[moeyabas]

im not sure if i want to do english language or literature for my A levels at college? what do people find easier and why?

[Clare~Bear]

Literature is probably generally more harder as it's more respected by unis. But looking at my friends work it seems that language is more interesting. I think language becomes less about writing your own stuff and looking at the development of language. My friend the other day was analysing a poem by an 8 year old! My other friend does literature and the amount of poems she has to remember is rediculous and they have to analyse something rediculous like 5 within one answer on their exam!

[Matty Smoothie]

(Original post by moeyabas)
im not sure if i want to do english language or literature for my A levels at college? what do people find easier and why?

Language no question.

I find Language more interesting (because I have an interest in Linguistics), but in terms of ease and manageable workload, Language.

English Literature is really quite hard.

[Abiraleft]

(Original post by moeyabas)
im not sure if i want to do english language or literature for my A levels at college? what do people find easier and why?

Easier is certainly Language; what you take should really depend on what you're interested in, though. Literature is mostly about critical analysis of texts, while Language is all creative writing.

EDIT: On that basis of difference, which one is easier will also very from person to person. From what I've seen, a vast majority of people interested in either/both seem to tend to find Language easier, though.

[Matty Smoothie]

(Original post by Abiraleft)
while Language is all creative writing.

Not necesserily, A2 is where the Linguistics comes in: child acquisition, sociolinguistics and language change, and I think there's a bit on Media, Gender differences, etc. The coursework is Language investigation, not creative writing. If Literature is the same process at A2 - critical analysis of text - with moderate changes in difficulty, then the change from AS to A2 for Language is harder than Literature. A2 Language is where people struggle because they don't have an interest for this side of language

[Abiraleft]

(Original post by Matty Smoothie)
Not necesserily, A2 is where the Linguistics comes in: child acquisition, sociolinguistics and language change, and I think there's a bit on Media, Gender differences, etc. The coursework is Language investigation, not creative writing. If Literature is the same process at A2 - critical analysis of text - with moderate changes in difficulty, then the change from AS to A2 for Language is harder than Literature. A2 Language is where people struggle because they don't have an interest for this side of language

Fair enough; mine was Literature & Language (the combined one) at AS, so I wouldn't know.

[dark-blue]

I do Lang/Lit combined, which I am really enjoying; I see it as having the best of both worlds, and also in our Anthology we got to study loads of different types of texts, and not just poetry and stories.

I think Language might be better if you want to do something like journalism later, although I've heard soem universities prefer Literature generally. I couldn't say for sure, but I think Literature would probably eb deemed "harder" in the traditional sense.

Interestingly, I always thought the distinction was that Laguage was more original writing based, whereas Literature was more analytical, but apparently not... I have friends who do lit, and liek me, they had to do both an analytical and creative writing piece for AS coursework.

It's also worth looking at the course outlines for your school's exam boards; I almost switched between Lang/Lit to pure Lit, but I wasn't really interested in war at all.

PS My school didn't offer Language, but if I'd have gone to another college, would ended up taking it.

[imy7]

Language is probably easier, in the sense that the work is less intense, but I also think its waaaay more interesting than literature. I'm biased because i did both at AS but hated lit, and also i got an A in lang and only a B in lit lolz. Something people seem to assume is that language is all about creative writing though?! Sure you do a little bit of it for coursework alongside a huge analytical essay, but that's it. There's a lot of theory in all of it, particularly for the language acquisition part of A2, and also there's actually a surprising amount of history involved in the language change section of the A2 exam. It covers lots of really interesting stuff, so I'd recommend language. Buuut, it totally depends on you individually, and what you will enjoy and what will benefit you the most.

[moeyabas]

thanks a loy guys! im more into the creative stuff and I wouldnt like reading 6 books for english literature and then analysing it, its quite boring. In English Language do they have any spoken language assessments because i would really love that!

[Thatstudentdude]

I do Language and Literature both seperately and I have to say I prefer Language so much more! I've always liked both, but I feel that Language is just generally more interesting because you look at a wide variety of texts that you can actually relate to i.e adverts and conversations you might encounter every day in comparison to Literature, where you might study old poetry and prose such as Shakespeare...in that case, sometimes it can be harder to connect to.

Language is a lot more enjoyable for me because you can put your own view across, but you have frameworks to use, linguistic methods to apply to your analysis of texts. Yes, in Literature you're putting your own view across on texts, but I feel it's harder because it's all a bit...vague when it comes to your explanation.

One example would be in Language, you study a sentence and look at the word "Bigger" for instance. That is an adjective. There is no denying that. You then go on to develop why that adjective has been used. In Literature, yes, you do need to apply Language aspects to it, but you have to pretty much know the book inside and out to back it up - you can't rely on fancy terminology alone. You need to apply your analysis in context with the rest of the book; it's hard to formulate an essay answer while remembering the details of just one of many books.

