English Language

Course summary

The OCR A Level in English Language is designed to teach the skills language pupils need to explore and critically engage with a wide range of non-fiction texts. The course helps to develop valuable transferable skills through class discussion, the production of analytical commentaries and sustained independent research. Pupils will learn how to analyse the language that they encounter daily and to examine particular contexts or functions of language. In addition, the course offers an opportunity to engage in topical debates relating to language use, child language acquisition and media discourse - all of which are very popular with pupils. ENGLISH LANGUAGE COURSE OVERVIEW: • Child Language Acquisition • Language Change • Language under the Microscope: - analysis of unseen written texts taken from a broad range of context • Comparing and Contrasting Texts: - comparison of different modes e.g. spoken and written, spontaneous and crafted. Pupils analyse different forms of spoken English, including individual and social varieties of English and British regional dialects, as well as applying theoretical concepts related to gender and power. • Topical Language Issues: writing speeches and articles, responding to statements such as 'The English Language is inherently sexist' and 'Technology is ruining the English Language'. • Language in the Media: analysis of a multi-modal text, considering how power is represented and exerted. Also covers concepts related to gender and technology.