English Literature and Journalism

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

When asked what my favourite hobby is, I have always answered with reading. Even from a primary school age, devouring books was my idea of a competitive sport, and to this day, I still find myself reaching for a book when I don’t feel myself. Getting lost in a book is an experience like no other, and as I have gotten older and my taste in literature has grown, I have become increasingly fascinated not only in how a writer casts their spell over a reader but also in the actual language itself and how it seemingly comes alive and pulsates on the page. Studying both English Language and English Literature for my A-levels has given me a taste of what these subjects really involve, but it is not enough—I want to pursue them further. My sheer love of the subjects is what has made me want to study them at university and further my knowledge as much as I possibly can.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

Studying AS Level Sociology made me much more culturally aware and sensitive to ongoing issues in the media, meaning I am better informed when formulating my opinions. An interest in language led me to do some further personal research into Noam Chomsky’s study on innateness and child language development and dip briefly into David Crystal’s work on linguistics after touching upon the subjects at AS and being curious about them. A level Applied Science has made me a much more organised student and has honed my ability to do independent research and transmit my findings into my coursework in a concise and accurate manner. I am much more effective at meeting deadlines and can turn in work with the confidence that it is of a high standard.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

My interest in English Language has been further sparked by the volunteering I did in several different lessons with lower down the school in my free time to go towards my curriculum enrichment. I really enjoyed this experience as it gave me an insight into the way a teacher helps children learn and the importance of the way they speak to each individual child. Having also had to help my younger brother with his school work over the years, due to him struggling greatly at school because of mild learning difficulties, my patience and understanding of how to speak to people to help them understand has grown considerably. This too furthered my interest in English Language as it sparked a curiosity into the different types of language and all its different purposes. I have worked as a part-time waitress since 2014 and have found that having a job outside of school has benefitted both my confidence and made me a more independent young adult. Having to work with the general public on a regular basis and being required to constantly communicate with both customers and other staff members has boosted my ability to talk confidently to both individuals and groups of people, something which before starting work I could not do due to a severe lack of confidence. It has also enabled me to improve my time management skills—juggling my studies around working and being able to organise myself so that I am always on time. I would like to think that holding a part-time job has made me a more rounded, polite, and dependable person.