English Language Studies (Non-native Speakers)

BA (Hons)

Intermediate award(s): CertHE, DipHE
Full-Time

This course is available in Clearing, call us on 0845 271 3333 for more information

'Our English Language provision ranked in the top third in The Guardian University League Table 2014'
Our course attracts students from around the world including China, Brazil, Russia and Europe.

Course overview

In an increasingly globalised environment, English is now recognised as a world language - an essential communication tool for industry, business and politics. A degree in English Language Studies can open doors to a wide variety of career opportunities.

Anglia Ruskin has been teaching English Studies for over 50 years. Our expertise and experience in delivering high quality courses is supported by our excellent technical facilities, including an open-access language centre and multimedia computer laboratory.

Course modules will be delivered through a mix of lectures, seminars and workshop sessions. As your knowledge and understanding of the language grows you will also develop your appreciation of the political, economic, historical and cultural background of the UK and Europe - giving you a deeper, richer and more meaningful grasp of English and its role in the modern world.

You will develop your ability not only to read, write and speak the English language at an advanced level, but also to apply what you have learned within a range of contexts. Our department recognises the importance of a vocational element in addition to the academic, so you will have the opportunity to develop skills in debating, presenting and negotiating - assets that have been proved to be valued by potential employers.

This is a flexible course, one that allows you to specialise in areas of particular interest or to prepare for a favoured career. Specialist areas include Cultural Studies, Applied Linguistics, Business, Teaching English as a Foreign Language and Intercultural Communication.

Additional course information

The first year of your degree aims at improving your English language proficiency. You will also be introduced to some of the fundamental aspects of the English language and culture, key concepts and approaches, and studying at university level.

In your second year, you will explore the various sub-disciplines in more depths, by examining the grammar of English, and its textual structures, and you will have the opportunity to investigate specific uses of language in areas such as newspaper and advertising language, political rhetoric and personal narratives. There is a strong focus on practical hands-on elements, that is, the collection and analysis of 'real' language used in daily life. You will also improve your language proficiency level further.

Your final year focuses on an in-depth exploration of the semantics of English. You will also learn how to use the English language in the various aspects of working life and careers. At the core of this year is your Major Project, which allows you to investigate a topic of your choice under the supervision of an academic member of staff.

Module guide

Year one core modules
  • English Advanced 1 and 2

    This modules aim is to improve communicative competence in English in the context of Anglophone cultures including beliefs, values and institutions, using contemporary materials taken from media and literature. The areas of linguistic competence covered include grammatical and lexical skills as well as oral and aural proficiency and extended writing skills. Account is taken of culturally conditioned language production and appropriate linguistic register reflecting such variables as age, sex, class, and location. The class is taught in English and consists of three hours weekly, with emphasis on student centred activities, with active participation in class and team work to develop speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.

  • English Advanced 3 and 4

    This module focuses on advance productive and receptive use of English through a variety of language materials and diverse activities and tasks. This is a challenging module which aims to extend proficiency in English making use of a wide and appropriate linguistic repertoire, contextualised in contemporary issues in the Anglophone world. Analytical, problem solving and communication skills practised in the module are of direct benefit to future employment. The module, taught over three hours per week will consist of a variety of activities including group debates, and discussions, presentations, listening and comprehension exercises from authentic audio, and audio-visual material.

  • Intercultural Awareness

    This module provides an introduction to intercultural communication. It offers insight into interpersonal communication in a culturally diverse world, with benefits to social, academic, and future professional life, where you are likely to meet people from very diverse backgrounds. You will build on your own cultural and general knowledge, sense of identity, and cognitive and communication skills. You will examine your own culture and gain insight into the way in which cultural assumptions affect judgements of the behaviour and communication codes of other cultures. You will learn something of the powerful effects of group loyalties on perception and understanding; explore the inter-play of language, behaviour and cultural values; and examine some theories of cultural comparison. You will learn to recognise the signs of intercultural misunderstanding and culture shock and the need to build common ground, communicating mindfully when necessary

  • Language and Society

    This module will introduce you to practical and theoretical aspects of the study of language and society and will cover the following: methodological approaches and related problems, forms of address, T/V pronouns, naming, addressing without naming, sex and age differentiation in language, accent and dialect, speech communities, education and employment, language disadvantage, language choice according to function in multi-lingual communities. The key theoretical, analytical and descriptive terms will be introduced and explained in weekly lectures; you will then be given the opportunity to explore the issues in workshops, with a mixture of practical and discussion tasks. Attention will be paid to the close analysis of data and to the reasons for and practicalities of collecting, analysing and interpreting data, culminating in the design of an original (hypothetical) sociolinguistic project. In addition, writing a more discussion based essay will give you an in-depth opportunity to identify, reflect on and synthesise some of the key concepts involved in one or two of the topics covered.

