If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the text.
Use the vocabulary list to check the meanings of some words before you listen.
Vocabulary
anniversary – a date on which something special or important happened
advocate for something – to support something publicly
alongside – in this context, next to
interpreter – someone who translates spoken words from one language to another
museum – a building where people can see important cultural, historical, or scientific objects
celebrate – to show that something is special
Try these activities while listening
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- What is this year the 20th anniversary of?
- What was the situation before 1980?
- What did the deaf community advocate for?
- What did deaf people want the right to use NZSL for?
- What has happened since 2014?
- What is the First Signs programme?
- What is the theme of NZSL week?
- What is happening around the country this week?
News story
This week, 4 to 10 May, is New Zealand Sign Language Week. This year is the 20th anniversary of New Zealand Sign Language, or NZSL, becoming an official language.
Before 1980, deaf children were not allowed to use sign language in deaf schools. They were mainly taught to lip-read instead. This had negative impacts on their education achievement, employment opportunities, and social status. The deaf community advocated for NZSL to become an official language because they wanted their language to be recognised alongside other languages in New Zealand. They also wanted the right to use it for public services, through having access to interpreters, and the right for deaf children to access education in NZSL. The
NZSL Act of 2006 did not meet all these demands, as it provided mainly for the recognition of the language and for its use in courts. However, there has been more government support for the language since 2014. For example, there is a programme called First Signs for families with deaf children up to 5 years old to help them learn sign language at home. In addition, there are now usually NZSL interpreters during government press conferences and events.
The theme of NZSL Week is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere”. This week there are events and activities at libraries and museums around the country to celebrate NZSL. For example, next Saturday at Te Papa in Wellington, there is a family fun event from 10am to noon, with story time, colouring, and family activities. Go to your local library or museum to find out what is happening and to look at resources about NZSL. If you want to learn some sign language, visit NZSL Online Dictionary or Learn NZSL.
Answers – you don’t have to write a complete sentence as long as you have the key idea in your answer.
a. What is this year the 20th anniversary of?
New Zealand Sign Language, or NZSL, becoming an official language
b. What was the situation before 1980?
Deaf children were not allowed to use sign language in deaf schools. They were mainly taught to lip-read instead
c. What did the deaf community advocate for?
For NZSL to become an official language
d. What did deaf people want the right to use NZSL for?
For public services, through having access to interpreters, and the right for deaf children to access education in NZSL
e. What has happened since 2014?
There has been more government support for NZSL
f. What is the First Signs programme?
It’s a programme for families with deaf children up to 5 years old to help them learn sign language at home
g. What is the theme of NZSL Week?
‘An Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere’
h. What is happening around the country this week?
Events and activities at libraries and museums to celebrate NZSL.