English language

Why study English Language?

Is it true that women talk more than men? Why do people believe what politicians say? Why do we see some accents as ‘posh’ and others as ‘common’? Why are babies’ first words often ‘mama’ and ‘dada’? How much of an impact is social media really having on children’s language? English Language A level is the place to explore questions such as these as we examine the role of language and communication in the world around us.

Course overview

There are a number of core skills covered on the A level course. Initially, you will spend time developing your understanding of the technical side of language, its’ structures and systems. You will then move on to explore what is known as sociolinguistics. Here you will examine aspects of social identity, such as gender, status, age, ethnicity, and the theories around how these are either represented through or constructed by language. You will look at the role of language in the media, including news, television, advertising and social media, carrying out close analysis of written and spoken texts. You will learn about the evolution of the English language and analyse texts from across history. You will study child language acquisition, exploring how babies develop the ability to communicate. Underpinning all of this, will be a focus on developing the skills of close analysis, evaluative thinking and secure essay writing.

How is the course assessed?

There are two written exams, each 2 ½ hours long, each worth 40% of the A level. You will also complete a coursework folder, worth 20% of the A level, in the second year.

What will I do in lessons?

Lesson activities are varied, as you might expect from such a broad course. The English Language classroom is a collaborative learning space and you will be expected to get involved in lots of group work, discussions, debates. We also carry out a lot of writing practice, including focusing on technical writing skills and writing under timed conditions.

What Independent study will be expected? 

Independent work is split between consolidating your knowledge and extending your knowledge. You will be expected to edit class notes and revise key terminology and theories. You will also be expected to read and listen widely around the subject

Exam Board

OCR

Link to specification

GCSE entry requirements

• 5 in Mathematics required
• 6 in English Language required
• 6 in English Literature required (if taken at GCSE)
• 6 in an essay writing subject required if English Literature not taken at GCSE (e.g. History, Geography etc.)

What A Levels go well with this one?

If you are interested in social issues, why not consider Sociology, Politics or Psychology alongside English Language.

If you enjoy exploring how languages work, French, German or Spanish would go well with the technical elements of this course.

If you are creative and are considering a career in media, advertising, marketing etc., you could study Art, Theatre Studies or Business Studies as well.

What can I do beyond A Levels with this subject? 

• All aspects of the media including production, development and writing
• Advertising, marketing and public relations
• Speech and language therapy
• Journalism (broadcast and print)
• Law 
• Teaching 

Frequently asked questions

What texts do you study?

• Non-fiction
• No anthology, no set texts – all unseen
• Broad range: newspapers, adverts, legal language, speeches, social media 

How similar is it to GCSE English?

Some elements are similar, e.g. text analysis, BUT the level of detail is much more advanced. We also explore many sociolinguistic topics, exploring theories and ideas related to language in use in the real world in way that is very different to GCSE. 

Is there any creative writing?

Sort of! One unit requires the production of a journalistic piece of writing on a topical language issue.