English Language & Linguistics BA (Hons)
The English Language & Linguistics programme aims to educate
you, excite you and empower you.
Let’s do the education bit first.
Everyone uses language, but not everyone knows about it - for
example, why we have certain words and phrases; how we learn
language; why our language abilities sometimes fail us; why people
might have different views about what is correct; how language
varies…
If you choose to study our English Language & Linguistics
degree, you will learn about all these aspects, and more.
But we also want to excite you. Our staff are real enthusiasts.
We live and breathe language, and we want you to share our passion
for the subject. Of all the complimentary things our students say
about us, the most frequent comment is that our own fascination for
our subject area really comes across to students and helps them to
do well. We are a very experienced team of people who are highly
qualified academically, but also friendly and accessible who
understand the nature of learning and teaching.
Knowing about language, and being enthusiastic about it, is
empowering. It means you are much more likely to be an effective
language user, because you understand others’ meanings and are
thoughtful about your own. To be in control of the meanings you
express is a very powerful position, regardless of whether you
exercise your language skills in workplace contexts, or in personal
relationships.
Nikki Swift
Head of Programme
How
can I study English Language & Linguistics?
English Language & Linguistics can be studied as a
Specialist degree or as a Joint Honours subject alongside: British
Sign Language, Business Management, Counselling Studies, Creative
Writing, Education Studies, English Literature, Information
Technology, Modern European Languages, Modern International
Languages, Psychology and Theology & Religious Studies.
[back to
top]
Why study English Language
& Linguistics?
- We adopt a workshop approach to language study. Where others
may just look at theories of language, we apply theories to
language in use, to data from the real world.
- We offer a wide-ranging programme that is comprehensive in
coverage, but where you can also tailor your studies to suit your
strengths and interests.
- We use creative and varied assessments, including oral
presentations, online self-tests, written portfolios, projects and
essays.
- Our specialist team offer face-to-face quality time to
students; we also make good use of online resources, so you can be
flexible in how you study.
- We embed key skills such as academic writing and IT skills into
our modules, so you can develop these alongside your specialist
subject knowledge.
- We have an excellent record of student success, enjoyment and
employability.
[back to
top]
What will I
study?
While some modules are compulsory and are therefore always on
offer, optional modules may vary according to student demand and
staff availability. The information below is based on what we
currently offer, but we are always looking for ways to explore new
areas of language study and new questions about language use.
Level 1
At this level, we provide a foundation in Language study which
will equip you for the later years of your degree. Compulsory
modules include:
- Key Concepts sets out a language ‘landscape’ so that you can
see all the areas it’s possible to learn about.
- Semantics & Pragmatics looks at how people understand each
other (or don’t).
- General Phonetics looks at the sounds of languages across the
world and how they are produced.
- The Language of Media Texts explores how language and images
are used to construct different ideas and viewpoints.
- Grammar & Text introduces you to language structures and
how they can change the way you read and understand messages.
Options at this level may include the following (availability is
subject to the viability of group numbers):
- Modern Foreign Languages (beginners’ courses) for example,
French, Italian, German, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Greek
and Russian.
- British Sign Language beginners’ introduction to this important
language variety.
- The History of English looks at some of the big changes that
helped to make the English language what it is today.
Level 2
This is the year when you have found your feet and can start to
make some choices about the pathways and directions you want to
follow. There are still some compulsory modules, as follows:
- Research Methods gets you thinking about the best ways to
research different aspects of language.
- Language & Communication in the Workplace involves a 15-day
work placement where you research an aspect of language in the
world of work. It is possible to take an international version of
this module – see the section entitled ‘Will I get any practical
experience’.
Beyond this, you can tailor your studies to your needs and
interests. There is something for everyone, and something of
relevance to a range of different careers.
The following modules are concerned with social and global
variation:
- Sociolinguistics
- English Phonetics & Phonology
- International Varieties
While others relate more to the different channels of
communication we employ:
- e-Language
- Language & Literacy
- Analysing Talk
Then there are modules that investigate language at a more
individual level, focusing on the processes at work in
understanding and communicating, for example:
Level 3
A significant part of study at this level is independent
research. ‘Independent’ means that you take responsibility for
directing your own research, but you are supported and guided by an
expert in the field: read about our range of expertise in the
section entitled ‘Staff interests’. Because of the emphasis on
research, all students take the compulsory Dissertation module.
Alongside this research module, there are further options
available. As with Level 2, these options are varied in order to
accommodate students’ different interests and future employment
needs. Typical modules include the following:
- Advanced Conversation Analysis allows students who enjoyed
Analysing Talk to develop their skills in this area.
- Accents & Dialects involves collecting your own regional
language data and analysing it in our speech lab.
- Language in Education looks at the idea of standard language
and the role of language in educational settings.
- Language, Culture & Communication is an online module where
you work with students at universities abroad to study differences
in culture and communication (currently, our partners are
University West in Sweden and the University of Minnesota).
