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Author Topic: A Guide to English Language for New/Prospective Students  (Read 19493 times)  Share 

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Bhootnike

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A Guide to English Language for New/Prospective Students
« on: August 10, 2012, 08:54:28 pm »
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O Hello There,
What is that you ask?
What is English Language.. ?
Oh, of course.
The question that seemingly no one can construct a definitive answer to, and the subject that many people do not conceive properly!

So lets begin from the nitty grittys of this subject!

What IS English Language?!!!

English Language is VCAA's name for a field in English studies known as Linguistics.
You may have heard of this term from words such as 'lingua franca' or 'linguistically speaking' or 'I am bilingual!" Clearly the word has something to do with language! That's a no brainer!!
So in simple terms, Linguistics is essentially the scientific study of the English language.
People who study linguistics, unsurprisingly, are known as linguists.
A linguist can specialise in a plethora of fields, from sociolinguistics to the English of Law.
Language as a whole is just so diverse, that in turn, linguistics is just as diverse.


VCE English Language was initially started in 2000, and has since gone some changes in the course, notably the change in course at the end of 2011, which was implemented for 2012 - i.e. this year! Lucky me!

Year 11, units 1/2:
From now on, I'll refer to this subject as English Language, not linguistics.
Just because VCE students are a special bunch!

Unit 1: The Nadir of English Language studies
In math, before you embark on learning on say... calculus, you need to know what a function is, what a gradient is and what different notations mean!
English Language is no different! You start off by learning basic linguistics - how to talk about language, or more specifically, the Metalanguage.

Yu learned some good ol' grummar!
It's really important to have some knowledge of grammar in English Language. ( as you do in any english !)
You study the different parts of speech, e.g. nouns, pronouns, verbs, tenses, modals, articles, sentence types etc etc.

You study how Language is important in life, and the different modes of language: spoken, written and signed.

You look at the influence of technology in language and how e'speak or netspeak has established, and how this influences our language use in everyday life (e.g. when people actually say.. "LOL" - so gay..)

You look at Child Language Acquisition and how babies learn language in their early developmental stages.
You learn some theories about this and you analyse some 'baby speak'.
One interesting topic you cover is the concept of 'Wild kids' - pretty much, children who grow up with animals and have no human contact!

If you get time, you may get time to look at spoken and written language, not in depth but fundamentals. - more on this later (unit 3)

Unit 2: Let's look at the History of English!

You study the history of the English language and how it has changed over time. Did you know that at one stage, English was the language of the lower class, whilst Latin was the prestigious language of academics?
You look at where our alphabet originated from, where our words came from, the history, or etymology of words, and also the grammar.

You look at globalisation of langauge.
Also, Australian English is touched on - things like the influence of American Language on Australian English.

Some stuff that to be honest, I don't know where it belongs include:
The notion of a standard English
New Englishes (E.G. singlish, hinglish, etc )
Creoles & Pidgins
Slang
Euphemisms
Dysphemisms

Tasks for 1/2:
Short answer tasks, extended response tasks, essays, maybe some power point presentations...


Frequently asked questions:


"So, do we watch a movie? Or do we a read a book?"
No! You look at articles, or extracts from a movie transcript, song, book, column, whatever!
The beauty of English Language lies in the fact that, this subject analyses the language, NOT the characters or the story.
This is the essential difference between normal English, Lit and EngLang!

"I heard that people who are good at maths and science, or who are a bit 'musically minded' are better suited to this subject?, is this true?"

They say that English Language 'suits' students who are strong in math and science because these subjects require analytical skills and the ability to pick out discrete details and patterns in their respective fields. You may need a set formula or approach to solving something.
They also say that these students enjoy the fact that they find most of their answers in the textbook, and do not necessarily require good creative writing skills, or skills which require their own interpreation of a text.
Having said this, people who enjoy music, or have a inept ability, or simply love language, will be suited to English Language.
In my opinion, you need to really enjoy the subject. You need to have a sense of excitement about the subject and that you're a linguist! You must love words!

"umm do I have to write Essays?"

OK.
First things first. If you decide to do English Language because apparently there's no essay, you're in for hell!
'Cos believe me! The essays you end up doing are going to be absolute kick ass essays! So good that normal English essays will look like kids play! Heck, I could find all these linguistic elements in a article my friend was about to write an essay on ; it was about the persuasive techniques incorporated in the text! He didn't understand all these ideas and I was thinking O my GOD. No WONDER VegemitePi hates Physics so much!

