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Why study English Language?
The A Level English Language course teaches students about the history and diversity of their own mother tongue and encourages them to think critically about how language is used for different purposes and how it can be manipulated. Starting with an initial study of the tools used to analyse language, the course branches out into a diverse set of topics ranging from the effects of gender, technology, and power on language, right through to how children learn to speak, read, and write. The course is also a perfect fit for any student who enjoys producing their own written work across a variety of genres, as a key part of the course focuses on the student’s ability to understand how genre and style are adapted for different purposes and audiences (and to reflect this understanding correspondingly in their own writing).
Which syllabus do we follow?
We follow the AQA B syllabus for English Language.
How many units are there?
There are four units in total: two at AS and two at A2.
What is each unit about?
Unit 1
AS Unit 1 is called Categorising Texts The aim of this unit is to introduce students to methods of exploring and understanding spoken and written language in use. Students look at the manner in which the purpose, audience and context of a piece of writing affect the way that it is produced and received. Students also study the following linguistic concepts in relation to the study of the English language: lexis, phonology, grammar, graphology, pragmatics, semantics, register, mode, idiolect, dialect, and sociolect.
Unit 2
AS Unit 2 is called Creating Texts The aim of this coursework unit is to allow students the opportunity to develop and reflect upon their own writing expertise. Students produce a coursework folder comprising two pieces of original writing (differentiated by primary audience, purpose and genre) and two commentaries which explore the writing process and analyse the ways in which the student has manipulated their own language choices within each piece.
Unit 3
A2 Unit 3 is called Developing Language The aim of this unit is to develop students’ understanding of the key concepts and theories surrounding language study through an in-depth examination of two key topics in language study: the acquisition of language by children (including how children learn to speak, read, and write, as well as different theories of child language acquisition) and the development of and changes in English over time (including studying and tracing the history of the English language from the Norman Conquest through to the present day).
Unit 4
A2 Unit 4 is called Investigating Language The aim of this coursework unit is to develop students’ ability to explore and analyse language data through a variety of methods. For this unit, students are asked to devise an investigation into an aspect of language that can be drawn from any area of their choosing. They must then construct a research project around a language hypothesis and use their own data to ascertain the validity of their proposal. In addition, the students must also write a short creative media piece for a non-specialist audience that links in with the topic studied for their main language investigation. Overall, the unit should enable candidates to build upon the key concepts and ideas gained during the course of their studies as well as to demonstrate expertise in areas of individual interest.
How is each unit examined?
Unit 1
Students sit a 2-hour exam that is comprised of 2 sections. In the first section, students are asked to establish linguistic links that can be made between 5-7 previously unseen texts. In the second section, students are asked to respond to unseen data on one essay question from a choice of Language and Power, Language and Gender, and Language and Technology. There is no choice of question in Section 1; however, in Section 2, candidates choose one topic from a choice of 3 (with no question choice within topics).
Unit 2
Students submit a coursework folder comprising two pieces of their own creative writing; the 2 pieces must have different audiences, purposes, and genres, and both must be accompanied by short commentaries in which the student analyses their own language choices in the production of their 2 pieces. The 2 original writing pieces must have a combined word count of between 1500-2500 words while the total word count for the 2 commentaries combined must be no more than 1000 words.
Unit 3
Students sit a 2 hour and 30 minute examination in which they must answer questions from two sections, one on Language Acquisition and one on Language Change. For both topics, students will get a choice of 2 questions based on unseen data and must answer one of the 2 questions on each topic.
Unit 4
Students submit a coursework folder comprised of 2 different pieces of work. For the language investigation, students will identify an aspect of language suitable for a research investigation, decide on the focus of the investigation, collect data, analyse it, and draw conclusions relating to the focus of the investigation. They must also then produce a short media text that is related in subject matter to the content of their investigation. The length of the coursework investigation must be between 1750 and 2500 words, while the length of the media text must be between 750 and 1000 words.
How is the course structured?
The course begins with the teaching of the first part of Unit 1 from September to December of the AS year, with the second half of this unit taught from January to March. Unit 2 is then taught concurrently alongside Unit 1 throughout the whole of the AS year. The A2 course begins with the teaching of the A2 coursework unit (Unit 4) from September to December and then introduces the exam content (Unit 3) at the end of the Autumn Term, continuing this through until the end of the Spring Term in March.
When do I sit my exams?
AS students sit their Unit 1 examination in the May/June exam period and submit their coursework in the spring of the AS year. Students will also have an opportunity to resit Unit 1 in January if they so wish. A2 students take the Unit 3 examination in June of the A2 year and submit their coursework in either January or June of their final year.
Who teaches this course?
Breanne Grantham
[MA English Literature (York), BA Hons English and French, BEd (Queen's University, Ontario, Canada), Diplome Annuel (Universite Paris IV - Sorbonne)]
Breanne was educated at Queen’s University, Canada and the Sorbonne University in Paris, and holds a Masters degree in English Literature from the University of York. She joined Ashbourne in 2005 as Head of GCSE and is currently an Assistant Director of Studies, teaching A Level English Literature, English Language, and History of Art. She is passionate about engaging students’ interest and encouraging them to develop their enthusiasm for literature and art history both in and outside the classroom. Recently, she helped organise the first English Department trip to Stratford-upon-Avon, and together with James Wykes, has inspired students to produce our first College newspaper.
Ben Pollitt
[MA Theatre and Development Studies (East Anglia), BA English Literature (Edinburgh), PGCE (Greenwich)]
Ben has a degree in English Literature, an MA in Theatre and Development Studies from the University of East Anglia, and a PGCE from the University of Greenwich. Ben is a highly qualified and experienced teacher who has traveled widely, including a two-year stint teaching English and Drama in a secondary school in Rwanda. Ben is also a GCSE English coursework moderator and an examiner for GCE History of Art.
Beyond A Level for English Language Students
Studying English Language at A Level is an ideal choice for students aiming for university courses and careers in Journalism, Media, Communication Studies, Public Relations, Advertising, Publishing, Editing, Linguistics, Modern Languages, and any other discipline that requires an understanding of how language works and is used in society. In addition, the nature of the English Language A Level course makes it a good preparation for undertaking study in virtually any other humanities or social sciences subjects at university.
Textbooks
There are a number of good resources and books available for A Level English Language study; however, the official student textbooks published by AQA for use with the AQA B English Language course are as follows:
AS
Title - AQA English Language B AS: Student’s Book
Author - Alan Pearce, Marcello Giovanelli, and Mark Saunders,
Web link - http://www.amazon.co.uk/AQA-English-Language-AS-Students/dp/0748798501/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276878290&sr=8-1
A2
Title - AQA English Language B AS: Student’s Book
Author - Felicity Titjen, Ron Norman, and Mark Saunders
Web link - http://www.amazon.co.uk/AQA-English-Language-A2-Students/dp/0748798528/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276878290&sr=8-2 |