- Child Language Acquisition examines different theories of how
we learn language, focusing on different stages of
development.
- Second Language Acquisition & Teaching looks at the
teaching methods used to teach English in this context and
considers the factors that may help or hinder development.
[back to
top]
What resources will I have
access to?
Following the award of a Teacher Fellowship to one of our
tutors, we have been able to create a Speech Lab for the analysis
of language data. Our lab contains an impressive range of digital
resources for recording and analysing speech; phonetics tuition
tools for private use; and corpus tools for sorting and analysing
written language.
Using the facilities of the lab, our students are able to
produce highly professional pieces of work: for example, many have
submitted their assignments as electronic documents on CD with
hyperlinked sound files rather than as traditional paper-based
essays. For students wishing to use the lab, there is expert help
available from our team.
[back to
top]
Will I get any practical
experience?
During Level 2, there is a 15-day work placement where you get
practical experience of language and communication in workplace
contexts. Many students choose to get some experience in an area
where they are hoping to gain employment after they graduate. Some
examples of recent placements include work shadowing a teacher at a
school for deaf children, working as a reporter on a local
newspaper, and a placement with an international publishing
house.
If you wish to add an international dimension to this
experience, you can opt to go to Arizona and learn about life and
work in the States: our programme has a link with the Arizona State
University West. There are some costs associated with this latter
option.
[back to
top]
What skills will I
acquire?
The skills that you will learn are fundamental to any future
employment and, indeed, for everyday life. Everyone needs to use
language in order to communicate effectively, and our programme
will teach you many things, including:
- analytical skills – in understanding others’ language uses and
attitudes
- production skills – in making your own language use count
- research skills – in learning how to gather data and
material
- social and cultural skills – in being aware of language
differences
- e-skills – in knowing how to communicate online.
[back to
top]
How will I be
assessed?
On most modules, you will be assessed by your coursework, such
as essays, presentations or learning journals. At each level of
study you will be required to undertake a timed assignment or
examination.
[back to
top]
Staff interests
Adrian Beard: language in the media; the language of work;
language and literature
Angela Goddard: language, power and identity; online
communication
Christopher Hall: psycholinguistics; second language
acquisition; World Englishes
Andrew Merrison: conversation analysis; sociolinguistics;
semantics and pragmatics
Shirley Reay: educational linguistics; intercultural
communication; literacy and oracy
Nikki Swift: phonetics and phonology; accents and dialects;
online learning
Rachel Wicaksono: teaching and testing EFL; English as a Lingua
Franca
[back to
top]
Can I get involved with
departmental activities?
We foster an ethos of sociability as well as a commitment to
learning. We have our own programme website called The Lingo
Lounge, which is a source of information for our students as well
as a social space for planning face-to-face activities and events.
We are busy in our local area, running conferences for schools and
colleges, and inviting speakers from other Higher Education
establishments to join us. At the same time, we collaborate with
many academic colleagues internationally via our online networks.
There are study abroad opportunities for our students in Canada,
Sweden and Holland as well as the specifically module-based option
in Arizona, USA.
[back to
top]
What costs will I
incur?
There are no particular costs associated with the programme,
except where the Arizona option is chosen. In order to take that
option, students will need to support their own travel expenses and
living costs.
[back to
top]
What sorts of jobs will our
graduates get?
Recent English graduates have found work in the media and
publishing, arts administration, public services, retail and
marketing. Many go on to study for postgraduate qualifications in
teaching, librarianship or journalism.
[back to
top]
What qualifications do I need
to apply?
You will need 200-240 points for the Specialist degree/200-220
points for the Joint Honours degrees plus three GCSEs at grade C or
above (or equivalent), including English Language. (GCSE Maths also
needed for Business Management and Psychology options).
[back to
top]
Fact file
You can study our English Language & Linguistics Degree as a
Specialist degree or as part
of a Joint Honours degree.
UCAS codes
Specialist degree
| English Language & Linguistics |
Q101 |
Joint Honours degrees
English Language and:
The UCAS Institution Code for York St John is Y75 YSJ.
Attendance: 3 years full-time, 5-8 years
part-time
Study abroad: Yes - see our study abroad web pages for more information
Entry requirements
240 points for the Specialist degree / 220 points for the Joint
Honours degree plus three GCSEs at grade C or above (or
equivalent), including English Language. (GCSE Maths also needed
for Business Management and Psychology options.)
How do I apply?
If you wish to apply for full-time study, you need to apply
through UCAS. All part-time
applications should be made direct to York St John University.
Visit our how to apply web pages for more
information.
[back to
top]
How can I find out more?
General information
For general information about York St John or details about our
Open Days, please call our Information Hotline: T: 01904 876598 E:
opendays@yorksj.ac.uk
Degree programme information
For enquiries about the English Language & Linguistics
degree, please contact: Nikki Swift, Head of Programme T: 01904
876781 E: ell@yorksj.ac.uk
www.yorksj.ac.uk/ell
[back to
top]