So, in English Language, instead of writing creative writing (which I actually was good at and liked!), and essays on characters and stuff, you write expository or opinionative essays based on the content of the course. E.g "Swearing has different functions in different contexts. Discuss." or "Corporate language is making its way into our simple and ordinary things, which in turn, makes our world seem much more complicated than it really is. Do you agree? "

The rest of the Unit 3/4 exam are short answer, and an analysis piece.

"Is English language harder than Lit or English?"

The skills you need in order to do well in English Language are quite different to those required for English or Lit.
It is fair to say however, and no, NO BIASED OPINIONS, - that English Language is considered more 'harder' , 'competitive' and/or academically challenging than English.
HOWEVER.
Please read on!

When I say it is harder, it really is a subjective opinion. One person may say its easy, whereas another may say, NO! ITS HARD!.
VCAA reckons its harder, hence why they give us +2 for scaling! They say its harder for many reasons - the depth of the subject, how broad you can venture into the linguistic world. In other words, there's really no 'scope' in the course/study design. You are not limited to what you can discuss. I.e in chemistry, if you started talking about quasistatic processes in a equilibrium question, rather than directly answering it in the vce way, chances are you probably aint gonna get a mark!
Consider this subject to be a big big big expedition, and you are a hiker. You can go anywhere you like! (as long as the topic/issue your talking about is relevant to your work!)
I personally don't find it hard, no way, I enjoy it as a subject. And if you enjoy a subject, being 'hard' doesn't come into the equation!
So, please, dont be put off by 'harder'.
If you enjoy the content covered in this subject, and if you atleast find it appealing, - more than the stuff covered in other englishes, chances are, you will find English Language EASIER! and I can definitely say this is what has happened in my case! I chose the right one, and in turn, I haven't had any regrets over my choice, because I know that this is the English I can do best at, and knowing English counts the most in my ATAR, I am convinced that my choice was appropriate!


"Does it scale up?!"
Yes. By two! :D
Why? Look above ^. It's comparatively 'harder' than other Englishes.  If you enjoy the subject, it won't be hard, and in the end..  it'll be a bonus +2 ! woo!

"Can I do both English, and English Language in VCE?"
Yeah! Go for it, if you're unsure about which English suits you, for sure.
English is your most important subject, so make sure you choose the right one!!


More to come.
Just a tad tired now goiz.
« Last Edit: August 22, 2012, 02:21:08 pm by charmanderp »
2011: Biol - 42
2012: Spesh |Methods |Chemistry |English Language| Physics
2014: Physiotherapy
khuda ne jab tujhe banaya hoga, ek suroor uske dil mein aaya hoga, socha hoga kya doonga tohfe mein tujhe.... tab ja ke usne mujhe banaya hoga

Phantom-II

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Re: The Official Noobs Guide to VCE English Language!
« Reply #1 on: August 10, 2012, 09:36:02 pm »
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great guide
EL is a much more substantial study compared to normal english imo, some conventions of the language discussed can even be incorporated into the everyday life, if you're mindful you could learn alot about how language works as a functional tool in society. It's somewhat like language analysis, except you're looking deeper, beyond persuasion

slang, euphemisms and dysphemisms seem to be part of unit 3. I shall leave a shortcut to the exact words of vcaa http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/englishlanguage/englang-sd-2012.pdf

Bhootnike

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Re: The Official Noobs Guide to VCE English Language!
« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2012, 09:39:29 pm »
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great guide
EL is a much more substantial study compared to normal english imo, some conventions of the language discussed can even be incorporated into the everyday life, if you're mindful you could learn alot about how language works as a functional tool in society. It's somewhat like language analysis, except you're looking deeper, beyond persuasion

slang, euphemisms and dysphemisms seem to be part of unit 3. I shall leave a shortcut to the exact words of vcaa http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/englishlanguage/englang-sd-2012.pdf

exactly my sentiments.
its helped me realise certain things, especially in spoken language...
when someone says:

haaha yeah
ooo k
K.
cool
ye
sweet
nice


most of the time, this is a minimal response showing disinterest..
now i think.. that person is showing disinterest! RAGE!
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khuda ne jab tujhe banaya hoga, ek suroor uske dil mein aaya hoga, socha hoga kya doonga tohfe mein tujhe.... tab ja ke usne mujhe banaya hoga

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Re: The Official Noobs Guide to VCE English Language!
« Reply #3 on: August 11, 2012, 12:02:46 pm »
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Now I understand why you keep saying "I don't think she is interested in me".
Your OVER THINKING IT DUDE!
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Bhootnike

