A Level English Language

About the course

Do you have an interest in how language is used and develops over time? Are
you interested in how language is tailored to different audiences, genres and
purposes?

Do you want to develop skills in writing effectively and with purpose
for a range of different careers from advertising and publishing to legal
professions or as a writer? Do you want to understand how people use language
differently due to social and cultural factors?

If the answer to any of the
above is a ‘yes’, then English Language maybe the subject for you!</P>
<P>English Language is the study of language in the world around us.

You will
learn to analyse how language is structured on a word, clause, and sentence
basis and how it is tailored for different purposes including advertisements,
social media, and journalism.

It equips you with the skills needed to recognise
how we are influenced by the opinions of those with different motivations. It
also explores how we develop language from an early age and the social and
biological factors that influence this and how the language develops over
time.</P>
<P>English Language is taught from the AQA board. You will sit a full A Level
exam at the end of the second year. There are two examination papers, as well as
a Non-Examined Assessment (coursework) that you will complete in the second year
this includes a piece of original writing and an investigation. This is worth
20% of the overall grade.</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>

Course content

Year 1
In the first year two units are studied:

1. ‘Language and the Individual’: You will explore a range of texts to understand how individuals and social groups are represented. You will also examine how meanings are created through written and spoken language and identify the key linguistic terminology needed to give you a foundation for the English Language course.

2. ‘Language Diversity’: You will consider how and why groups and individuals use language differently. You will examine the impact that identities, such as social class, gender, age and region, have on the way people use language. You will also study how to craft writing for both academic and non-specialist audiences through exploring a range of different articles and essays.

Year 2
In the second year, two further units are taught, plus you will also complete a Non-Examined Assessment (coursework) unit.

3. ‘Language Change’: Here you will study the developments of the English language. You will look at a wide range of historical and contemporary texts and focus on what led to the change of language, whilst considering reaction to these changes.

4. ‘Child Language Acquistion’: In this unit you will explore children development of written and spoken language. You will consider the functions of child language use, key stages of progression of language production and different theories related to child language development.

5. ‘Language in Action’: This unit is the Non-Examined Assessment (coursework) unit which is worth 20% of the overall grade. You will produce a language investigation on an area of interest. This could range from representations of certain social groups in the media to the way masculinity is represented by film characters. The second part of the Non-Examined Assessment requires you to create a piece of original writing and a supplementary commentary to justify your writing choices.

What do I need to join

A minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4 and above, including and Maths. A grade 5 in GCSE English Language.

What can I do next

English Language is one of the most transferable A Levels and can be combined with any subject. Popular subject combinations with this subject include Sociology, Law, Film, Media Studies, and Psychology.

You can go on to study degrees in English Language, Linguistics, Law, Sociology and Education. Learners who study English Language might be interested in a career in journalism, marketing and sales, education, paediatrics (if combined with the sciences) or any career where writing is important.