Language is woven into every aspect of our lives; it is the colour through which we see the world. On this course you will learn about the development of the English language, how it changes over time and still contains shards of the past like layers of history in an archaeological dig. You will discover the magical process of how children learn to speak, from gurgles and babbles to the tongue-trippingly difficult “hippopotamus”. Just ask a two-year old. You will see how much of who you are is what you say – often what you don’t – and how language is about power and control, about gender, identity, culture and politics, and everything in between. It’s really quite marvellous. From speech therapists to forensic linguists to voice activated machines (hey Alexa), studying English Language opens up a world beyond the traditional. But if you are interested in History, Law, Psychology, the Classics, as well as any Modern foreign Language, A Level English Language is a perfect complement. And don’t forget, if you are considering a degree or joint honours degree in English, you will certainly need to study A Level English Literature. However there’s no reason why you can’t study both.