NZQA Expiring unit standard
15781 version 4
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Title
Hold a short conversation with one person on a familiar topic using
New Zealand Sign Language
Level
2
Credits
4
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: hold a short
conversation with one person on a familiar topic; offer thanks
and apologise to a person; and ask permission of another
person, using New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL).
Classification
Languages > New Zealand Sign Language
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
For assessment purposes, the conversation should be for a minimum of three
minutes.
2
Definitions
Deaf is capitalised when it refers to the Deaf community and Deaf culture.
Deaf culture is defined globally as ‘a way of life, a shared perspective, based on
knowing the world primarily through vision’ and includes the rules governing
communication behaviour and social interaction within the Deaf community.
Publications containing information on Deaf culture include but are not limited to:
Erting, C., Johnson, R., Smith, D., and Snider, B. (eds.) The Deaf Way: Perspectives
from the International Conference on Deaf culture (Washington DC: Gallaudet
University Press, 1994);
Gregory, S, Hartley, G. (eds.) Constructing Deafness (London: The Open University
Press, 1991);
Higgins, P. Outsiders in a Hearing World: a Sociology of Deafness (Beverly Hills:
Sage Publications, 1980);
Lane, H, Hoffmeister, R, Bahan, B. A Journey into the Deaf World (San Diego: Dawn
Sign Press, 1996);
Montgomery, G., Bishop, J. (eds.) Being Deaf - The Experience of Deafness
(London: Open University Press, 1991);
Padden, C, Humphries, T. Deaf in America: Voices from a Culture (United States of
America: Harvard University Press, 1988).
The rules of NZSL refer to those contained in the following publications and/or are
those accepted by the Deaf community, for use in New Zealand, and may include
any or all of the following elements: grammatical, structural, visual, kinesthetic, social
and cultural elements:
Collins - Ahlgren, M. Aspects of New Zealand Sign Language (Wellington: Victoria
University, 1989. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis);
Kennedy, G. (ed.) Dictionary of New Zealand Sign Language (Auckland: Auckland
University Press, 1997).
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
15781 version 4
Page 2 of 4
Familiar topic can include, but is not limited to personal information, social
information, and/or general information about people and things within the person’s
personal experience or to specific situations which have been well rehearsed.
‘wh’ questions refer to questions containing the words who, what, where, when and
why.
3
The following reference texts may also be useful:
Coulter, G. (ed.) Phonetics and Phonology: Current Issues in ASL Phonology, Vol 3
(New York: Academic Press, 1993);
Liddel, S. American Sign Language (New York: Mouton Publishers, 1980);
Valli, C, Lucas, C. Linguistics of American Sign Language: A Resource Text for ASL
Users. (Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press, 1992).
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Hold a short conversation with one person on a familiar topic.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Grammatical features used are consistent with the requirements of the
communicative task and the rules of NZSL.
Range
grammatical features may include but are not limited to pronouns, spatial reference, sign formation, non-manual signs,
yes/no and ‘wh’ questions, negative sentences.
1.2
Discourse requirements relating to conversing, including head nodding
affirmation and eye contact, are met consistent with Deaf culture and the rules
of NZSL.
1.3
Vocabulary used is consistent with the requirements of the communicative task
and the rules of NZSL.
1.4
Strategies used for opening and closing the conversation are consistent with
Deaf culture and the rules of NZSL.
1.5
Responses given are consistent with the information received.
Outcome 2
Offer thanks and apologise to a person using NZSL.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Grammatical features used are consistent with the requirements of the
communicative task and the rules of NZSL.
Range
grammatical features may include but are not limited to pronouns, spatial reference, sign formation, non-manual signs,
yes/no and ‘wh’ questions, negative sentences.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
15781 version 4
Page 3 of 4
2.2
Discourse requirements relating to thanking and apologising, are met consistent
with Deaf culture and the rules of NZSL.
2.3
Vocabulary used is consistent with the requirements of the communicative task
and the rules of NZSL.
Outcome 3
Ask permission of another person using NZSL.
Evidence requirements
3.1
Grammatical features used are consistent with the requirements of the
communicative task and the rules of NZSL.
Range
grammatical features may include but are not limited to pronouns, spatial reference, sign formation, non-manual signs,
yes/no and ‘wh’ questions, negative sentences.
3.2
Discourse requirements relating to asking permission, including offering an
explanation of the request, are met consistent with Deaf culture and the rules of
NZSL.
3.3
Vocabulary used is consistent with the requirements of the communicative task
and the rules of NZSL.
3.4
Responses given are consistent with the information received.
This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by
the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
2 July 1999
31 December 2016
Revision
2
11 December 2003
31 December 2016
Review
3
19 November 2010
31 December 2016
Rollover
4
28 November 2013
31 December 2016
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0156
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
15781 version 4
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Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016