English Language A Level

Overview

English Language is a fascinating A Level that is VERY different from what you’ve been doing for GCSE English. We take a linguistic approach, underpinned by theory, to how people use language in everyday life, through studying conversations, short written texts and social media.

Questions we explore include: • How and why has English evolved over 500 years? • How do babies learn to talk and what are the best ways to teach children how to read and write? How and why does language vary across the UK and the World? • Is there a single ‘correct’ way of using language? Why do we use different varieties and how does this relate to our sense of self or group identity?

The course begins with a thorough grounding in the different components of language, such as phonology (sounds), semantics (meanings), and grammar, before moving on to explore these in relation to the broader topics above.

In the second year you will be supported to conduct an independent language investigation, acquiring important research skills for the future. The creative writing coursework offers you free choice to develop your own original writing in whichever genre you prefer.

Entry Requirements

Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above to include a grade 5 for GCSE English Language and / orEnglish Literature.

Structure

On this A Level, you will study the following:Exam Paper 1: Language VariationA – Individual Variation (Analysing language use in relation to gender, age, ethnicity and other social identities)B – Variation over Time (Analysing and comparing language use in texts from 1550 to the present day)Exam Paper 2:

Child LanguageExam Paper 3: Investigating Language (Topic areas: Global English and Regional Language Variation)Non-Examined Assessment: Crafting Language (Producing 2 pieces of writing in the genre of your choice and a commentary on the process)

Teaching & Learning

You will experience a range of teaching and learning methods which include, mini-lectures, independent research projects, discussion and debate, presentations of your own, reading and note-taking. We make use of Google Classroom apps to enable collaborative learning.

Assessment is through a mix of essay writing, journalistic writing, data gathering and analysis and report-writing.There will be quizzes and games to help you get on top of the terminology.

We will be offering opportunities to attend study days and conferences organised by the British Library, the English & Media Centre and various universities.

Assessment

There are three exams at the end of the second year (80%) and one piece of non-examinedassessment (20%) which is embedded within the two-year course.

Progression

This course can lead on to a wide range of career pathways including teaching,copywriting, advertising, public relations, publishing, journalism, speech therapy, curatingand law.

This course is accepted by all university institutions for entry onto undergraduatecourses. English Language combines well with any subject but is particularly complementaryto Sociology, Psychology, Politics, Law, Creative Writing, English Literature, Media and any Modern Foreign Language.

The majority of our students progress on to Higher Education, studying a wide variety of subjects. Related degrees our students have gone on to study include Law, International Business,  Marketing, Speech & Language Therapy, English Literature, Linguistics, and Creative Writing.