Level 4 certificate in BSL
This course has now started
- Course Code: QB402
- Dates: 03/10/23 - 05/03/24
- Time: 10:00 - 16:00
- Taught: Tue, Daytime
- Duration: 18 sessions (over 23 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Emma Iliffe
Course Code: QB402
Duration: 18 sessions (over 23 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Center for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
This qualification is designed to enable you to communicate with Deaf people in BSL at level 4 on a range of topics for those who work or want to work with deaf people and for those who wish to expand their knowledge and skills in BSL.
What will we cover?
You will learn productive, receptive and conversational skills at an advanced level in a wide range of topics in work and social situations including
• Employment and Business
• Education
• Health and Wellbeing
• Society and Politics
• Science and Technology
• Media and Culture.
• Sign Linguistics knowledge.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Use receptive and productive skills to engage in extended social interaction
• Maintain fluency, grammatical accuracy and coherence in sustained contributions containing extended language
• Understand sustained signed communication containing extended language
To achieve the full level 4 certificate in BSL you will sit 3 formative assessments. These will be informal discussions and will be marked and held internally used as evidence.
Following this you will sit 3 units assessments which will be externally assessed by Signature’s assessors, these are a formal presentation, informal conversation, and receptive skills assessment.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is designed for those who already have completed Signature's BSL level 3 examination or equivalent and have been recommended to level 4 in BSL.
You will be required to have basic literacy skills, as you will be asked to write some self-evaluations and notes as part of the preparation for the presentations and Sign Language assessments, as well as read instructions for exercises and assessment marking criteria.
An interview will be required before enrolment, to assess your signing. You will need to bring a copy of your Level 3 in BSL certificate on the interview day.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Teaching methods may include
- classroom interaction
- pair / group work
- role play / simulation
- presentation
- debate
- group discussion
- watching video clip for receptive skills
- research
- informal discussion
- 1 to 1 feedback
Utilising our resources and materials uploaded onto Google Classroom – accessed through your student account.
You will have access to Google Drive for your e-portfolio.
A considerable amount of additional home study will be required.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Examination fees are included in the course fees.
You will need a smartphone for filming, research and access to Google Classroom.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
You can apply to join the Pre-Level 6 course or Level 6 in BSL course.
We also provide individual 1-1 coaching for those who would find this helpful.
Emma has been teaching for more than 25 years. At City Lit she teaches Level 3 and Level 4 in BSL, and has previously taught BSL Level 1 and 2. She has also delivered National Curriculum BSL to Deaf children from nursery age to year 6 at Blanche Nevile School in North London. She is chair of the Association of British Sign Language Teachers and Assessors (ABSLTA). She established the ‘BSL News’ Facebook group, currently with nearly 5,000 followers! Emma has taught BSL, from Introduction to Level 4 at a range of settings and organisations, including: Chicken Shed Theatre, Blanche Nevile School and City Lit. In 2018, Emma was chosen by Signature as their ‘Excellent Teacher’ in their Annual Awards! She was also nominated as one of the top teachers working in Haringey Education Authority in 2016. Emma was the staff representative on the board of Governors at Blanche Nevile School. Emma has one Deaf and one hearing sister and has links to other Deaf organisations through her parent. Her mother, Winifred Tumim was chair of the board of trustees of RNID (now Action on Hearing Loss) and CACDP (previous name for Signature) during the 1980s and 1990s.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