Year two core modules
  • English Advanced 3 and 4 (if not taken at Level 1)
  • European Cinema and Identity
  • History of the English Language
  • Revealing English Structure
Year three core modules
  • Vocabulary and Semantics
  • Writing for the Workplace
  • Major Project

Assessment

All assessments will be in accordance with the learning outcomes and the range will provide both formative (non-assessed discussions and presentations, language centre, class exercises etc) and summative (unseen examinations, in-class assessments, essays, portfolios, assessed seminar presentation etc) functions.

In the majority of modules, a combination of assessment types is used to ensure that you are able to demonstrate your theoretical knowledge of and engagement with a topic, but usually also include a more practical element. For example, the assessment for a module may consist of a traditional essay in which you discuss a particular theoretical approach, but also a data analysis exercise which allows you to demonstrate that you are able to apply their knowledge in the 'real world', and to link theory with practice.

Facilities

Our department organises field trips; frequent guest speakers from the UK and abroad, and one-day symposia and conferences.

The Mumford Theatre, which is situated at the heart of the campus, plays host to a range of professional touring, local community and student theatre. It also presents music events, including a series of free lunchtime concerts.

Libraries

Our campus libraries offer a wide range of publications and a variety of study facilities, including open-access computers, areas for quiet or group study and bookable rooms. We also have an extensive Digital Library providing on and off-site access to e-books, e-journals and databases.

We endeavour to make our libraries as accessible as possible for all our students. During Semester time, they open 24 hours a day from Monday to Thursday, until midnight on Friday and Saturday and for 12 hours on Sunday.


IT Resources

Our open access computer facilities provide free access to the internet, email, messaging services and the full Microsoft Office suite. A high speed wireless service is also available in all key areas on campus. If you are away from campus or a distant learner, our student desktop and its many applications can be accessed remotely using the internet. Your personal student email account provides free document storage, calendar facilities and social networking opportunities.

Throughout your studies you will have access to our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), providing course notes, reading materials and multi-media content to support your learning, while our e-vision system gives you instant access to your academic record and your timetable.


Special features

Our department has an outstanding reputation for both teaching and research. It consistently scores highly in The Guardian subject league tables and is one of the departments at Anglia Ruskin rated 'Excellent' by The Sunday Times University Guide.

Our department has over 50 years of experience in teaching English Language Studies and 15 years' experience in training English language teachers and is one of the very few in the country to offer an undergraduate degree combined with the professional CELTA qualification.

In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise set up to monitor the quality of research in UK universities, 95% of the work submitted by our department was judged to be of 'international standard', with 60% judged to be either 'internationally excellent' or 'world-leading'.

Course Leader

Sarah Fitt

Associated careers

Graduates will be well placed to take advantage of the growing opportunities offered by an expanding EU. Previous graduates now enjoy successful careers in teaching, import-export, financial services, and travel and tourism. Many also go on to study for postgraduate qualifications.
UCAS Tariff points: 220 - 260
Entry requirements listed are for September 2013 entry. Entry requirements for other intakes may differ.

Please note AS levels are acceptable only when combined with other qualifications.

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

We welcome applications from International and EU students. Please select one of the links below for English language and country-specific entry requirement information.

If we have confirmed you do not meet our entry requirements you might want to consider a preparatory course at Cambridge Ruskin International College (CRIC), our partner college, based on our Cambridge campus, before coming to study with us.

How to apply

UCAS code

Q303

Location

Duration

3 Years

Available starts

September, January

Student finance

Open Day

Saturday 22 June
Undergraduate Open Day

Advice & support

Employability

Faculty

Arts, Law & Social Sciences

Department

English, Communication, Film and Media

Contact us

UK and EU applicants:International applicants:
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