Course aims

This course provides opportunities for learners to develop their appreciation of different areas of language study, both spoken and written. You will explore a wide range of texts to improve your skills in using language, applying analytical frameworks and learning more about how English works in a variety of contexts.

Entry requirements

You will require grade 6 in preferably English language and English literature, or combined English in addition to the general entry requirements.

Course content

Language and the individual

This aims to introduce learners to language study, exploring textual variety. This area of study introduces learners to methods of language analysis to explore concepts of audience, purpose, genre, mode and representation.

Language varieties

This aims to allow learners to explore language variety. Learners will study the key concepts of audience, purpose, genre and mode and will explore language in its wider social and geographical contexts. Learners will study varieties of English within the British Isles. This also requires learners to study social attitudes to, and debates about, language diversity.

Language, the individual and society

This aims to introduce learners to language study, exploring textual variety and children’s language development. This area of study introduces learners to methods of language analysis to explore concepts of audience, purpose, genre, mode and representation. It also introduces learners to the study of children’s language development, exploring how children learn language and how they are able to understand and express themselves through language.

Language diversity and change

This aims to allow learners to explore language diversity and change over time. Learners will study the key concepts of audience, purpose, genre and mode and will explore language in its wider social, geographical and temporal contexts. They will explore processes of language change. This part of the subject content also requires learners to study social attitudes to, and debates about, language diversity and change.

Language in action

This aims to allow learners to explore and analyse language data independently and develop and reflect upon their own writing expertise.

It requires learners to carry out two different kinds of individual research:

• A language investigation (2,000 words excluding data)
• A piece of original writing and commentary (750 words each).

Learners can choose to pursue a study of spoken, written or multimodal data, or a mixture of text types, demonstrating knowledge in areas of individual interest.

Course assessment

You will be assessed by examinations and coursework.

Materials

These will be supplied by the tutor.

Progress

Higher Education or employment. English Language combines well with other subjects in relation to university courses as well as being valued by employers. Career options: English as a subject can lead to a variety of career pathways including teaching, journalism, business, management and law.