What is the SLPI NZSL rating scale?
The SLPI: NZSL rating scale is a standard scale for rating sign language communication skills based on highly skilled native signers. Since each Candidate’s performance is compared to this standard scale, not other Candidates, the SLPI: NZSL is a criterion referenced test.
Proficiency levels
Superior description: Able to have a fully shared conversation, with in-depth elaboration for both social and work topics. Very broad sign language vocabulary, near native – like production and fluency, excellent use of sign language grammatical features, and excellent comprehension for normal signing rate.
Advanced Plus description: Exhibits some Superior level skills, but not all and not consistently.
Advanced description: Able to have a generally shared conversation with good, spontaneous elaboration for both social and work topics. Broad sign language vocabulary knowledge and clear, accurate production of signs and fingerspelling at a normal/near-normal rate; occasional mis-productions do not detract from conversational flow. Good use of many sign language grammatical features and comprehension good for normal signing rate.
Intermediate Plus description: Exhibits some Advanced level skills, but not all and not consistently. See below for features of the Intermediate and Advanced level.
Intermediate description: Able to discuss with confidence routine social and work topics within a conversational format with some elaboration. Good knowledge and control of everyday/basic sign language vocabulary with some sign vocabulary errors. Fairly clear signing at a moderate signing rate with some sign errors.
Survival Plus description: Survival Plus falls between Survival and Intermediate. Survival Plus exhibits some Intermediate level skills, but not all and not consistently. See descriptions below for each.
Survival description: Able to discuss basic social and work topics with responses generally 1-to-3 sentences in length. Some knowledge of basic sign language vocabulary with many sign vocabulary and/or sign production errors. Slow-to-moderate signing rate. Fair comprehension for signing produced at a slow-to-moderate rate with some repetition and rephrasing. Basic use of a few sign language grammatical features.
Novice Plus description: Novice Plus falls between Novice and Survival. Novice Plus exhibits some Survival level skills, but not all and not consistently. See descriptions below for each.
Novice description: Able to provide single sign and some short phrase/sentence responses to basic questions signed at a slow-to-moderate pace with frequent repetition and rephrasing. Signs primarily related to everyday work and/or social areas such as basic work – related signs, family members, basic objects, colours, numbers, names of weekdays, and time. Production and fluency characterized by many sign mis-productions and a slow rate with frequent non-standard pauses/hesitations.
No Functional Skills description: (May be) Able to provide short single sign and “primarily” fingerspelled responses to some basic questions signed at a slow rate with extensive repetition and rephrasing.