literature or language

[higgirach]

I am just about to start sixth form and i got my GCSE results a couple of days ago. For my A level choices i chose Geography, English Literature, Art and French. I got A*s in the first 3 of these four so am definately carrying them on to A level. I also got an A* in English Language, yet got B in french. Now i am considering taking English Language instead of French. Is this a good idea to take both englishes, or is it focusing too much on one area. I really enjoy english and am interested in following a career in journalism. Should i stick with french or take english language (both of which i enjoy)??

[DotH]

there is an awful lot of work involved with English language and at degree level it really does go into areas that you may well find very demanding time wise
If you want to be in journalism, look at a journalism course or at least try to build your degree over the 3 years to include several modules from the school of journalism. I would say, if you want to teach English in High school, go for the English language.

[Kim A]

I'd go for English Lit, English Language, French and Art. English lit will give you a broad depth of literary references, especially if you read further round the subject than you are expected to do. Art ditto. Always useful when writing or speaking to other people, and good for impressing others! English lang will give you the tools you need to write, spell and construe sentences (good if you want to go into journalism). French - another language is a necessity. Did you not see the recent newspaper reports (if not, shame on you, putative journo!) that said that English students will lag behind in employment if they do not have the ability to speak another language? We already lag well behind other European countries in our ability to speak languages other than our own. Ditch the Geog. Who needs to know if you can draw an oxbow lake, know if glaciers make u or v shaped valleys or can tell them what the GDP is in Botswana? Good luck with whatever you decide to do - and well done with the GCSE results!

[saxy_jag]

English Language will take you into areas such as semantics and etymology etc., which is useful if you want to teach the subject. Literature, of course, will give you a breadth of experience to draw on as a journalist, as you will (as a journalist) come to use techniques and devices learnt from other writers. You will also learn the difference between good and bad writing, and will learn how to pitch what you write to your perceived audience. They say that to write well, you need to be well-read, and that's very true.

I rather suspect that if you take both English, you will be heartily sick of it before the first year is out.

French is good. As a journo you will travel and you won't always be able to work with English speakers. French will also allow you, along with Geography, to gain a wider view of the world.

[Dizzieblonde]

Does your college not offer English Lang / Lit combined? English Literature is good if you enjoy reading, plays etc., but Language is more the linguistics of it and can be a bit mechanical - or at least it was when I did it.

A foreign language is always good to have on a C.V. or University application though, and a good grasp of a second language can often demand a higher paid job.

[jno]

journalists don't usually speak a whole lot of French in the course of their work. It has its uses but you're probably not going to be rejected for a job in journalism because you don't speak French, unless it's as a foreign correspondent or on a bilingual publication. Employers will be more interested in your English language skills, which could involve either Lit or Lang. I'd say choose other subjects according to how much you enjoy them.

[elvensteed]

I'm just about to start an Eng. lang and linguistics degree in September, after finishing Eng. lang A-level. As far as A-levels go, I found it simple and enjoyable and easy to get high marks in. I love books and reading but keep literature as my hobby as I think lang. has more applications. But go for both, you don't need geography :-)

[michealk]

Why not take English language. You obviously cannot spell and your grammar is not good. If you perfected these you would have a rare gift in today's society.