LA1PB3-IWLP British Sign Language 3

Module Provider: Languages and Cultures
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites: LA1PB2 IWLP British Sign Language 2
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded: LA1PB1 IWLP British Sign Language 1 and LA1PB2 IWLP British Sign Language 2
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Mr Ilan Dwek
Email: i.g.dwek@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module is intended for students with previous basic knowledge of British Sign Language (BSL) (LA1PB2 or equivalent – which will confirmed via a pre-entry placement test).

This module aims at enabling students to achieve a level of competence between Level 2 and 3 of comparable National Awarding Bodies for British Sign Language, i.e. Signature and iBSL, within a defined range of topics. It will enable students to move from the immediate personal domain of communicative situations into broader social and work related domains, such as legal, media, mental health, higher education settings. It will also enable students to further their knowledge of Sign linguistics and Deafhood studies.

This module is taught at level 4 of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications. The ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø allows students from any year to take this module. Students will identify and use relevant understanding, methods and skills to address problems that are well defined but complex and non- routine. In language learning this means: a) acquiring knowledge of grammar and vocabularyÌý b) Ìýdeveloping strategies for receptive skills c) understanding and using Ìýthe language in order to communicate within defined situations and developing tools to enable students to respond to unexpected occurrences. Students will exercise autonomy and judgement by developing independent learning skills. They will gain understanding of different perspectives and cultural differences in approaching a variety of situations.

Support is given and adjustments are made for students with disabilities. However, IWLP language modules are communicative in nature and students are required to work in small groups.Ìý Also, students should be aware that finger-spelling, grammar and sentence structure are assessed. In this respect the IWLP assessment is exempted from the University’s requirement to take specific learning difficulties into account when marking. For queries, contactÌýiwlp@reading.ac.uk.

Aims:

The module aims at providing students with:

• the ability to communicate in BSL in broader social and work related situations about matters of relevance encountered in work, education, leisure etc.


• a competence in BSL grammar and vocabulary in order to communicate at a more independent level


• further insights into aspects of Deaf culture and everyday life of Deaf communities in the UK and abroad.


• a basic understanding of the relationship between the Deaf community and the British community and how they interact with each other, Ìýgiving consideration to the partial merging of both cultures.

Assessable learning outcomes:

At the end of the course students will be able to:

• Sustain a straightforward conversation reasonably fluently in a range of complex topics presenting it as a visual sequence of points.


• Understand the main points of clear standard sign language on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school and leisure, including short narratives.


• Receive factual manual information on a limited range of subjects related to their field and interest with a satisfactory level of comprehension.


• Recognise and apply increasingly more complex BSL grammar and structures with increased confidence when signing and receiving about subjects within his/her field of interest


• Possess and control an increasingly wider selection of BSL vocabulary in order to follow signers and communicate about subjects within their field of interest.

Additional outcomes:

At the end of the course students will also have:Ìý

• developed their ability to work in a team and to a deadlineÌý


• strengthened their communication skillsÌý


• identified further aspects of society and every-day life within the signing Deaf communities?Ìý