Greenhead College SF Greenhead College Sixth Form
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English Language

Why Study This Subject?

Exploring the complexities of language, past and present, is fascinating. If you choose to study English Language at A Level, you will analyse varieties of language, both written and spoken, and consider the ways in which language choices both reflect and shape attitudes in society.

If you are intrigued by the ways in which we use language to communicate, this is the subject for you. You will learn about the ways in which journalists craft language to represent topical issues, study how we build and maintain human relationships through spoken discourse, and consider the extent to which language reflects its spoken, electronic, or formal written context.

We explore the extent to which speech styles are shaped by gender. Do men interrupt more than women? Are men more competitive in their use of language? Are women more cooperative in spoken interactions? We also consider the extent to which other factors shape how we speak. How is spoken language affected by group dynamics, social status, ethnicity, occupation, or geographical location?

Our students have successful careers in publishing, the media and education, and find the course valuable in fields involving international communications, science and trade.

Topics You Will Cover

This course follows the AQA specification.

You will explore the extent to which speech styles link to aspects of our identity, such as gender, sexuality, status and ethnicity. You will consider how and why, as ‘linguistic chameleons’, we instinctively adapt language to meet the needs of different contexts.

You will also examine texts from as early as 1600 to consider the ways in which changes in the historical, social and political landscape have shaped language. You will learn about regional varieties of English, in addition to global Englishes.

This course offers a 20% coursework component, which comprises a language investigation and a piece of journalism, on a topic of your choice.

Entry Guidelines

Grade 5 in GCSE English Language.

Skills you will develop

English News