English Language Course Information
At AS and A level, English Language students
discover how to analyse texts and spoken
conversations in order to reveal their true
messages. Written texts include newspaper and
magazine articles, adverts and web pages.
Conversations might be set in formal or informal
contexts and between peers or family members, for
example. A range of topics is also studied; these
include child language acquisition and language
change. The study of English grammar is an
essential part of the course.
Who does it suit? Students who enjoy creative writing and have an enquiring mind. Ideally, students should read tabloid and broadsheet newspapers and have an interest in current affairs. Texts do not always mean what they say and Linguistics students have the desire to ‘scratch beneath the surface’. Lessons involve individual and group work, role plays and at A2 the development of an individual language investigation. Students must be self-motivated and keen to make linguistic discoveries of their own.
AQA
The specification we follow is the AQA syllabus A.
Unit 1 Seeing Through Language: an examined unit which involves analysis of a written text on Language and Mode (spoken, written or electronic) and an essay on either Child Language Acquisition or Children’s first writing.
Unit 2 Representation and Language: this is a coursework unit and our students analyse 3-5 texts of their choice, discussing how an individual or institution is represented through writing. They also create a piece of their own representing a social group or individual.
Unit 3 Language Investigation: This is another coursework option. Students investigate a field of linguistics chosen by themselves. They research theories and then relate them to their own primary study. Recent successful investigations have covered such topics as sports reporting, political correctness and the use of slang and taboo language.
Unit 4 Language Variation and Change: A unit which covers the development of English from Renaissance times to the present. Students have to analyse a text from a different time and write an essay on either language variation (accent and dialect) or language change over the past 50 years.
Unit 5 Language Debates: a synoptic paper which asks students to draw from all of their AS and A2 studies. The topic is one of those studied at either AS or A2 level and students are expected to be able to engage with current linguistic debate. They have to analyse a recent linguistic text and write a creative piece of their own which discusses the debate covered in the exam paper.
A level English Language has grown in popularity over the last few years and our results are very pleasing. Last year we had a 100% success rate with 90% of our students gaining A or B grades. Students went on to study Linguistics at Edinburgh University and Kings College, London.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Who does it suit? Students who enjoy creative writing and have an enquiring mind. Ideally, students should read tabloid and broadsheet newspapers and have an interest in current affairs. Texts do not always mean what they say and Linguistics students have the desire to ‘scratch beneath the surface’. Lessons involve individual and group work, role plays and at A2 the development of an individual language investigation. Students must be self-motivated and keen to make linguistic discoveries of their own.
EXAMINATION BOARD
AQA
ASSESSMENT
AS Level
The specification we follow is the AQA syllabus A.
Unit 1 Seeing Through Language: an examined unit which involves analysis of a written text on Language and Mode (spoken, written or electronic) and an essay on either Child Language Acquisition or Children’s first writing.
Unit 2 Representation and Language: this is a coursework unit and our students analyse 3-5 texts of their choice, discussing how an individual or institution is represented through writing. They also create a piece of their own representing a social group or individual.
A2 Level
Unit 3 Language Investigation: This is another coursework option. Students investigate a field of linguistics chosen by themselves. They research theories and then relate them to their own primary study. Recent successful investigations have covered such topics as sports reporting, political correctness and the use of slang and taboo language.
Unit 4 Language Variation and Change: A unit which covers the development of English from Renaissance times to the present. Students have to analyse a text from a different time and write an essay on either language variation (accent and dialect) or language change over the past 50 years.
Unit 5 Language Debates: a synoptic paper which asks students to draw from all of their AS and A2 studies. The topic is one of those studied at either AS or A2 level and students are expected to be able to engage with current linguistic debate. They have to analyse a recent linguistic text and write a creative piece of their own which discusses the debate covered in the exam paper.
Results
A level English Language has grown in popularity over the last few years and our results are very pleasing. Last year we had a 100% success rate with 90% of our students gaining A or B grades. Students went on to study Linguistics at Edinburgh University and Kings College, London.
