Auslan (Australian Sign Language)
Auslan is Australian Sign Language and is the language of the Deaf community in Australia. At Durack students are lucky to be learning Auslan as part of the languages curriculum. Students engage in weekly lessons taught learning to fingerspell and how to use sign to communicate with others. The enthusiasm students show throughout their lessons demonstrates their enjoyment in learning an additional language and students have been seen signing around the school. Auslan Club is also offered twice a week during the lunchtime for students who are interested in improving their skills and is run by Mr Newberry a qualified Auslan Interpreter.
It’s not only the students who enjoy Auslan at Durack State School but also the staff. In 2018 15 staff members undertook an introductory course in Auslan and continue to learn from the students.
The teaching of Auslan at Durack State School aligns with the Australian Curriculum. Further information can be found at the link below. Students follow the Second Language Learner Pathway, Years F-10 Sequence.
English as an additional language/dialect (EAL/D)
For many years Durack State School, home for the Durack Dragons, has been the learning environment for many students from various linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
Durack State School offers a unique opportunity for all our learners (regardless of their backgrounds) to access a world class education to equip them for their future learning and real life experience. At our school, we recognise, encourage and celebrate our students' diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Many of our school staff members are themselves bilingual.
To support learners from Non English Speaking Backgrounds (NEBS), there is an English as an Additional Language/Dialect (EAL/D) programme taught by qualified and experienced teachers, bilingual EAL/D teachers and teacher- aides. They liaise between parents, teachers, learners and administrative staff to assist and facilitate learning.
At Durack State School, learners from various linguistic backgrounds work with the EAL/D teachers and/or teacher-aides at different levels individually in their mainstream classrooms or in small groups in our EAL/D room to achieve specific learning objectives in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Newly arrived students receive a New Arrival English Support Programme in conjunction with classroom learning.
Our EAL/D programmes link very closely with our classroom curriculum to ensure academic success for our EAL/D learners.