BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE STAGE 1 - 2017/8

Module provider

School of Literature and Languages

Module Leader

SALLER C Ms (Lit & Langs)

Number of Credits

15

Module cap (Maximum number of students)

N/A

Module Availability

Year long

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

No previous knowledge of BSL required.

Module overview

This is a module of the Global Graduate Award in Languages programme. It is taught over 19 weeks in the autumn and spring semesters, two contact hours per week, and it introduces a visual, signed language which covers two core skills: reception (equivalent to listening and reading in MFL) and production (equivalent to speaking and writing in MFL).  This module also offers an introduction to British Deaf Culture and the society in which BSL is used and aims to raise a sense of cultural awareness. Students prepare for everyday communication with Deaf BSL Users, and for work within the Deaf Community. 

A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module.

Module aims

This module aims to introduce students to basic BSL. In terms of linguistic and cultural competence, the module aims to encourage students to develop basic communicative competence in the two core skills (receptive and productive)

provide students with basic BSL vocabulary used in everyday communication

give some insight into the British Deaf culture

In terms of cultural awareness, this module aims to encourage students to take a different perspective and view the world from different cultural viewpoints

analyse and understand linguistic and cultural barriers

reflect on the influence of cultural values on behaviour

become conscious of stereotypes and prejudices

communicate with others in culturally appropriate ways

In terms of study skills and transfer of skills and competencies, this module aims to encourage students to self-assess their progress

support students in acquiring language learning strategies and techniques

inspire independent learning and facilitate the acquisition of other foreign languages

Learning outcomes

Module content

Indicative content includes:

Topic areas


social introductions

personal details (age/family/where live/nationality/profession/basic physical description + character)

counting/spelling/addresses/phone numbers/days/months/time

expressing likes and dislikes/hobbies/daily routine

basic transactions (shopping, café, buying tickets)

weather, directions, transport

conversations relating to college/study/course


Grammar


fingerspelling

hand shapes

flow/pace

signing space

placement

BSL structure and order

non-manual features

turn taking

basic verbs

directional verbs

simple commands

questions

basic affirmation/negation

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

 


Enable students to acquire explicit knowledge of the linguistic structures, grammar and vocabulary through attending classes regularly;

Encourage student participation and learner autonomy, through small group work, reading and practicing/preparing outside contact hours, and participating in class activities;

Develop ability to use linguists’ tools, such as dictionaries and IT resources;

Enable students to engage in analytical and evaluative thinking, to analyse and interpret texts and other cultural products, through attending classes and engaging in individual study;

Develop communication skills through interactions in class.


 

 

The learning and teaching methods include:

 


Two contact hours per week over 19 weeks in Semesters 1 & 2

Teaching will be in the target language as far as possible.

Classes will include group work, such as role play, and short presentations in the language.

Consolidation of learning will be by the practice of language skills inside and outside the classroom, using a variety of means, including computer-assisted language learning.


Students are expected to complete regular homework tasks in order to practice new structures and to prepare for in-class activities.

 

 

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate

 


their progress over the duration of the course;

their growing ability to understand and produce BSL at post-beginner level;

their increasing awareness of BSL culture and BSL community;

the level of BSL they have achieved at the end of the course.


 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:


An integrated skills portfolio of 6 coursework tasks, covering the two core skills of reception and production

End-of-course in-class test, covering the two core skills of reception and production


 

Formative assessment and feedback

 

Students will receive written feedback and in-class verbal feedback on homework tasks and in-class performance.

Reading list

Reading list for BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE STAGE 1 : http://aspire.surrey.ac.uk/modules/bsll001

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2017/8 academic year.