LA1PB3: IWLP British Sign Language 3

Module code: LA1PB3

Module provider: Languages and Cultures; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: 4

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Mr Ilan Dwek , email: i.g.dwek@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): Before taking this module, you must have knowledge of British Sign Language (BSL) at CEFR for Sign Language Stage 2, or equivalent. (Open) BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE LA1PB2 (Compulsory)

Co-requisite module(s):

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

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE LA1PB1 OR TAKE LA1PB2 (Compulsory)

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 1 May 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module is intended for students of any year of study with previous basic knowledge of British Sign Language (BSL - LA1PB2 or equivalent)

This module aims at enabling students to achieve a level of competence between Level 2 and 3 of comparable National Awarding Bodies for BSL [Signature].

This 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, legal, media, mental health, etc.
• the competence in BSL grammar and vocabulary required to communicate at a more independent level and aspects of Deaf culture in the UK
• a basic understanding of the relationship between the Deaf community and the British community and how they interact with each other.

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. Sustain a straightforward conversation reasonably fluently in a range of complex topics presenting it as a visual sequence of points.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the main points of clear standard sign language on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school and leisure, including short narratives in addition to a limited range of highly-complex subjects related to their field of research
3. 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
4. Possess and control an increasingly wider selection of BSL vocabulary in order to follow signers and communicate about subjects within their field of interest.

Module content

The module will consolidate and develop the language and communicative situations of selected areas relevant to interacting and working within Deaf communities. Topics will include work and study in Deaf organisations, schools, youth culture, news and media, plans for the future, etc. A solid linguistic foundation will continue to be ensured by the study of grammar and vocabulary, always presented in context in an accessible and engaging way.

At the end of the course students will also have:

• developed their ability to work in a team and to a deadline
• strengthened their communication skills
• identified further aspects of society and every-day life within the signing Deaf communities
• identified real world issues related to the Deaf and the BSL user community
• deepened their intercultural awareness and sensitivity for a different culture
• developed their independent learning skills
• increased their ability to research a topic independently and to evaluate sources of information
• increased their ability to complete a project according to a brief
• stimulated their creativity

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods are based on interactive language development tasks, such as group work and role playing. Deaf culture is taught through lectures and discu