Certificate British Sign Language

British Sign Language
People (CACDP) for absolute beginners in sign language. At Barton Peveril, we teach it as a one year enrichment course, for those studying A2's (and equivalents) in their second year. This course is designed by the Council for Advancement of Communication with Deaf.

What Will I Learn On This Course?

AIM
The qualification will enable learners to communicate with Deaf people in BSL on a range of topics that involve simple, everyday language use. It is suitable for any of the following students:

· those with a Deaf family member, friend or neighbour
· those anticipating higher education or employment which may bring them into contact with Deaf people (an impressive qualification to have on your CV)
· those simply with an interest in learning a new language and broadening their range of life skills.

As with all new languages, the beginner's first task is to learn a range of vocabulary. The Level 1 syllabus concentrates on this element, focusing on subject areas relevant to daily life. It also introduces candidates to the specific syntax and structure of sign language, which differs considerably from English. When the course is completed, students will have acquired a vocabulary of 800 or so signs.

At the end of the course candidates should be able to:

· Understand and use a limited range of simple signs in BSL
· Take part in simple, predictable conversations in BSL
· Give and follow simple directions or instructions in BSL
· Give and follow familiar statements or descriptions in BSL

Course Content And Method Of Assessment

STRUCTURE
The qualification is divided into 3 units, each of which can be achieved separately. To achieve the full Level 1 Certificate, candidates are required to pass all units.

UNIT 1 An introduction to BSL Internally assessed

UNIT 2 Conversational BSL Externally assessed

UNIT 3 BSL at school, college or work

The course will be taught in three sessions per week over roughly 25 weeks. There will be one 'theory' session each week, when new signs are introduced and explained. This will be followed by a double practical session, where students will take part in activities designed to allow them to practice using these signs in a relevant context. These practical sessions could involve role-play in imaginary situations (e.g. buying a train ticket or meeting a Deaf person at a pub etc.) These sessions are fairly light-hearted and the activities are designed to be good fun as well as being educational.

Unit 1 assessments will be made by the tutor, at an early stage of the course. At the end of the course, units 2 and 3 will be externally assessed by the CACDP. (The tutor and candidate will video themselves conversing on a subject provided by the board - the tapes will then be sent off for assessment.)

Both the candidate's productive and receptive skills will be assessed.

After The Course

This course might be particularly appropriate for those students going on to teaching or social care. It would, however, be a valuable skill for anyone involved in direct communication with the public - perhaps currently in a part-time job - or in future careers.

The CACDP offer a wide range of further courses candidates might like to consider once they have passed Level 1. These include certificates in Deaf Awareness, Deaf Community and Culture as well as Levels 2 - 4 in BSL. A number of these courses are run at local educational centres, and across the country. Those really dedicated and inspired students could even consider becoming a qualified BSL interpreter. With the Disability Discrimination Act being updated all the time, the demand for interpreters is already acute, and well-qualified professionals can expect to earn an impressive salary.

Subject Combinations

Entry Requirements

None.