English Language (Linguistics)
The English language shapes how we express ourselves to the world and how others perceive us.
Sixth Form (Year 12-13)
Examination Board: AQA
Course Description
In A Level English Language (Linguistics) students explore gender, technology and occupations as well as accents and dialects. The course considers textual variety and delves into language diversity, looking at how it has changed over time in relation to wider social, geographical and temporal contexts.
Students analyse a range of texts, spoken and written, fiction and non-fiction, drawn from a range of different historical periods and genres, as well as creating some of their own.
Students will consider the different concepts that underpin different texts and the context a particular text inhabits and how this impacts on our understanding. They will be encouraged to read around the key language topics and bring their own ideas to the classroom. Debate and discussion are important elements of the course and enable students to gain confidence and important transferable presentation skills. The course involves tackling challenging materials, exploring and analysing language data independently and developing students’ own writing ability.
Students also have the opportunity to take their learning beyond the classroom. In recent years there have been trips to the English and Media Centre’s Language Conference, The British Library, and Dr Johnson’s house.
Assessment
This is a linear course. This means that students opting for this subject will be committing to a two year course with two pieces of non-examined assessment (coursework) and two examinations at the end of Year 13. The non-examined assessment accounts for 20% of a student’s final grade.
Entry Requirements
Grade 5 or higher in GCSE English Language is required.
Where might it lead?
A Level English Language (Linguistics) can help open doors to careers in:
- Academic Librarian
- Advertising Copywriter
- Archivist
- Digital Copywriter
- Editorial Assistant
- Education Consultant
- English as a Foreign Language Teacher
- Information Officer
- Lexicographer
- Magazine/Newspaper Journalist
- Marketing Executive
- Media Researcher
- Politics
- Public Relations
- Publishing Copy-editor/Proofreader
- Social Media Manager
- Speech & Language Therapist
- Teacher
- Web content manager
- Writer
Student Destinations
Lola Cooke
2024 Offers from:
- University of East Anglia UEA – Speech and Language Therapy
- University of Greenwich – Speech and Language Therapy
- University of Reading – Speech and Language Therapy
Katie Stevens
2024 Offers from:
- University of Reading – Education Studies
- St Mary’s University, Twickenham – Primary Education with QTS
- University of Winchester – Education Studies
