English Language
Language is at the heart of human life. An ever-changing medium of communication, its study is crucial to our understanding of ourselves as members of society, as individuals, and as a species. At Reading we offer students the opportunity to study the first two aspects of this complex form of human behaviour in depth, with the additional option of being able to focus on the area of English Language Teaching (ELT), an internationally-acknowledged strength in our Department.
• Expertise in Sociolinguistics and English Language Teaching. This feeds into our undergraduate teaching programme and can open up a wide variety of career paths around the world after you graduate.
• Carefully structured programme. As well as developing and refining your key skills in the area of English Language, we offer a range of attractive optional modules, enabling you to specialise and play to your strengths.
• A small, friendly environment with a strong sense of community. You will be fully supported throughout the course thanks to the excellent administrative staff, the personal tutor system, and regular student-staff consultation.
• A cosmopolitan environment enriching your learning experience. You will study within the wider School of Language and Literature where there is a good mix of UK, EU and International students.
• A strong underlying theme of the programme is helping you to apply theory to real-life situations. This helps you to understand both the theory but also how the subject is directly relevant to many key issues in 21st‑century society and the work place.
Student experience and employment
During the course you will learn a variety of fieldwork techniques which can be applied during the linguistic data collection for your dissertation, completed in the final year of study. There is also a strong emphasis on transferable skills such as analysis of language data, problem-solving, team-working and presentation skills which will be relevant to a wide range of professions.
Many of our students get involved in the Student Associate Scheme, which pairs those interested in a career in teaching with local schools. Indeed, our students have been top award-winners on this scheme! You will also have the opportunity to volunteer on Spark, the student newspaper (our students have written columns as diverse as film reviews and sports news), and Junction 11, the student radio station.
The Henley Business School offers an Entrepreneurship module to students from all degree backgrounds. One recent graduate who took this module has since set up her own fashion company, using her language skills to persuade people to invest in the vintage clothes she purveys.
Career prospects
The interdisciplinary nature of English Language produces graduates who are prepared for a wide range of professions. This typically includes teaching in the UK state sector (primary, secondary and in further education), teaching English language overseas (e.g. in Japan), publishing (Oxford University Press), the media (the BBC, ITV, home and abroad), further study (MA, PhD). Recent graduates from Reading have gone on to work for the NHS, Royal Bank of Scotland, St John Ambulance, 4Ps Marketing, Taylor Herring (PR Agency), local councils and schools. Many of our graduates also progress onto higher level study and in particular PGCEs.