Language Emblem

Introduction

The language emblem encompasses two different streams – the Language Badge and the I Can Sign Badge.

Appropriately qualified adult members of Scouts Australia can also wear the relevant badge on their uniform.

Uniform Location

Front pocket of the uniform shirt.

Language Badge

A youth member may qualify to wear a Language badge by completing tasks that demonstrate their ability in any language other than English. The youth member will need to nominate an appropriately qualified subject matter expert to guide and support them through this process.

I Can Sign Badge

A youth member may qualify to wear an I Can Sign badge by completing tasks that demonstrate their ability in any approved sign language (e.g. AUSLAN, British Sign Language) or the Paget Gorman sign system. The youth member will need to nominate an appropriately qualified subject matter expert to guide and support them through this process.

Requirements

Joey Scouts

Language

• Carry out a conversation for five minutes in the language of choice.
• Write a letter of a least 50 words to the subject matter expert.
• Translate, in your own time and with the help of a dictionary, an easy passage from a book or magazine.

I Can Sign

• Carry out a simple conversation in sign language for five minutes.
• Demonstrate a basic ability to use finger spelling (e.g. spell name and some basic words) and to “read back” in that mode.
• After reading an easy passage from a book or periodical, re-tell that passage in sign language. You may use a sign language dictionary to assist.

Cub Scouts

Language

• Carry out a conversation for five to ten minutes in the language of choice.
• Write a letter of a least 100 words to the subject matter expert.
• Translate, in your own time and with the help of a dictionary, an easy passage from a book or magazine.

I Can Sign

• Carry out a simple conversation in sign language for five to ten minutes.
• Demonstrate a basic ability to use finger spelling (e.g. spell name and some basic words) and to “read back” in that mode.
• After reading an easy passage from a book or periodical, re-tell that passage in sign language. You may use a sign language dictionary to assist.

Scouts

Language

• Carry out a conversation for ten minutes in the language of choice.
• Write a letter of a least 200 words to the subject matter expert.
• Translate, in your own time and with the help of a dictionary, an easy passage from a book or magazine.

I Can Sign

• Carry out a simple conversation in sign language for ten minutes.
• Demonstrate an ability to use finger spelling and to “read back” in that mode.
• After reading an easy passage from a book or periodical, re-tell that passage in sign language. You may use a sign language dictionary to assist.

Venturers

Language

• Carry out a conversation for fifteen minutes in the language of choice. This conversation should introduce some basic Scout vocabulary (e.g. Scout, patrol, camp, tent etc)
• Write a letter of a least 300 words on a simple Scout topic to the subject matter expert.
• Read aloud intelligibly and given an approximate translation (without the help of a dictionary) of a paragraph of average difficulty from a book, newspaper or periodical.

I Can Sign

• Carry out a simple conversation in sign language for fifteen minutes.
• Demonstrate an ability to use finger spelling and to “read back” in that mode.
• After reading an easy passage from a book or periodical, re-tell that passage in sign language. You may use a sign language dictionary to assist.

Rovers

Language

• Carry out a conversation for twenty minutes in the language of choice.
• Write a letter of a least 500 words to the subject matter expert.
• Translate, in your own time and with the help of a dictionary, an easy passage from a book or magazine.

I Can Sign

• Carry out a simple conversation in sign language for twenty minutes.
• Demonstrate an ability to use finger spelling and to “read back” in that mode.
• After reading an easy passage from a book or periodical, re-tell that passage in sign language. You may use a sign language dictionary to assist.

Hints & Tips

auslan.org.au and deafsociety.org.au are helpful websites to find subject matter experts and resources for the I Can Sign badge.

Many members who can speak a secondary language will already have links to a subject matter expert – this could be a language teacher at school or someone in their community.