Learn about communicating in Sign Language with the Research & Activities below.
Activity 1: Sign Language Basics
Use the videos to learn sign language basics such as the alphabet, days of the week, saying how you feel, family, common phrases and the weather.
Sign language for beginners
Popular songs to sign to
Activity 2: Learn songs in sign language
Listen to the songs that you already know and see if you can learn the sign language to sing along with them. Practise with a buddy.
Activity 3 - Learning words from the Sign Language Dictionary
Use the links to the NZ Sign Language Dictionary topics to learn how to sign some words about a topic you like, for example, animals or colours. Work with a buddy to learn at least 10 words in sign language and share them with each other.
Record all the words you have learnt to sign. Make a copy of the Google Doc pictured by clicking on the image. You will be using a table to record the sign language words you know and add a picture about the word. You can work with a buddy. Make sure you add your name to the document. You can draw your own pictures on a printed copy if you would like to.
Activity 5 - Watch some short stories in sign language
Below are some stories you might already know. Try turning the sound off so you know what it would feel like to be deaf.
Note: These stories use British and American Sign Language which may be a little different to our New Zealand Sign language