British Sign Language Intermediate

Module title	British Sign Language Intermediate
Module code	FLB2230
Academic year	2025/6
Credits	30
Module staff	Miss Emily Wakley (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	11	11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	10

Module description

This module is intended for students who have an understanding at an intermediate level in British Sign Language (BSL) and have completed British Sign Language for Beginners (Part 1) and (Part 2). It will expand your knowledge of signs in a range of elementary and sophisticated communicative situations. You will find this module particularly relevant if you are pursuing a career in teaching or communication support , or are in contact with deaf people on a personal/professional level. In order to take this module you will be expected to be fluent in English, and to have good hand dexterity and use facial expressions effectively.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module is broadly equivalent to C Proficient User level of the Common European Framework and aims to:

Reinforce and develop your understanding of the grammatical structures at a competent level in British Sign Language, enabling you to communicate effectively through Productive Skills, Receptive Skills, and Conversational Skills at an intermediate level on a variety of general topics.

Enable you to give and understand a broader spectrum of information and to achieve a confident intermediate level of communicative competence in everyday situations.

Develop your understanding and awareness of deafness, Deaf History and Deaf Culture

Develop your understanding and awareness of the differences in Spoken and Signed Languages.

Develop your understanding and awareness of the differences between Formal and Informal signing styles

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Demonstrate a sound grasp of the grammatical structures of BSL
2. Comprehend the language through receptive skills and to be able to back-channel in conversations to demonstrate understanding of information related to everyday situations
3. Communicate effectively on a range of general topics through signed presentations and conversations

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

4. Understand the principles of learning a language with uses of semantics and organise learning with guidance from the tutor
5. Use available learning aids in a variety of media, including English texts on BSL, BSL dictionaries and video resources, to consolidate learning

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

6. Communicate at an improving level in BSL
7. Show evidence of self-study and research skills used to develop language skills
8. Demonstrate a good understanding of Deaf Awareness in communication

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, the course will cover the following grammar and topics across the communication skills of reception, production and conversation:

Term 1- Linguistics of BSL

• Fingerspelling

• Signing space

• Signing structure

• Handshapes

• Non-Manual Features (NMF)

• Classifiers

• Movement & Direction

• Placements and Referents

• Timelines (Past, Present & Future)

• Verbs: Plain, Agreement & Spatial

• Adjectives

• Describing verbs using NMF

• Appropriate Mouth pattern

• Connectors

• Register

• Plurals

Topics

Term 1- Deaf History and Culture

Term 2-Everyday Matters:

• Travel and Holidays

• Shopping and Consumer Issues

• Eating and Drinking Out

• Education

• University Life

• Jobs and Work

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
66	234	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning and teaching	66	Language classes
Guided independent study	234	Consolidate learning in class by: preparing exercises and activities for class, including presentations in BSL and short written assignments in English; watching signed clips in BSL to develop receptive skills and develop vocabulary. Learning activities are supported by various media including written English texts, online videos

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Written assignment based on own research	1000 words	4-5, 7-8	Written feedback
Presentation	3-5 minute presentation	1, 3-8	Oral feedback

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
0	20	80

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Presentation in BSL (Term 1)	20	3-5 minute presentation	1-2, 4-8	Written feedback
Test (linguistics) (Term 1)	20	1 hour written test	1, 4-5, 7-8	Written feedback
Presentation in BSL (Term 2)	30	5-6 minute presentation	1-2, 4-8	Written feedback
Conversation in BSL (Term 2)	30	5-6 minute conversation	1-8	Written feedback

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Presentation in BSL (Term 1) (3-5 minute presentation)	Presentation (Term 1) (3-5 minute presentation) (20%)	1-2, 4-8	Referral/Deferral period
Test (linguistics) (Term 1) (1 hour written test)	Test (linguistics) (Term 1) (1 hour written test) (20%)	1, 4-5, 7-8	Referral/Deferral period
Presentation in BSL (Term 2) (5-6 minute presentation)	Presentation (Term 2) (5-6 minute presentation) (30%)	1-2, 4-8	Referral/Deferral period
Conversation in BSL (Term 2) (5-6 minute conversation)	Conversation (Term 2) (5-6 minute conversation) (30%)	1-8	Referral/Deferral period

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Rachel Sutton-Spence and Bencie Woll, The Linguistics of British Sign Language: An Introduction, 1998
Cath Smith, Let’s Sign Dictionary, 2^ndEdition 2009
Cath Smith, Signs Make Sense: A Guide to British Sign Language, 1990

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• A range of online and DVD video resources

Key words search

BSL, British Sign Language, Intermediate

Credit value	30
Module ECTS	15
Module pre-requisites	FLB1115A: British Sign Language for Beginners (Part 1) and FLB1115B: British Sign Language for Beginners (Part 2)
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	5
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	2016
Last revision date	30/01/2025