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NZSL Basics Worksheet

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NZSL Basics Worksheet

Help plan a welcoming school event where everyone can take part. Read the information, solve the challenges, and think about how to show respect for NZSL and Deaf people. NZSL is a visual language: signs use handshape, movement, location, facial expression and body language. Sign forms can vary, so learn signs from reliable NZSL resources or fluent NZSL users rather than guessing from English words.

Read: A language with a place here

New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s three official languages, alongside te reo Māori and English. It is a natural language with its own grammar and ways of expressing meaning; it is not simply English acted out with hands. NZSL is used by Deaf people and others in the Deaf community, and it can also help people communicate in different situations. For many Deaf people, NZSL connects communication with identity, community and culture. A language can carry shared experiences, stories and ways of seeing the world. NZSL was recognised as an official language in 2006. Its place in Aotearoa matters: access to NZSL helps make schools, services and public life more inclusive. When meeting an NZSL user, be respectful. Get their attention in an appropriate way, such as a gentle wave when they can see you. Face them, keep your hands and face visible, and allow time for communication. Do not assume every Deaf person signs, or that every NZSL user has the same preferences. If you are unsure, ask how they would like to communicate. Learning a greeting is a friendly start, but it is not the same as being fluent.

1.Which set names all three official languages of Aotearoa New Zealand?

NZSL, te reo Māori and English
NZSL, English and French
English, te reo Māori and Auslan
NZSL, Auslan and te reo Māori

2.According to the reading, in what year was NZSL recognised as an official language?

3.NZSL is English represented with hand movements. Decide whether this statement is true or false, then give one detail from the reading to support your answer.

TrueFalse

4.Use the reading to complete both gaps: NZSL can connect communication with , and culture.

5.At the event, Maia notices a Deaf visitor nearby and wants to start a conversation. Which is the most respectful first step?

Call out loudly until the visitor turns around
Make an appropriate visible greeting, face the visitor, and ask how they prefer to communicate
Assume the visitor can lip-read and speak while looking away
Ask another person to speak for the visitor without checking

6.Match each key idea to its meaning.

Official language
Deaf community
Inclusive access

People connected through Deaf identity, culture or shared experiences
A language given formal recognition in a country
Making communication and participation possible for different people

7.Suggest two practical ways the school event could make communication or participation more accessible for NZSL users. Explain briefly how each idea could help.

8.A classmate says, “If I learn one NZSL greeting, I can communicate with every Deaf person.” Explain why this claim needs more care, using two ideas from the reading.

Create a small poster or event badge that welcomes NZSL users. Add a short written message and a respectful inclusion idea. You may draw a greeting gesture, but do not invent or label a sign as NZSL if you are unsure of its correct form.

9.Complete the thought: “NZSL is important in Aotearoa because …” Include one reason from the reading and one way people can show respect.