British Sign Language Beginner 2 (LAS182)

• University credits: 10
• FHEQ Level: 4
• Availability: Students, members of staff, members of the public
• Frequency of class: Once a week
• Group size: Maximum of 15

• Module Leader: Adam Summerscales

Assuming successful completion of the corresponding Autumn semester unit for this level (i.e. Beginner 1), a GCSE grade B/C in the language or equivalent learning experience at level A1- of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), this unit aims to consolidate a general foundation in British Sign Language (BSL) and the culture of the Deaf community in order to participate in a range of mostly predictable, everyday communicative situations encountered when interacting with sympathetic Deaf people.

Through 24 hours of small group interactive and practical seminars and 76 hours of monitored private study, learners will expand their basic skills and confidence in producing and understanding sign language, using appropriate grammar and vocabulary, in relation to a number of everyday social or professional communicative situations and topics (food, clothing, jobs and hobbies, travel, people, etc.). The culture and history of the Deaf community are explored further and learners are encouraged to take part in related events organised in the Sheffield area or online. 

This course may be of particular interest to students seeking a career in health or education, those interacting with deaf people through work, friends, or family, or linguists keen to explore an unfamiliar language and culture.

Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

• perform at a level equivalent to A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
• sustain a fairly prolonged and fluid conversation on familiar social or work-related topics in BSL, recognizing simple shades of meaning and communicating ideas of some complexity in simple ways.
• demonstrate a sound understanding of current issues related to the Deaf community and an awareness of current cultural trends.
• demonstrate awareness in a number of transferable skills such as IT skills, presenting information, handling simple unexpected communicative situations, taking intercultural differences and language barriers into account, learning independently, etc.

Credited students:

• Signed Individual task and reflection: 30%
• Conversation task: 35%
• Reflective mini essay: 35%

Not-for-credit fee-waiver students

Mandatory assessment to be completed in order to qualify for fee-waiver.

Not-for-credit self-funded students

Assessment is not mandatory.