Unit of competency

Modification History

Not applicable.

Application

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to communicate in Auslan with a degree of fluency and spontaneity across a wide range of subjects. Communication may take place in any situation including personal, public, social, employment and educational domains.

This unit aligns to an adaptation, for sign languages, of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), B2: Independent User.

This is an Auslan signer who can:

• understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his or her field of specialisation
• interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with proficient or native signers quite possible without strain for either party
• produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Pre-requisite Unit

Nil

Competency Field

Languages other than English - Auslan

Elements and Performance Criteria

Foundation Skills

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency

Unit Mapping Information

No equivalent unit

Links

Companion Volume Implementation Guide - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=bebbece7-ff48-4d2c-8876-405679019623

Assessment requirements

Modification History

Not applicable.

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, and:

• watch two different recorded complex Auslan texts about abstract and concrete subjects, delivered in standard or local sign and, for each text, explain the overall content, three points about the information signed and the signer’s mood and tone
• watch two different live conversations between proficient or native signers about abstract and concrete subjects and, for each conversation, describe the overall content and three points raised
• produce two different prepared Auslan texts which contain vocabulary of an abstract and concrete nature, to provide information about abstract and concrete subjects involving opinions and options:

• participate in one Auslan exchange to deliver one of the prepared texts to one other signer; lasting for a maximum of six minutes
• participate in one different Auslan exchange to simultaneously deliver the other prepared text to three other signers; lasting for a maximum of six minutes

• participate in one complex spontaneous Auslan exchange with one other signer lasting for a maximum of six minutes
• participate in one different complex spontaneous Auslan exchange with three other signers simultaneously, lasting for a maximum of six minutes
• during the above two spontaneous exchanges, engage in conversation about a range of topics that involve both abstract and concrete issues involving opinion and options
• during all of the above exchanges:

• cumulatively use the range of Auslan linguistic features listed in Knowledge Evidence, with consistency
• use fingerspelling appropriately in conversation, produce uncommon words smoothly almost all the time and vary fingerspelling speed
• show interactional strategies such as nodding, responding signs (back channels) and facial expression to show interest, attention and attitude
• vary signing speed and style
• use a broad range of technical signs
• only sometimes use depicting signs near or with other complex features such as role shift (constructed action) and gesture
• recognise opportunities for role shift (constructed action) independently
• keep track of a few referents in space and refer back to them
• produce texts which are cohesive overall, and incorporate role shifting (constructed action) and depicting signs when appropriate
• show limited inappropriate influence from English (word order and mouthing) when using Auslan.

During all exchanges, the individual can:

• be allowed to comprehend Auslan texts deliberately delivered at a little below conversational pace
• ask the signer to repeat signed text once, twice when fingerspelling is involved
• show idiosyncrasies in sign production but only those that do not obscure the meaning
• produce signs, although generally well-formed, which may show occasional confusion between signs of similar hand, orientation, location and movement (HOLM) parameters
• make some mistakes when producing depicting signs with complex locations and movements
• make some mistakes in sentence production and inconsistently use non-manual features (NMFs) in unplanned discourse
• have difficulty in handling, and inconsistently use, reported speech in role shift
• pause, hesitate and repeat features, but only infrequently
• rely on fingerspelling of some English words, some gestures, and other visual communication methods to communicate, but only infrequently.

Knowledge Evidence

Knowledge of Auslan linguistic features required to converse in Auslan at an independent user level, as described in elements and performance criteria of this unit:

• Auslan signs:

• a broad range of Auslan signs including signs for things of a technical, abstract and concrete nature

• fingerspelling:

• how and why fingerspelling is typically used by independent signers
• when short English phrases may be fingerspelled
• common fingerspelled names and words for technical, abstract and concrete subjects

• numbers:

• common signs that incorporate numbers (IN-3-YEARS etc.) and the variable conventions for different forms of signs

• time, tense and aspect:

• timelines used in complex forms; deictic, anaphoric, and sequence timelines
• how to modify a range of verbs for complex aspect

• depicting signs:

• a broad range of entity depicting signs for objects with complex locations and movements
• a broad range of handling depicting signs for objects of most shapes with a range of movements such as giving, putting, touching and taking
• size and shape specifiers (SASSes) for a broad range of objects with two and three dimensional shapes
• how to use enactment instead of depicting signs

• role shift (constructed action):

• features of role shift (constructed action) used by independent users of Auslan:

• pronouns to use when a signer is "in character”
• use of space and gaze to signal when in role shift (constructed action) and when narrator
• reported speech in role shift

• use of space:

• indexing for pronouns or locations for cohesion within and across sentences
• how to flexibly modify a broad range of indicating verbs for actor and undergoer

• sentence structure and cohesion:

• how to structure statements in the affirmative or negative using various word orders, appropriate verbs and NMFs
• a variety of sentence types and structures using topicalisation, imperatives, conditionals using signs (IF, SUPPOSE etc.) and NMFs, a broad range of conjunctions, list buoys for complex lists and NMFs
• how to form rhetorical questions including correct use of NMFs

• discourse management:

• strategies to modify own signing to communicate a message if other signers indicate that they do not understand
• methods used to manage turn-taking in interaction
• NMFs and other modifications such as choice of sign or phrasing used to indicate politeness and match the register of the discourse.

Assessment Conditions

Auslan skills can be demonstrated:

• face-to face or via electronic media
• via filmed media.

Rooms used for assessment must be sufficiently quiet and have appropriate lighting and seating configuration to allow optimum visual and aural access for Auslan exchanges.

Assessment must ensure use of:

• recorded Auslan texts about abstract and concrete subjects, delivered in standard or local sign
• proficient Deaf signers who participate in Auslan exchanges.

Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations requirements for assessors, and hold a qualification or Statement of Attainment which includes the unit PSPLAN012 Converse in Auslan at a proficient user level or demonstrate competency equivalent to that unit, and provide evidence of at least five years’ experience in interacting with the Deaf community.

Links

Companion Volume Implementation Guide - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=bebbece7-ff48-4d2c-8876-405679019623