This qualification is designed to enable learners to develop an ability to communicate with Deaf people using British Sign Language (BSL) in a range of familiar contexts, participating in longer and more open-ended exchanges than at Level 1. This course will develop functional communication in BSL about a range of real life, routine, and daily experiences. The learner will be able to deal with most routine language tasks and have sufficient grasp of grammar to cope with some non routine tasks. Learners should be taught a number of regional variations in sign language.
The course consists of three units:
 BSL 201 – Receptive Skills
 BSL 201 – Productive Skills
 BSL 203 – Conversational Skills
The qualification has four themes:
 Theme 1 – MANDATORY:
 Theme 2 – OPTIONAL:
 Theme 3 – OPTIONAL:
 Theme 4 – OPTIONAL:
Everyday Conversation
Eating & Drinking
Spending & Shopping
Travel & Holidays
Candidates are required to study Theme 1 and two of the three remaining optional themes. These themes will be chosen by the tutor.
Candidates will be assessed on Theme 1 in Unit 201. Themes 2, 3 & 4 include topics within Theme 1 and candidates will be assessed on the chosen themes in Units 202 & 203. Unit 202 & 203 assessment will be based on different themes.
To achieve the Level 2 Certificate in British Sign Language qualification, candidates must successfully pass all three unit assessments.
Progression Routes
DeafSolutions3 does offer Pre BSL Level 3 and BSL Level 3NVQ
Deaf Solutions 3 © L2 1

(QCA Unit Accreditation Number: Y/500/2761)
Unit Overview
To achieve this unit, learners must show their understanding of routine language in everyday situations. They can, for example:
 understand routine exchanges of information about their area of work/social life;
 understand step-by-step instructions;
 understand straightforward advice about everyday work/social matter;
 Follow straightforward directions.
Learners can understand specific details from, and the general meaning of, a range of information presented in sign language. They can understand standard signing, delivered at normal speed, with facial expressions, body language, etc.
When competent at this level, learners can:
 select specific personal, social or work-related details from routine statements, descriptions or explanations, which combine simple structures and set phrases;
 understand instructions or advice expressed through combinations of simple structures and set phrases;
 Understand the main points of routine statements, explanations or descriptions.
Learning Outcome
By the end of the course, learners should be able to:
 Understand information, conveyed by the Tutor, correctly and accurately.
 Correctly answer open questions.
 Recognise finger spelling and acknowledge this without the need for clarification or repetition.
Deaf Solutions 3 © L2 2

(QCA Unit Accreditation Number D/500/2762)
Unit Overview
To achieve this unit learners show that they can use routine language in everyday situations. They can, for example:
 give brief descriptions of personal, social or work circumstances;
 Give a short presentation.
Their language is generally accurate and they make only minor grammatical errors, which do not obscure their meaning. If they do not have the vocabulary, they find alternative ways of expressing information.
Unit Aim
When competent at this level, learners can:
 use and combine simple structures and set phrases to provide personal, social or work information, instructions or advice;
 Use signing conventions appropriate to the context.
By the end of the course, learners should be able to:
 Use a wide range of vocabulary without the need to use English lip pattern.
 Use signs, instead of finger spelling the sign to use the correct context.
 Ask appropriate questions relevant to the conversation, such as open questions, either/or questions, yes/no questions and question tags.
 Fingerspell correctly and appropriately without mouthing each letter or changing hands.
 Sign without the need to use the English structure.
 Use non-manual features including the head, face, eyes and eyebrows and should be able to give important meaning to manual signs. Nonmanual features are important in descriptions, emotions, modifications, question forms and negotiation.
Deaf Solutions 3 © L2 3

( QCA Unit Accreditation Number: H/500/2763)
This unit consolidates the learner’s receptive and productive skills, which will normally have been assessed in Units 201 and 202. It allows the candidate to put both skills together to demonstrate that they can understand and exchange information during a routine conversation with a BSL user.
Candidates will also demonstrate the knowledge and skills detailed on the next page and the unit aims of Units 201 and 202.
A) Understanding routine conversations.
When competent at this level, learners can:
 understand routine questions and responses about everyday personal, social or work related topics;
 understand requests or views expressed through combinations of simple structures and set phrases;
 Understand the main points of routine conversations.
B) Take part in routine conversations.
When competent at this level, learner can:
 use and combine simple structures and common expressions to initiate and maintain contact with others;
 use routine questions and responses to exchange information about everyday personal, social or work matter;
 use and combine simple structures and set phrases to make requests, express views and/or clarify understanding;
 Use signed conventions appropriate to the context.
By the end of the course, learners should be able to:
 Maintain a conversation without it being dominated by one person.
 Take-turns appropriately during a conversation in order to maintain it.
Deaf Solutions 3 © L2 4

