LA1PB1: IWLP British Sign Language 1

Module code: LA1PB1

Module provider: Languages and Cultures; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Ms Suzanne Smith, email: suzanne.smith@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE LA1PB2 OR TAKE LA1PB3 (Compulsory)

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 12 September 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to provide students in any year of study with an introduction to British Sign Language (BSL), concentrating on its communicative use in everyday situations. It will develop the two key skills of signing (in lieu of speaking) and understanding (in lieu of listening).

This course is aimed at beginners with little or no knowledge of BSL. On successful completion of the course students will have achieved CEFR Level A1/A1+

The module aims at providing students with:

• the ability to cope in typical situations faced by non-deaf persons when meeting Deaf people either in public places or at Deaf centres for a short period of time,
• an introduction to the nature of language and language learning,
• a basic awareness of Deaf culture and BSL language development.

Our small, interactive classes are designed to equip students with communicative language skills in an engaging way.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Communicate in BSL by signing at a simple survival level
2. Understand simple signed dialogue on everyday matters from deaf people signing in filmed clips
3. Apply simple grammatical structures via making appropriate use of the BSL dictionaries
4. Demonstrate an awareness of Deaf culture and BSL language development

Module content

The module will introduce the language and develop the communicative skills required to exchange basic personal information and participate in selected areas of everyday life relevant to communicating with signing deaf people. Topics include introducing oneself, family, leisure activities and social plans, eating out, the home, the town, and holidays. Grammar and vocabulary will be explored in context in an accessible and engaging way, ensuring a solid linguistic foundation.

Students will learn:

• To give, request and understand personal information
• To express and understand simple opinions
• Forms of address, greeting and leave-taking
• To make simple arrangements and transactions on a practical level

Students will be involved in regular group activities and role playing to develop signing skills. They will make progress through developing skills of self-study and application and will develop an awareness of and sensitivity to Deaf culture and a basic understanding of the history of sign language. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The course provides a systematic approach to acquiring essential grammar structures in a communicative context. Teaching methods are based on interactive language development tasks, such as group work and role playing, and include the study of short signed clips, oral development work and receptive comprehension exercises. Language focus sessions and guided independent learning activities play also an important part. Learning activities are supported by a variety of digital and printed media such as filmed clips) and, where appropriate, computer software. The module is taught as far as possible in the target language.

Students will identify and use relevant understanding, methods and skills to address problems that are well defined but complex and non- routine. In the context of British Sign Language learning this means acquiring knowledge of grammar and vocabulary, developing strategies for understanding and practising signing, in order to communicate within defined situations while 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.

Study hours

At least 60 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

In order to consolidate and develop their language learning, students are encouraged to complete regular tasks – in class and outside – on whichongoingfeedback is provided.Additional feedback, with opportunityforself-reflection and feedforward is provided in week 11 of the Autumn term,through tests and other tasks to be included in the Portfolio

Reassessment

Additional costs