Sorry for a bit of an extended reply. I'd actually say pick both! But obviously I don't know your other choices and I'm biased as an English geek etc. Language is easier to grasp and get into, in my opinion. You stated above that you like creative 'stuff,'...which is good because there's a 'creative writing' section for coursework in Language! You'll enjoy it!

[DeadGirlsDance]

(Original post by moeyabas)
thanks a loy guys! im more into the creative stuff and I wouldnt like reading 6 books for english literature and then analysing it, its quite boring. In English Language do they have any spoken language assessments because i would really love that!

It depends on the exam board i guess. For WJEC we didn't but we did have two pieces of really nice coursework. English Language is a lot more enjoyable than Literature. But don't think that it's easy because you get A LOT of grammar which you're expected to learn throughout the whole year.

[ejp94]

Everyone looks at language as the easy option, but it's really not. I do language now, and I thought it would be as easy as it was at GCSE so I didn't try as hard in the first year but it really wasn't. I came out with a really bad grade which meant I had to resit both my coursework and exam this year, so I've essentially done the whole course (both AS and A2) within one year. I think that language is much more enjoyable than literature, but it all depends on your personal preference. I find the course that I do really interesting and fun; aslong as you really get stuck into it. At AS we had to learn all of the linguistic terminology and also study language and gender, language and power, and language and technology which was really interesting (particularly language and gender) as you get to look into different theories of how people use language and why they use it the way they do. At A2 you study how children acquire language and how language has changed over time. My biggest regret is not working hard in the first year, as it's meant I've had to work twice as hard this year... But it has been so worth it, and hopefully it'll pay off in August! The key to language is not only to learn your terminology and theorists, but also to learn the exam technique (how to answer the questions correctly, etc.) and practice it. In general, I have really enjoyed the course and I would reccomend it to anyone!

[alj123]

(Original post by Thatstudentdude)
I do Language and Literature both seperately

Im thinking about doing that. Is the work load too much doing both English?

[Thatstudentdude]

(Original post by alj123)
Im thinking about doing that. Is the work load too much doing both English?

I don't think the work load is THAT bad really, but that's because I genuinely don't mind the subjects. I suppose it depends what else you take them both with too.

Can't imagine the work load for Language being an issue...aside from coursework, normally done early on in the year, it isn't a hefty amount to do.
The only thing with Literature is reading the books - so if you think you're going to be laid back about it or not be able to find the time to read the texts, probably best not to! (I was like that with two of the books and it really came back to bite me in the exam!)

So in short, no the workload isn't majorly difficult. Only Lit would provide a small problem, but like I said...dependant on your other subjects! Both are diverse in terms of context too, and terminology from one can easily be applied to work in the other...meaning you look like an even more intelligent so-and-so!

[theking1]

Literature and Language are both great subject. However they are completely different interest wise.

Personally I think English Lit. is the ****. I love it.

Don't take other peoples views tbh, you should go and speak to your teacher[s], get some past papers, perhaps have a go?

Enjoy

[alj123]

(Original post by Thatstudentdude)
I don't think the work load is THAT bad really, but that's because I genuinely don't mind the subjects. I suppose it depends what else you take them both with too.

Can't imagine the work load for Language being an issue...aside from coursework, normally done early on in the year, it isn't a hefty amount to do.
The only thing with Literature is reading the books - so if you think you're going to be laid back about it or not be able to find the time to read the texts, probably best not to! (I was like that with two of the books and it really came back to bite me in the exam!)

So in short, no the workload isn't majorly difficult. Only Lit would provide a small problem, but like I said...dependant on your other subjects! Both are diverse in terms of context too, and terminology from one can easily be applied to work in the other...meaning you look like an even more intelligent so-and-so!

Ah right, thanks which one do you find harder? I was always under the impression that language was harder ?

[Thatstudentdude]

(Original post by alj123)
Ah right, thanks which one do you find harder? I was always under the impression that language was harder ?

I find Literature a hell of a lot harder! Like I said before, it's because you have to actually really know the text to put across your own interpretations of it. Plus it's actually quite a lot of work just reading the damn texts, ha! I suppose it's down to you personally though - I've always had a flair for Language over Lit!

[alj123]

(Original post by Thatstudentdude)
I find Literature a hell of a lot harder! Like I said before, it's because you have to actually really know the text to put across your own interpretations of it. Plus it's actually quite a lot of work just reading the damn texts, ha! I suppose it's down to you personally though - I've always had a flair for Language over Lit!

Haha! I think i'm better at Language, I'm still going to do both at college though