4-Term Pathway - International Foundation Year in Social Sciences and Humanities - Continue to Bachelor of Arts - English Language

This program will prepare students for entry to Year 1 of an undergraduate degree in a wide range of subjects, including many based at the £10m LICA building. Popular subjects include law, film studies, sociology, linguistics and politics.

Why English Language?

English remains the most widely spoken language in the world. English is used every day at work, at home, in conversations with friends, in schools, hospitals and courtrooms, in the news, on social media and in reading great works of literature. Understanding where English came from, how it works, how it is used and how it is changing is key to understanding society, its identities, institutions and practices, and its creative ideas.

In this fascinating subject, students will study fundamental issues including:

• The history and development of English
• The sounds and structures of English
• The accents and dialects of English in the UK and beyond
• Varieties of English connected to social variables like gender and ethnicity

This extensive catalogue of optional modules also gives students the chance to look at the way English is used in a broad range of contexts, including advertising, politics, media, literature and the law. They will also learn how technology can be harnessed to study patterns in the structures and use of English across large databases.

English Language is not just a fascinating area of study, students will gain a skillset that opens doors to a range of exciting and rewarding careers. Transferrable skills include a capacity for critical thinking, an ability to gather, organise and analyse large quantities of data, and an aptitude for developing new and innovative ideas. Students will have the chance to develop specialist skills including in the lexical and grammatical analysis of English, the use of technology to track trends in the way English is used, and crafting language for creative industries.