English Language

Course summary

This course will allow you to further develop how to analyse texts, building on your skills from GCSE when considering why certain language features have been used by a writer. However, language analysis is just one small part of this course. There are other aspects which will be new to you, meaning that this qualification offers fresh and original learning to every student. In the first year, your new learning will focus on analysing speech. We will consider why we speak in a certain way and why. We will consider our accent and dialect as well as think about whether our age or gender makes a difference in how we communicate. We will also look into the language of occupations, thinking about how our job may influence the way we talk. Studying language in this way will make you think about how you speak in different situations and how you change your language depending on who you are talking to (even if you don’t realise you’re doing it!) As we move into Year 13, we will develop our knowledge and understanding of dialects by studying world Englishes. We will look at how the English language is used globally and why it is one of the most spoken languages in the world. We will also study the history of our language over time, looking into how things such as invasions have influenced the words we use today. Finally, your new learning will be completed by the study of child language acquisition. In this part of the course, we will look at how children learn to speak and then to write. We will track the progress of children from their original cooing and babbling stages right up to speaking fluently. This topic gives us a fascinating insight into how children learn to communicate and will consider the Nature vs Nurture argument. In other words, are children born with a natural ability to speak or do they need people around them to make it possible? Have a think about that question - which one do you think is the best argument? As well as the examined unit which covers all of the above, 20% of your final grade is awarded from your Non-examined Assessment (NEA). For this, you will produce a piece of Original Writing (of your choice) and carry out a language investigation into an area of language. So there is an opportunity to show your creative side too as well as being able to write academically. If you enjoyed GCSE English Language then you are very suitable for this course as you will enhance and develop your skills by moving into A level. Remember though that most of the course is new and there are links in the content to both Psychology and Sociology as both of these subjects also deal with human behaviour. A level of English Language will allow you to move on to a range of degree courses. The skills you will learn in evaluating key ideas and opinions can be developed in other areas and subjects. Also, the skills you will learn in writing a report of your findings can be transferred to any degree subject. Some students choose this subject based on their career aspirations with many enjoying the focus on child language acquisition due to their wish to go into, for example, primary teaching.