Certificate in British Sign Language Level 1
Aim
This formally recognised award from Signature, the official British Sign Language examining body, is aimed at people who wish to learn the language in order to communicate with Deaf family and friends or to enhance their skills with Deaf people in educational or work settings.
Target Group
The Level 1 certificate can be taken by candidates without any prior knowledge or experience of BSL. It allows them to gain basic competence and confidence in the two skill areas of production and reception of BSL.
Course Structure
The Course consists of three units, an Introduction to BSL, Conversational BSL and Conversational Skills linked with topics such as school, college or work.
The total learning time is 64 hours: 2 hours per. week for 32 weeks (term time only)
- Unit 1 – Introduction to BSL - 20 hours and includes the following:
- Finger spelling
- Numbers, dates and time
- Exchanging personal information
- Weather
- Transport and directions
- Unit 2 – Conversational BSL - 22 hours and includes the following:
- Describing people, animals and objects
- Interests and activities
- Unit 3 –BSL at Work - 22 hours and includes the following:
- Exchanging information about work/college
- Refreshments
Candidates must achieve all three units for the full qualification. Units may be taken separately and in any order, although unit 101 is designed as an introduction to the language and should therefore be completed first.
Assessment
Assessment is built into the learning time of each unit. However, there will be a 4-5 minute interchange of productive and receptive skills between each candidate and the tutor-assessor which will be filmed and sent to the CACDP for external verification. This applies to each unit. Candidates will need to achieve 85% accuracy to secure a pass.
Qualification Objectives
At the end of the qualification, candidates will be able to:
- Understand and use a limited range of simple words and sentences in BSL
- Take part of simple, predictable conversations in BSL
- Give and follow simple directions or instructions in BSL
- Give and follow simple familiar statements or descriptions in BSL
Progression Routes
On completion of the Signature Level 1 Certificate in BSL, a wide range of qualifications is available, including:
Signature Level 2 Certificate in BSL
Lyme Bay BSL Level 3 Certificate in BSL
Lyme Bay BSL Level 4 Certificate in BSL
Signature Level 6 NVQ – related to work within the Deaf Community
Signature Level 6 NVQ –in Interpreting
Fees
The total fee for the 3 units of this certificate is £360 per candidate, which is payable in instalments if required. There is a 20% non-refundable deposit payable at time of booking. If re-sits are required, then students will be responsible for the extra fee.
Children under 16 will receive reduced examination fees.
For whole group teaching please contact Lyme Bay BSL for separate costs.
Date: May and September 2015
Time: TBC
Venue: Bridport/Charmouth
If you would like to secure a place on this course, then please return to the website to pay the deposit, and complete an enrolment form, or post a cheque payment to Lyme Bay BSL, Kingfishers, Newlands Bridge, Charmouth, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 6QZ. If you have any further enquiries please email: