English Language

Course summary

We follow the AQA English Language specification which builds on GCSE and introduces new areas like sociolinguistics. The content and approach examine new, more varied aspects of the subject including accent and dialect, gender and World English. We also analyse a range of texts, identify language features in written and spoken text and explore various types of language, with consideration of audience, purpose and genre for different social groups. In the second year of the course there is a focus on analysis of language on varied topics and we introduce psycholinguistics. There is exploration of how children acquire language and of how language changes over time according to region and context, along with attitudes to this change. Students also develop their own academic and analytical writing skills and complete an investigation of an aspect of language in which they have a personal interest, along with a piece of creative writing with commentary. Year One: - Paper One: Language and the Individual Assessing textual variations and representations and methods of language analysis. - Paper Two: Language Varieties Assessing language diversity, writing skills and methods of language analysis. Year Two: - Paper One: Language, the Individual and Society Assessing textual variations and representations, children’s language development and methods of language analysis. - Paper Two: Language Diversity and Change Assessing language diversity and change, language discourses, writing skills and methods of language analysis. Language in Action: Non-examined assessment assessing a language investigation, original writing and methods of language analysis.