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English Language
A Level English Language
About A Level English Language
Entry Requirements: A minimum grade 6 in GCSE English Language.
If, in addition you:
- are interested in the way that language works in the world around us;
- would like to consider issues of language diversity and change;
- find the way that children acquire language fascinating;
- enjoy producing your own original work;
- enjoy lively discussion and debate;
- are able to engage in independent research;
then this may well be the course for you!
Course Content and Assessment:
Specification – AQA
A Level Paper 1: Language, the Individual and Society – This is an introduction to language study generally and involves learning how to apply linguistic methods to a wide variety of different types of text. Concepts of mode, genre, purpose, audience and representation are explored. The second part of this paper requires students to study child language development and explores how children learn language and are able to understand and express themselves through it.
A Level Paper 2: Language Diversity and Change – Language is studied in its wider social and geographical context. This includes a study of social attitudes to and debates about language diversity. Areas studied include: language and gender, language and occupational groups, language and social groups, language and ethnicity. This paper also looks at how language changes over time. The way in which and reasons why language has changed and continues to change are explored, as are debates surrounding that language change.
In addition, the course has a non-exam assessment component: Language in Action.
This centres around the production of a piece of original writing and commentary, and language investigation totalling 3,500 words.
English Language is a vibrant and lively course which is entirely relevant to the modern world and
which complements a wide variety of other courses including Sociology, Psychology and English Literature.
Higher Educations and Careers:
Studying English Language at A Level opens many doors. It is particularly pertinent to any career in which communication plays a key role. Such careers are wide-ranging and might include, for example, those in the media, in law, in teaching, in speech therapy.
