English Language

Why study English Language at A Level?

This course is for anyone who is fascinated by the way our language works, how it evolved and how we learn it as infants. Just how is our language influenced by contextual factors as well as gender, technology and power?

We explore questions such as how do people use language to assert power? And whether men and women really do speak differently?

Topics cover social and political themes as well as child language acquisition. Studying English Language is about observing how individuals really speak and write – the accents used, the identities chosen and the wider language rules. Students will be encouraged to explore how language defines us and our world.

Past Student Testimonial

“The two years of A level English Language went by fast. While A levels are undoubtedly more challenging and require more devotion to your studies, the support that you will receive as an English student at Ferndown Sixth Form is unmatched. Alongside many other students across the country, 2020 did not go as planned and thankfully, I managed to get where I wanted to be. I achieved A*, Distinction* (equivalent to A*), A at A level and I am now a Modern Languages and Linguistics student at the University of Warwick, and a strong believer that I couldn’t have done it without the endless guidance and encouragement from the English department. Never think that a career in English will only ever lead to teaching, because it in fact opens so many doors to opportunities in fields such as journalism, counselling, marketing and linguistics. Studying English is a skill desired by many employees; it enhances your communication skills and builds your empathy and ability to connect with others on a deeper level. So, if you find yourself torn between another subject and English, I would definitely recommend the latter!” – Amie Arnold

Course overview

Much of the work is analytical; you will study a variety of written and spoken texts, carry out research and formally present your findings.

• Language, the Individual and Society.

• Children’s language development.

• Language Diversity and Change.

• Analysis of how two texts present ideas, attitudes and opinions and a directed writing task.

• The language investigation enables individuality and the tailoring of the course to the student’s own area of interest.  A previous example has included investigating whether an individual’s language changes when their gender changes.

Employers are looking for people with excellent communication skills. A Level English Language will provide this necessary evidence and also demonstrate that the individual is able to work independently and think creatively.

Students studying English Language will:

• Have a chance to research areas of student’s own interests.

•  Explore issues in how meaning is created and interpreted.

• Investigate different aspects of how language is acquired and used.

• Apply knowledge to analyse and evaluate a wide variety of texts from political speeches to reality TV transcripts.

Progression routes and future careers

English Language A Level prepares students for a wide range of future careers and is a welcome qualification for university courses. Careers include speech therapy, advertising, media, marketing, writing and journalism, academia, linguistics, foreign languages and design. We are a subject that gets great results and have many students who pursue our subject to a higher degree.