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need your opinions!! ( AS English Lit or Lang? Edexcel)

I’m trying to decide between AS English Lit and AS English Language. Can you break down how they compare in terms of what’s involved, the skills I’ll need, and how heavy the workload might be? I’m just looking to figure out which one might suit me better as I plan out my year.
I dont have experience of either but i recommend that you:

Look through the course specification for each (make sure you check that its specific to the texts you’d be looking at)

Watch some plot summaries and videos on the texts you’d be covering

Watch YouTube videos from students who’ve done these courses to get info about the workload and whats broadly involved

Look at some past papers to get an idea of the assessment style, also look at coursework

Reply 2
Original post by Mari347
I’m trying to decide between AS English Lit and AS English Language. Can you break down how they compare in terms of what’s involved, the skills I’ll need, and how heavy the workload might be? I’m just looking to figure out which one might suit me better as I plan out my year.
As an A level English Lang student, I couldn't vouch for the subject more. It is so interesting and nothing like what you have studied at GCSE. One of the first things you look at is phonetics, meaning, the study of sound, so how sounds are made. You look at the anatomy of the mouth to see exactly how the different parts work together to form speech sounds. Then you will explore the concept of having 'Englishes' where there is not just one form of the english language but many. For example, 'Jamaican' or MLE (Multicultural London English) and you may analyse the features of this. You will also look at the different accents across the UK i.e the Geordie accent, Bristolian, Cockney, etc. The language frameworks is also a massive part of English Language, this includes phonology, morphology, semantics, lexis, graphology, pragmatics, syntax... Lexis will be similar to GCSE English involving word choice, etc so why writers have chosen to use a particular word in a text. Another difference to GCSE English is that you will also analyse different modes of texts including spoken mode (e.g it could be a conversation), texts messages, or an advert...

Honestly it depends on what you like and what you are interested in. English Literature involves a lot more of reading and analysing written classics. English language doesn't have any set texts that you have to study, but literature does. These set texts include the works of plays and novels.
Reply 3
Original post by DerDracologe
I dont have experience of either but i recommend that you:

Look through the course specification for each (make sure you check that its specific to the texts you’d be looking at)

Watch some plot summaries and videos on the texts you’d be covering

Watch YouTube videos from students who’ve done these courses to get info about the workload and whats broadly involved

Look at some past papers to get an idea of the assessment style, also look at coursework


Thank you, I've been doing that over the weekend!
Reply 4
Original post by ele.slx
As an A level English Lang student, I couldn't vouch for the subject more. It is so interesting and nothing like what you have studied at GCSE. One of the first things you look at is phonetics, meaning, the study of sound, so how sounds are made. You look at the anatomy of the mouth to see exactly how the different parts work together to form speech sounds. Then you will explore the concept of having 'Englishes' where there is not just one form of the english language but many. For example, 'Jamaican' or MLE (Multicultural London English) and you may analyse the features of this. You will also look at the different accents across the UK i.e the Geordie accent, Bristolian, Cockney, etc. The language frameworks is also a massive part of English Language, this includes phonology, morphology, semantics, lexis, graphology, pragmatics, syntax... Lexis will be similar to GCSE English involving word choice, etc so why writers have chosen to use a particular word in a text. Another difference to GCSE English is that you will also analyse different modes of texts including spoken mode (e.g it could be a conversation), texts messages, or an advert...
Honestly it depends on what you like and what you are interested in. English Literature involves a lot more of reading and analysing written classics. English language doesn't have any set texts that you have to study, but literature does. These set texts include the works of plays and novels.

Hey thanks for your help! I found your insights on English Languager really interesting, but they weren’t quite my style. I really appreciate your passion for the subject though. After doing some more research, I’ve decided to go with AS English Literature. Thanks again for all your support!

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