AS English Language

English Language

English Language is a popular and challenging subject. It is quite different from GCSE English. It is a fascinating subject for students who are interested in investigating our language.

The course covers a wide range of varieties of English including:

· advertising language
· children's speech
· conversation
· regional or class accents and dialects
· newspaper style
· radio and TV commentary
· literary style.

We have a very good pass rate in this subject. Our AS and A level students regularly achieve 100% pass rates.

What will I Learn on this Course?

In class, through your research, and through homeworks, you will learn;

· how to analyse and describe different varieties of English
· how English grammar works
· how to study speech
· how and why English varies in speech and writing
· how and why it varies in different parts of the English speaking world
· how and why some people feel so strongly about other people's language
· how to reshape material for different audiences
· how to improve your own English.

Course Content and Method of Assessment

AS

Unit 1: Language Today: Students study a wide range of contemporary language and explore how language choices reflect the identity of the user, and how language varies in context. (External examination)

Unit 2: Exploring the Writing Process: Students demonstrate their skills in writing for specific genres, audiences and purposes. They will produce two pieces of writing, one for a listening and one for a reading audience. (Coursework)

A2/A level

Unit 3: Language Diversity & Children's Language Development: Students will learn about the origin, development and variation of language; how and why English has changed over time; the development of English as a world language and the development of children's spoken and written language.
(External examination)

Unit 4: Investigations: Independent research. Students identify an aspect of language of interest to them, decide on a focus for their investigation, collect data, analyse it and draw relevant conclusions relating to their focus. Topics could include the analysis of writing by young children, the language of humour, the persuasive language of politicians, historical texts, the language of electronic communications etc. (Coursework)

After the Course

English Language is a respected, long established A level qualification, preparing students well for Higher Education or employment. There are many linguistic courses in e.g. Law, Communication, Media, Journalism, Sociology, Psychology, and the Humanities and Arts in general. You will have developed a wide variety of transferable skills on the course. It is also a very valuable qualification for the caring professions, particularly primary teaching.

Subject Combinations

English Language combines well with most AS/A2 subjects. It combines particularly well with and supports study in English Literature, Media, Film, Communication Studies, Theatre Studies, History, Sociology, French, German and Critical Thinking.

Entry Requirements

College entry requirements apply. Students should have a grade C or above in GCSE English