English Language
WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE A LEVEL ENGLISH LANGUAGE?
Have you ever wondered why we speak and write the way we do? Why do we change the way we speak depending on who we are talking to? How does language influence the way we think about people, shape our identities and reflect changes in society? A Level English Language invites you to explore these questions and discover the fascinating ways in which language works in the world around us.
Through this course will develop your understanding of how language is used in different contexts, how it changes over time and how it shapes our relationships and identities. You will investigate everything from how children learn to communicate to the ways in which gender, age, region and social groups influence language. You will also explore how writers and speakers use language to communicate ideas, influence opinions and present particular viewpoints.
If you enjoy English and are curious about people, communication and the world around you, this course offers an exciting opportunity to develop your analytical, creative and critical thinking skills.
WHAT DOES THE COURSE INVOLVE?
You will explore how language is used in different contexts, analysing texts from different periods and investigating how children learn to speak, read and write. You will examine how and why language changes over time and how factors such as gender, age, region and social identity influence the way we communicate. You will explore language debates, considering how language is used to express ideas, influence opinions and represent individuals and groups. You will also complete an independent language investigation into a topic that interests you and produce your own original writing for a specific audience and purpose.
HOW WILL I LEARN?
You will learn through a combination of discussion, close textual analysis, independent research and creative writing. You will work with a wide range of authentic language sources, including conversations, advertisements, newspaper articles, social media, speeches and historical texts. You will investigate real examples of language in use, developing the confidence to question assumptions, recognise patterns and explore how meaning is created.
Independent reading and engagement with language beyond the classroom will be essential. This course is for you if you love to read a variety of texts from literature to newspapers, websites to letters. Above all, you will learn to look at everyday communication in new ways and understand that language is constantly evolving.
WHAT SKILLS WILL I DEVELOP?
A Level English Language develops a wide range of transferable skills that are valuable in further education and future employment. You will strengthen your ability to analyse information, evaluate evidence, recognise different perspectives and construct sustained, persuasive arguments. You will also develop your written communication, creative writing, research and data-handling skills.
You will learn to examine how language influences attitudes, represents individuals and groups, and reflects wider social and cultural changes. The ability to communicate effectively, interpret information critically and adapt your writing for different audiences is invaluable in almost every career. The course also encourages you to become an independent thinker who can question assumptions and reach informed conclusions.
HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?
Paper 1: Language, the Individual and Society
- 40% of A Level | Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Analyse and compare two texts from different periods.
- Explore children's language development (ages 0–11) through a discursive essay.
Paper 2: Language Diversity and Change
- 40% of A Level | Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Write an evaluative essay on either language diversity or language change.
- Analyse two texts exploring language issues, then complete a directed writing task.
Non-exam Assessment: Language in Action
- 20% of A Level | 3,500 words in total
- Complete an independent language investigation (2,000 words, excluding data).
- Produce an original piece of writing and accompanying commentary (1,500 words combined).
- Teacher-assessed and moderated by AQA
WHAT CAN A QUALIFICATION IN ENGLISH LITERATURE LEAD TO?
A Level English Language provides an excellent foundation for a wide range of university courses and careers. You could go on to study English Language, Linguistics, Journalism, Media, Communications, Law or Education. The analytical, research and communication skills you develop are also valuable in careers such as teaching, publishing, marketing, public relations, advertising, journalism and the media.
Whether you are interested in how people communicate, how society changes or how language shapes the world around us, this course will equip you with skills that can be applied across a broad range of academic and professional pathways.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Grade 5 in GCSE English Language and English Literature.