Learners can:
1.
Understand and use vocabulary in everyday use relevant to the context in which you are using the language, and some common alternatives.
2.
Understand and use set phrases in a fixed form expressing polite convention (e.g. forms of address, getting, leave-taking) and feelings
(e.g. gratitude, regret, apology, annoyance).
3.
Understand and use routine numerical data (e.g. quantity, prices, and dates).
4.
Understand and use the infinitive (or basic verb root) form and the use of this with other verbs, where appropriate to the language.
5.
Understand and use simple ways of expressing past, present and future tenses, where appropriate to the language.
6.
Understand and use sentence structures for making positive and negative statements.
7.
Understand and use commonly used positive and negative question forms.
8.
Understand and use the imperative form.
9.
Understand and use commonly used conditional forms, where appropriate to the language.
10.
Use reference sources (e.g. glossaries, dictionaries) to clarify and confirm meanings necessary.
To achieve the Level 2 Certificate in British Sign Language qualification, candidates must successfully pass all three unit assessments.
Deaf Solutions 3 © L2 5

Learners must be registered for assessment with Signature in advance.
Assessment dates will be decided by the tutor. Once learners and the assessment dates have been registered, it is vital that you attend, as any alterations will incur an additional charge.
Learners will receive a letter during the first 6 weeks of the course, outlining the proposed assessment dates, and a further letter to confirm the dates once registered with Signature.
Unit BSL 201
Candidates will watch a DVD based on a narrative and answer 12 multiple choice questions in total using an assessment paper.
Assessment procedure:
The narrative will be told in 4 sections with 3 questions asked after each section.
1.
The narrative will be told in whole, then
2.
Section 1 of the narrative will be signed.
3.
The first of the 3 questions for that section will be signed.
4.
The 4 multiple choice answers will be signed.
5.
The 4 multiple choice answers will then be repeated.
6.
There will be a timed pause on the DVD for candidates to tick their answer.
7.
The DVD will then go on to ask the second question in the section, followed by steps 4-6.
8.
The DVD will then go on to the third question in that section, followed by steps 4-6.
The same sequence will be repeated for the remaining 3 sections.
The pass mark for the assessment is 75%, i.e. 9/12
Candidates will sign a presentation on video.
Assessment Procedure:
 Candidates will have a choice of 3 titles related to the theme.
 Candidates will be given 20 minutes to prepare for the presentation.
 Candidates may be escorted to a chair or spot to stand on.
Deaf Solutions 3 © L2 6

 The invigilator will switch the camera on.
 The candidates will fingerspell their name to the camera, which should be given fully and clearly. This will not be marked.
 The candidate will sign the title, not the theme, which should be given fully and clearly. This will not be marked.
 The presentation will start. The time of the assessment also starts.
 The presentation should be between 3-4 minutes in length.
 Candidates will fail if the assessment is less than 3 minutes in length.
 Assessments over 3 minutes will not be marked from 5 minutes onwards.
 The invigilator will time the presentation and ask the candidate to stop after 5 minutes (but not before 3 minutes) if the candidate has not already done so.
NB. Candidates can take written notes into the assessment room but it may affect the fluency of the presentation.
The pass mark for the assessment is 50%, i.e. 15/30
The tutor will conduct a conversation with the candidate.
Assessment procedure:
 Candidates will have a choice of 3 titles related to the theme.
 Candidates will be given 10 minutes to prepare for the conversation.
 Candidates may be escorted to the assessment room.
 The invigilator will switch the camera on.
 The tutor will have a brief ‘warm-up’ with the candidate, i.e. how are you?
 The tutor will introduce themselves.
 The candidates will fingerspell their name to the camera, which should be given fully and clearly. This will not be marked.
 The candidate will sign the title, not the theme, which should be given fully and clearly. This will not be marked.
 The conversation will start. The time of the assessment also starts.
 The conversation should be between 6-7 minutes in length.
 Candidates will fail if the assessment is less than 6 minutes in length.
 Assessments over 7 minutes will not be marked from 7 minutes onwards.
Deaf Solutions 3 © L2 7

 The tutor will draw the conversation to an end at an appropriate time at no less that 6 minutes and no more than 7 minutes.
The pass mark for the assessment is 50% i.e.15/30
Deaf Solutions 3 © L2 8