Irish Sign Language

Qualification aim

This qualification is designed to teach learners to communicate using Irish Sign Language (ISL) on a range of topics that involve simple, everyday language use.

Unit structure

This qualification is divided into three units, each of which can be achieved separately. Learners who are new to ISL should cover ISL101 first, as units ISL102 and ISL103 build on this knowledge. Units ISL102 and ISL103 can be taken in any order.

To achieve the full Level 1 Award in Irish Sign Language, candidates must pass all units.

* There are alternative ISL101 units available. These are a designed for young people, people working in healthcare and frontline staff, and contain language more applicable to these specific learners.

These can be studied on their own. Successful candidates can go on to complete units ISL102 and ISL103 to achieve the full Level 1 Award in Iritish Sign Language.

Suggested duration

The following table details the recommended learning hours required to achieve this qualification.

Guided learning hours include assessment time.

Additional study hours include private study, homework, practice, etc.

Signature approved centres will deliver this qualification over agreed timescales.

Essential requirements

ISL competence standards include requirements for candidates to have sufficient sight, manual dexterity, facial and body movement to produce and receive ISL. It is the responsibility of the centre to explain these requirements before accepting a candidate for this qualification.

Learning resources

Signature Shop

In the Signature online shop you can buy homework DVDs for both ISL level 1 & 2. These DVDs will help you to practice what you have learnt as part of your course, and allow you to prepare for your upcoming assessments.

Qualification aim

This qualification is designed to enable learners to develop an ability to communicate with Deaf people using Irish Sign Language (ISL) in a range of familiar contexts, participating in lengthy and open-ended exchanges. The course will develop functional communication in ISL 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 will be taught a number of regional variations in sign language.

Unit structure

This qualification is divided into three units, each of which can be achieved separately. The units can be done in any order at any time but it is recommended that the content of Unit ISL201 is covered before Unit ISL202 or ISL203.

To achieve the full Level 2 Certificate in British Sign Language, candidates are required to achieve all units.

Suggested duration

The following table details the recommended learning hours required to achieve this qualification.

Guided learning hours include assessment time.

Additional study hours include private study, homework, practice, etc.

Signature approved centres will deliver this qualification over agreed timescales.

Essential requirements

ISL competence standards include requirements for candidates to have sufficient sight, manual dexterity, facial and body movement to produce and receive ISL. It is the responsibility of the centre to explain these requirements before accepting a candidate for this qualification.

Learning resources

Signature Shop

In the Signature online shop you can buy homework DVDs for both ISL level 1 & 2. These DVDs will help you to practice what you have learnt as part of your course, and allow you to prepare for your upcoming assessments.

Qualification aim

Level 3 Certificate in Irish Sign Language (ISL) caters for the learning needs of those who already have competence in ISL at Level 2. Successful learners must be able to demonstrate competence at Level 3 of the UK Occupational Language Standards (CILT, 2010). This means that the learner will be able to understand and use varied ISL in a range of work and social situations.

Unit structure

The qualification is divided into three units each of which will be assessed separately. Although assessments can be taken straight after each unit has been taught, Signature suggests that all assessments are best taken at the end of the course when all teaching is complete.

The unit titles refer to ‘work situations’ but the content and assessment criteria allow for evidence from a wide range of contexts.

Suggested duration

The following table details the recommended learning hours required to achieve this qualification.

Guided learning hours include assessment time.

Additional study hours include private study, homework, practice, etc.

Signature approved centres will deliver this qualification over agreed timescales.

Essential requirements

Candidates must be able to demonstrate competence in ISL at level 2.

It is the responsibility of the centre to ensure that this requirement has been met before accepting a candidate for this qualification.

Qualification aim

Successful completion of this qualification can be used as evidence of the language skills needed, in order to be able to operate independently and at an advanced level in the target language. It is useful for those who work on a regular basis with Deaf people (e.g. social workers, teachers of the Deaf, communicators, voluntary workers, workers within Deaf organisations, schools, etc.), those who aspire to work in these contexts, and those who wish to expand their knowledge and skills in Irish Sign Language.

Unit structure

This qualification is divided into three units, both of which can be achieved separately.

To achieve the full Level 4 Certificate in Irish Sign Language, candidates are required to achieve all units.

Suggested duration

The following table details the recommended learning hours required to achieve this qualification.

Guided learning hours include assessment time.

Additional study hours include private study, homework, practice, etc.

Signature approved centres will deliver this qualification over agreed timescales.

Essential requirements

Candidates must be able to demonstrate competence in ISL at level 3.

It is the responsibility of the centre to ensure that this requirement has been met before accepting a candidate for this qualification.

Signature Level 4 Certificate in Irish Sign Language and Introduction to Interpreting

Qualification aim

Successful completion of this qualification can be used as evidence of the language skills needed in order to be able to operate independently and at an advanced level in the target language. It is useful for those who work on a regular basis with Deaf people (e.g. social workers, teachers of the Deaf, communicators, voluntary workers, workers within Deaf organisations, schools, etc.), those who aspire to work in these contexts, and those who wish to expand their knowledge and skills in Irish Sign Language.

The completion of unit ISL423 can be used as evidence of the interpreting skills needed in order to apply for registration as a trainee interpreter. It is important to note however that this alone does not allow a successful candidate to achieve Trainee Interpreter status. There are a number of other criteria that must also be achieved before applying for registration as a Trainee Interpreter, please refer to the NRCPD website for information on this: www.nrcpd.org.uk.

Unit structure

This qualification is divided into three units, both of which can be achieved separately.

To achieve the full Level 4 Certificate in Irish Sign Language, candidates are required to achieve all units.

Suggested duration

The following table details the recommended learning hours required to achieve this qualification.

Guided learning hours include assessment time.

Additional study hours include private study, homework, practice, etc.

Signature approved centres will deliver this qualification over agreed timescales.

Essential requirements

Candidates must be able to demonstrate competence in ISL at level 3.

It is the responsibility of the centre to ensure that this requirement has been met before accepting a candidate for this qualification.

Qualification aim

Successful completion of this qualification can be used as evidence of the language skills needed in order to be able to operate at a professionally proficient level in the target language. It is useful for those who work professionally with Deaf people (for example teachers and lecturers in ISL, social workers, teachers of the Deaf, trainee interpreters, voluntary workers, workers within Deaf organisations, schools, etc) or those who aspire to work in these contexts.

Unit structure

This qualification is divided into two units, both of which can be achieved separately.

To achieve the full Level 6 NVQ Certificate in Irish Sign Language, candidates are required to achieve both units.

The unit titles refer to ‘work situations’ but the content and assessment criteria allow for evidence from a wide range of contexts.

Suggested duration

The following table details the recommended learning hours required to achieve this qualification.

Guided learning hours include assessment time.

Additional study hours include private study, homework, practice, etc.

Signature approved centres will deliver this qualification over agreed timescales.

Essential requirements

Candidates must be able to demonstrate competence in ISL at level 3.

It is the responsibility of the centre to ensure that this requirement has been met before accepting a candidate for this qualification.