Level 6: Certificate in British Sign Language
This course follows the qualification specification set out by Signature, full details of all specifications and assessment procedures can be downloaded from their website.
Qualification Aim
The Signature Level 6 Certificate in British Sign Language (RQF) qualification will develop the learner’s language skills towards complex language use of the National Occupational Standards for Languages Instructus 2012, or C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Upon successful completion of this qualification, the learner will be able to use and understand complex BSL in all types of social and professional interaction.
The assessment criteria for this qualification are based on the UK Occupational Language Standards at complex language use. Upon successful completion of this qualification, learners will be able to demonstrate language skills equivalent to an undergraduate level in Modern Languages.
Qualification Objectives
This qualification may be used as evidence of full professional proficiency in BSL. It may be useful for those who already work, or wish to work, in a professional capacity with Deaf people, such as teachers of the deaf, social workers for deaf people, voluntary workers with deaf people and employees within a deaf organisation. It may also be used as evidence of proficiency in BSL for sign language interpreters and sign language translators.
Essential Requirements
Candidates must be able to demonstrate competence in BSL at level 4, or equivalent; they will be assessed to ensure they are at an appropriate level before being accepted onto the Level 6 course.
Length of Course
The course will consist of around 120 guided learning hours plus additional study and interaction with the Deaf community outside of the classroom. This will include access to our own online learning resources from PremierBSL.
|
|
Guided Learning Hours (GLH) |
Additional Study Hours |
Total Learning Time |
Credit Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LO1/ LO2/ LO3 | 180 | 180 | 360 |
36 |
| TOTAL | 180 | 180 | 360 | 36 |
Qualification Structure
Candidates must demonstrate both receptive and productive BSL skills at Level 6, and in all of the eight topics that make up this qualification. Internal and external assessments may cover any of the topics listed in this qualification.
The natural context of using BSL is in two-way interactions (discussions, conversations, debates etc.), as well as one-way interactions (monologues, presentations, etc.). The candidate is therefore expected to demonstrate receptive and productive skills in both two-way and one-way interactions.
| Outcomes | Title | Unit Description |
|---|---|---|
| LO1 | Use receptive and productive skills to engage in all types of complex social interaction | For more details of each module’s contents, please download full specification. |
| LO2 | Use and understand complex language, and maintain fluency, grammatical accuracy and coherence in sustained contributions containing complex language | |
| LO3 | Understand sustained signed discourse containing complex language | |
| LO4 | Use reference sources to confirm or clarify the meaning of signs |
Topics & Content
The topics and content of any learning on this unit by the learners are expected to be wide-ranging, with vocabulary that is sufficiently technical as to be unpredictable. A key aspect of this unit is that learners should be able to understand the delivery of BSL at normal speed over extended periods.
Candidates must demonstrate both receptive and productive BSL skills at level 6, and in all of the eight topics that make up this qualification.
- Medicine
- Education
- Employment and Business
- Finance
- Politics and Law
- Society
- Media
- Science and Technology
Target Group
It is recommended that entrants should have achieved the Level 4 Certificate in BSL Studies before undertaking the Level 6 Certificate programme.
The Level 6 Certificate in BSL is suitable for those who:
- wish to acquire and utilise fluent British Sign Language skills over extended periods in a wide range of work and social situations, signing accurately enough to be easily understood;
- need to acquire and utilise BSL skills as part of a programme of professional development, for example, as a Communication Support Worker;
- wish to progress from the Level 4 Certificate;
- have an aim to become a BSL/English interpreter in the future.
The qualification is also suitable for Deaf people wishing to acquire a qualification in their own language, as part of a progression route towards Deaf Interpreter status.
Assessment
All the evidence, apart from the ‘live’ assessment, will be collected into a simple coursework file (or e-file if preferred) and will be available for inspection by an External Examiner at the end of the programme.
| Assessment | Assessment Details | Marked By |
|---|---|---|
| Informal one-to-one discussion | Candidates will need to participate in 3 two-way interactions with native BSL users, or with people who have BSL skills at Level 6. Candidates must choose a different topic for each of the assessments 1 to 3 and each clip should be between 15-18 minutes long.
Essential Criteria – candidates must cover assessment criteria 1.3, 2.1 and 2.2 in every clip. Assessments 1 to 3 can be live observed or filmed, and will be internally assessed by qualified assessors In order to pass the internal assessments candidates must produce evidence against all of the assessment criteria for learning outcomes 1 -3. |
Live Observation / Recorded Clip – Internally Assessed |
| Informal Group Debate | Live Observation / Recorded Clip – Internally Assessed | |
| Formal Group Meeting | Live Observation / Recorded Clip – Internally Assessed | |
| Formal Discussion | A one-to-one formal critical discussion with the teacher-assessor where the aim of the discussion is to demonstrate that the candidate can use appropriate language to analyse the arguments for and against and reflect on it by providing their own views, supported by evidence from research during their course.
The discussion must be a minimum of 15 minutes, and anything over 18 minutes will only be marked up to 18 minutes and the remainder disregarded. The pass mark for Assessment 4 is 60%. |
Recorded Clip – Externally Assessed |
| Formal Presentation | A formal presentation where the aim of the presentation is to demonstrate that the candidate can critically analyse a specific topic and can produce a clear line of argument that is supported by their research. The presentation must include an introduction, body and conclusion.
The presentation must be a minimum of 15 minutes, and anything over 18 minutes will only be marked up to 18 minutes and the remainder disregarded. The pass mark for Assessment 5 is 60%. |
Recorded Clip – Externally Assessed |
| Receptive Skills Exam | An approximately two-hour receptive skills task where the candidate will watch a two-way conversation on one of the topics in this qualification and answer questions in BSL relating to the conversation. The task is split into four sections, each with 6 questions for a total of 24 questions. Each question will test the candidate against each of the assessment criteria in learning outcome 3 (3.1 to 3.6). A total of 50 marks are available for the exam paper. The pass mark for Assessment 6 is 60% |
Signed Exam |
For more details about the content, assessment procedures or criteria, please see the full specification document.
Additional Costs
Learners will be expected to purchase resources for their coursework file (e.g. folder and dividers).