Why study English Language?
A Level English Language is a subject which will absolutely take your breath away. Have you ever thought about the physicality involved with actually producing words? How your brain, tongue, teeth, lips, airways and vocal cords have to operate at such a speed to produce noises that we now recognise as words?
Have you ever considered why people have different accents? How the weather can impact on your dialect? Did you ever consider that gender plays a significant role in how we verbally ‘behave’ within conversation? Or how technology is one of the driving factors of language change?
A level English Language is an absolutely fascinating subject and one which will enthral you from day one until the end.
In Year 12, you will study:
- A bridging unit from GCSE which develops analysis, interpretation and understanding of language levels within vocabulary, grammar, graphology, discourse and pragmatics. If you thought grammar was boring, then this will absolutely astound you how exciting and bewitching it truly is.
- Child Language acquisition study of the early stages of children’s spoken language development. Have you ever considered how children learn to speak? Do we simply repeat what we hear? Or is there more to it? Do all babies around the world undergo the same language stages at the same time? Are all babies’ cries the same regardless of which country they are born into? It is these types of questions which drive the study of this core concept of language.
- Sociolinguistics, including Sociolect, idiolect, dialect in addition to diversity, focusing on occupation; gender; ethnicity.
- Two pieces of coursework: one piece of original writing based on an existing style model. A second piece of language investigation where students individually study and analyse language use which interest them.
In Year 13, you will study:
- Child Language Development within writing and reading. This unit develops your knowledge from year 12 in considering how children learn to write and how they learn to read.
- Language diversity, including: world Englishes; language change; diversity; and computer and media communication. Here, you will investigate how language has changed over the past 1,000 years! As well as how English speakers around the world use grammar and lexis differently and, more importantly, why. And, of course, how technology has significantly adapted and shaped our language.
At the end of Year 13 you will sit two external examinations. You will also submit two pieces of coursework in the December of Year 13.
We consistently strive to enhance the curriculum of English Language through opportunities outside of school. In particular, we endeavour for students to have a residential in an inspirational landscape to stimulate original writing for their coursework.
Additionally, you have the support of a highly knowledgeable and experienced team of staff who will guide you, support you and challenge you, every step of the way!
