English is an exciting subject and we hope you’ll enjoy the lively debate and discussion. Through studying English language A level, you’ll gain a great deal of academic prowess and the development of transferable skills. Language is one of the key features that define us as human beings and, on this course, you will explore how it works: how we learn language from infancy, how we use it as a social tool, and how it has evolved over time. You will learn about the origins of English, the various forms it has taken over the centuries, how it has spread across the globe and what it might look like in the future. You will also study the research of theorists in areas of language such as speech and gender, accents and dialects, and the language of technology. You will learn about grammar in order to explore the ways writers use language to communicate meaning in texts ranging from blogs to 17th-century journalism. You will be taught to think analytically, synthesise information, and develop communication skills that are a prerequisite for a wide range of career paths. The important skill of learning to write coherently and critically will aid you in your other subjects and is invaluable in higher education. The NEA (coursework) unit will allow you to write creatively and to undertake an investigation into an aspect of the course you have enjoyed.