Manage complex social interactions, understanding and using all culturally appropriate signed and non-verbal turn-taking conventions

Understand the importance of cultural backgrounds and their influence on communication styles.
Recognise different cultural norms, such as direct versus indirect communication, cultural perception of personal space and importance of body language.
Identify and employ culturally sensitive sign language practices.
Assess the impact of cultural understandings and misunderstandings in the course of social interactions.

Identify the roles and responsibilities of each person involved in a conversation in British Sign Language (BSL).
Facilitate smooth transition of turns by using traditional, widely accepted turn-taking cues.
Understand the cultural and situational implications of non-verbal cues like facial expressions, eye movement, body positioning and timing.
Positively contribute to a conversation by maintaining appropriate flow and rhythm.
Define strategies to manage interruptions, overlaps and simultaneous sign language.

Distinguish between various types of social interactions, such as casual conversations, formal discussions, negotiations or debates.
Develop skills to handle complex subject matters, like controversial topics or emotionally charged interactions.
Employ active listening to understand, summarise and respond to other people’s points of view effectively.
Utilise analytical skills to identify underlying meanings or motives in interactions.
Adapt to unexpected elements in a conversation, like rapid topic changes, by using quick thinking and effective response strategies.

Identify how different contexts can affect the choice of signs and signing style.
Assess the role of contextual factors, like location, relationship between participants, purpose of communication, on interaction strategies.
Select suitable sign language vocabulary and syntax according to the contextual demands.
Recognise the importance of adapting to different situational contexts, for example professional versus personal settings, public versus private spaces, or one-on-one versus group interactions.