Welcome to English Language!
The essence of English Language at A Level is how we use and manipulate language both as writers and as speakers. From exploring how language can be shaped by our gender, regional background and ethnicity to learning how children acquire words and grammar, the course offers many new and fascinating topics for you to study.
You will analyse a variety of written and spoken texts using specialist linguistic frameworks and you will learn how English has changed over the centuries as well as across the world. The coursework module allows you to produce your own original writing and undertake an independent research project into a language issue of your choice.
We follow the AQA specification and this web page will provide you with useful information about how we teach the course and the different topics and skills you will learn.
Topics
You will study how language defines who we are as individuals and as a society with regard to gender, accent and dialect, ethnicity and occupation. You will learn about various theories and research studies undertaken by linguists over recent decades to inform your understanding of how we shape language and how language shapes us.
Texts
We focus on how written texts and spoken transcripts use language according to genre, audience, purpose and context. You will study a wide variety of written and spoken texts and analyse how the lexical, semantic and grammatical structures create different meanings and interpretations.
Coursework
The original writing module will allow you to create your own piece inspired by a style model such as a broadsheet article or opening chapter to a novel. You will also write an analytical commentary which allows you to discuss how you have used language to create particular effects.
Topics
You will learn how children acquire spoken language as well as the academic theories applied to this area of developmental research. You will also learn how literacy skills are taught in the early years of primary school.
You will explore the evolution of English as a world language which includes learning about different models to show how English grammar, spelling and vocabulary have evolved.
Texts
You will continue with the analysis of written texts going back to the 1600s and will study the theories of how language has changed over time. You will examine how the first dictionaries and grammar books came to standardise the language as well as how society’s values continue to affect the language we use today.
Coursework
The Data Investigation is an independent project where you will analyse and research data on a topic of your choice. For example, you could focus on gender differences in the classroom or power dynamics in an episode of ‘The Apprentice’.
We subscribe to the English Media Centre magazine (written by academics and examiners) and we attend university-style lectures in Manchester.
Students of English Language develop their own portfolio of creative writing and many take part in activities such as debating, MUN and Young Enterprise.
Most students will have studied English Language and Literature at GCSE but any other essay-based subject will also be useful (such as History or Religious Studies).
It is best to consider English Language as a ‘new’ subject at this level. For GCSE, you are likely to have analysed non-fiction texts and done some creative writing. However, all the different topics at A Level will be new to you (and hopefully interesting and rewarding to study!).
You will be encouraged to take part in group discussions in order to evaluate the material, theories and research you will explore during the course. You will often be required to do background reading or preparatory notes in advance of a lesson and written tasks will be set each week to prepare you for the different exam components.
You will have to write evaluative (discussion-type) essays as well as focused analytical responses. You will also have to use language in creative ways and be able to review your own material. Each exam paper and coursework piece requires different essay skills and knowledge.
Students have gone on to study Linguistics (sometimes with a modern language) as well as Journalism and Creative Writing or used English Language as part of a combined degree. The essay, research and analytical skills you develop will be transferable to many different university courses.
The following books cover a range of topics and language issues. Some are aimed at a more general audience and so are both accessible and useful as preparatory reading.
Laurie Bauer & Peter Trudgill: Language Myths
Melvyn Bragg: The Adventure of English
Bill Bryson: Mother Tongue
Jeremy Butterfield: Damp Squid
Deborah Cameron: The Myth of Mars and Venus
David Crystal: A Little Book of Language
How Language Works
Words, Words, Words
John Humphrys: Lost for Words
R. L. Trask & Bill Mayblin: Introducing Linguistics: A Graphic Guide
Lynne Truss: Eats, Shoots and Leaves
Head of Department
Mrs A Vyce - alexvyce@chschool.co.uk
Teaching staff
Mrs L Dalton
Mrs C Gregory
Mr Y Hussain
Mrs M Kaipainen
Ms B Lewis
Mr S Parkin
Please contact our Head of Department if you have any further questions.