Form C4
Heriot-Watt University - Course Descriptor
1. Course
Code
C47BL
5. School
7. Delivery:
Location &
Semester
Management and Languages
Edin
SBC
Orkney
Sem 1.
2. Course
Title
Sem…….
BSL Intensive Beginners 1
Sem………..
3. SCQF 7
4. Credits
Level
6. Course
TBC
Co-ordinator
Approved Learning Partner
Dubai
IDL
Collaborative Partner
Sem……..
Sem….
Name…………………….....Sem..…...
30
Name …………………………………Sem………..
8. Pre-requisites
LINCS entry requirements
9. Linked Courses
(specify if synoptic)
BSL Intensive Beginners 2 (synoptic)
10. Excluded Courses
11. Replacement Courses
Code:
12. Degrees for which
this is a core course
Date Of Replacement:
13. The course may be
delivered to:
UG only
PG only
UG & PG
14. Available as an Elective?
Yes
No
15. Aims
The course is designed to offer an intensive programme for students with no or little knowledge of BSL to develop skills in the production and reception of BSL and conversation in BSL. The
aim of the course (together with subsequent courses) is to provide students with the basis to achieve skills equivalent to their peers’ studying Spanish, French or German in LINCS by the end
of year 2. The course structure is designed to be in parallel with other 1 st year language courses provided in LINCS and the syllabus uses elements of established BSL curricula. The specific
aims of this course are to facilitate students’ abilities to
Productive skills

produce BSL using everyday language and common words and sentence structures effectively.

produce familiar vocabulary relating to a variety of subject areas of every-day life and selected topics of relevance to Deaf communities accurately.

use familiar BSL grammatical structures accurately.

be able to provide routine descriptions, information or explanations, which may relate to past, present or future events.
Receptive skills

understand BSL in everyday situations when the person sign clearly.

understand familiar vocabulary relating to a variety of subject areas of every-day life and selected topics of relevance to Deaf communities accurately.

identify familiar BSL grammatical structures accurately.

be able to understand routine descriptions, information or explanations, which may relate to past, present or future events.

begin to incorporate some crosslinguistic activities in the form of summary work to set some initial foundations for translation work.
Conversational skills

engage in routine conversations while being familiar with everyday signed and non verbal pragmatic conventions in signed interaction.

understand and express advice, instructions, suggestions, opinions, feelings, needs and preferences.

put forward and respond to everyday questions, requests and invitations.
Linguistic and cultural awareness

develop an awareness of cultural and linguistic aspects relating to signed languages and Deaf communities.
1/2
Form C4
Heriot-Watt University - Course Descriptor
 be able to use correct concepts and terms when describing linguistic and cultural aspects relating to signed languages and Deaf communities.
16. Syllabus
The syllabus will cover all the following:
Reception
Study of appropriate BSL materials drawn from a range of sources and relating to everyday life and topics of relevance to Deaf communities.
Language laboratory exercises, including group, pair and individual work, summarising and answering questions in BSL from a BSL source or short video recordings relating to first year topics,
and exercises in which students begin to summarise BSL texts in English.
Production
Classes are task-based, and generally take the form of pair and small-group work designed to foster confidence in productive skills
Intensive study of BSL grammar. Exercises involve practice and production of various topics relating to everyday life and topics of relevance to Deaf communities in BSL
Conversation
Students are encouraged to participate in a series of small conversational situations doing language activities, problem solving, expressing opinions as appropriate at this level.
Language awareness
A series of sessions will introduce students to linguistic and cultural aspects relating to sign languages and Deaf communities, focussing on setting the foundations for successful
communication skills in BSL and on developing an awareness of the cultural and social situation of signing communities.
17. Learning Outcomes (HWU Core Skills: Employability and Professional Career Readiness)
Subject Mastery
Understanding, Knowledge and Cognitive
Skills



Personal Abilities
Scholarship, Enquiry and Research (Research-Informed Learning)
demonstrate ability to understand and respond to authentic BSL discourse in accordance with everyday signed pragmatic conventions.
express opinions, make short presentations and discuss spontaneously in BSL with peers and native speakers on a variety of topics
apply a variety of common grammatical structures accurately in order to take part in communicative exchanges and to produce and receive short BSL texts
develop an awareness of linguistic aspects and concepts relating to signed languages and the social and cultural situation of Deaf people.

Industrial, Commercial & Professional Practice






Autonomy, Accountability & Working with Others
develop self-management skills in particular through the effective management of self-study in order to make rapid progress in language learning
demonstrate effective communicative skills applied to a range of situations with BSL users and others
demonstrate ability to gather, analyse and sort information available in self-access materials
demonstrate an awareness of linguistic and cultural practices when engaging with members of the Deaf community
demonstrate ability to gather, analyse and sort information available in self-access materials and to develop self-management skills in particular through the
effective management of self-study in order to make rapid progress in language production
begin to take account of own and others’ roles, responsibilities and contributions in carrying out and evaluating certain tasks
18. Assessment Methods
Method
19. Re-assessment Methods
Duration of Exam
Weighting (%)
Synoptic courses?
Method
(if applicable)
Continuous Assessment
Communication, Numeracy & ICT
Duration of Exam
(if applicable)
100%
BSL Intensive Beginners
2
Re-submission of
coursework / exam as
appropriate
20. Date and Version
Date of Proposal
Date of Approval by
School Committee
Date of
Implementation
Version
Number
2/2
Diet(s)