English is an important language socially, politically and economically. Today it is a global language, with an estimated 1.5 billion speakers worldwide. English is the best-described language in the world and by studying for a BA in this field you can become proficient in understanding how English works, why and how it is used, where it has come from, as well as gaining knowledge in linguistic study.

You will get the chance to learn about subjects like the grammatical structure of English (word order, sounds, vocabulary, meaning and so on), the history of English, English dialects and social variation, English in society, English in education, cultural aspects of English, global English, and more.

You will also undertake modules to develop your understanding of the areas of general linguistics which are required to study the linguistics of English. Depending on which modules you choose, this could include topics like child language acquisition, discourse analysis, corpus linguistics, psycholinguistics, bilingualism and multilingualism, languages in contact, historical change, and other subjects based on the expertise of our teaching staff.

Placement Year

This course is available as a 4-year ‘with Placement Year’ option. Please apply for English Language with Placement Year BA Q30P. Find out more about 'with Placement Year' coures here. 

The placement year provides you with a fantastic opportunity to broaden your horizons and develop valuable skills and contacts through working with a self-sourced organisation relevant to your degree subject. The Placement Year is undertaken at the end of the second year and students are away for the whole of the academic year. The minimum period in placement (at one or more locations) is seven calendar months; more usually you would spend 10-12 months with a placement provider. You would normally start sometime in the period June to September of your second year and finish between June and September the following year. Placements can be UK-based or overseas and you will work with staff to plan and finalise the placement arrangements.

You will be expected to find and arrange a suitable placement to complement your degree, and will be fully supported throughout by a dedicated member of staff at your academic School and the University’s Skills and Employability Services.

Internships

Bangor University runs a paid internship scheme within the university’s academic and service departments.

Career

A degree in English Language teaches  transferrable skills which include, but are not limited to: critical reading and evaluation, research and analytical skills, proficiency in diverse modes of presentation (written, electronic and spoken), problem solving, workikng effectively with others, working with and without supervision, time management, information technology skills, effective interpersonal communication and personal organization.

Employment in career paths such as media, education, management, government, research, health, translation, etc. are common graduate pathways for students who qualify with a degree in English Language.

This course also provides particular opportunities for you to focus on the issues of bilingualism, teaching English and/or Welsh linguistics, which would prepare you for specific career opportunities in those fields.