures in Aotearoa New Zealand and that some also identify with Deaf culture. For example, Māori Deaf people may identify with two cultures: tikanga Māori and Deaf culture.
Like members of other cultures, Deaf people come together at events such as weddings, funerals, birthday parties, and picnics. Some cultural events are distinctive to the Deaf community, though. For example, local Deaf clubs host club nights where Deaf people meet and socialise.
Reflection and inquiry
Foster your students’ reflection and sense of inquiry.
If they ask questions that you cannot answer, turn these into research questions for the students to explore either in class or out of class time.
Afterwards, discuss their research findings with them and use their suggestions for how they could present the information. For example, your students could teach some signs to another class and share some of the information they have learned about Deaf culture.
If you choose these kinds of tasks, make sure that your students have enough time to prepare so that they can present well.
Practise sentence patterns
Play Clip 19.2a. Replay this clip several times. In this way, your students can practise the sentence patterns by following the models on the clip.
The students work in pairs, taking turns to select a holiday, event, or festival, and then state whether they like or dislike it, giving a reason for their preference.