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Re: The Official Noobs Guide to VCE English Language!
« Reply #4 on: August 11, 2012, 12:55:02 pm »
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Now I understand why you keep saying "I don't think she is interested in me".
Your OVER THINKING IT DUDE!

huh? wtf
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khuda ne jab tujhe banaya hoga, ek suroor uske dil mein aaya hoga, socha hoga kya doonga tohfe mein tujhe.... tab ja ke usne mujhe banaya hoga

brenden

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Re: The Official Noobs Guide to VCE English Language!
« Reply #5 on: August 11, 2012, 01:06:25 pm »
+1
I like the guide! +1. With the bit about it scales by two and why, I think because it's 'competitive' as opposed to 'harder' would be a more appropriate word. Even though they're sort of one in the same, it's just clearer do any possible ELang students :). Just a suggestion though.
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Bhootnike

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Re: The Official Noobs Guide to VCE English Language!
« Reply #6 on: August 11, 2012, 01:20:41 pm »
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I like the guide! +1. With the bit about it scales by two and why, I think because it's 'competitive' as opposed to 'harder' would be a more appropriate word. Even though they're sort of one in the same, it's just clearer do any possible ELang students :). Just a suggestion though.

Thanks :)
I added the former point :) and i added something to the harder bit, cause I think yeah, some people may read that line and think 'oh no, its hard, not doing it..'

Regarding 'harder', I'll leave the word  there because I think people who consider doing this subject should know that this isn't a bludge subject, in fact it requires a lot of work and it is comparatively harder than normal English.
 Having said that, if the content covered in English Language is something a person finds interesting and enjoys, I reckon in the long term, for them it is easier than other Englishes !
So it's not something to be afraid of, 'Try it!' would be my advice to the skeptics, because honestly, you can't tell which is better until you do it!

Personally, I find it more enjoyable, and because it suits me better, I know that I have been better off in picking EngLang over English because Its the right one for me :)
So people, don't be put off by 'harder'

Thanks for the suggestion!! :Dð
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khuda ne jab tujhe banaya hoga, ek suroor uske dil mein aaya hoga, socha hoga kya doonga tohfe mein tujhe.... tab ja ke usne mujhe banaya hoga

Limista

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Re: The Official Noobs Guide to VCE English Language!
« Reply #7 on: August 11, 2012, 01:42:29 pm »
+1
Your guide is so persuasive, so appealing, that I now wish I had done English Language instead of normal English. If I was in year 10, and wasn't too sure about whether to do English language in year 11 for 1/2, your guide would have helped me so much. Now that I know what it's about, I would have picked it, but the facts about what the subject entails had never been spelled out to me before  :( Oh well, normal English isn't all that terrible!! :)
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Bhootnike

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Re: The Official Noobs Guide to VCE English Language!
« Reply #8 on: August 11, 2012, 01:46:05 pm »
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 ;)
aw, but you're in Year 11 yeah?
You COULD still do Language in year 12!
Watch my updated edit on my original post, theres still more to come! cause i speak about the idea of skipping 1/2 and doing just 3/4! :p

But yeah, this thread aims to project a more accurate and hopefully more appealing idea of what this subject really is! thanks for your comment!
2011: Biol - 42
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khuda ne jab tujhe banaya hoga, ek suroor uske dil mein aaya hoga, socha hoga kya doonga tohfe mein tujhe.... tab ja ke usne mujhe banaya hoga

charmanderp

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Re: The Official Noobs Guide to VCE English Language!
« Reply #9 on: August 11, 2012, 02:29:02 pm »
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Stickied.
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Limista

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Re: The Official Noobs Guide to VCE English Language!
« Reply #10 on: August 11, 2012, 03:34:26 pm »
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;)
aw, but you're in Year 11 yeah?
You COULD still do Language in year 12!


Haha - I don't want to risk it, or stress myself out next year :)
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Re: The Official Noobs Guide to VCE English Language!
« Reply #11 on: August 11, 2012, 03:41:48 pm »
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Hehe fair enough :)

if you do ever wanna do something related, most unis offer degrees or subjects related to linguistics!
Melb Uni for e.g. gives linguistics and some related subjects as breadth! :D :D W00t! 
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2014: Physiotherapy
khuda ne jab tujhe banaya hoga, ek suroor uske dil mein aaya hoga, socha hoga kya doonga tohfe mein tujhe.... tab ja ke usne mujhe banaya hoga

Limista

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Re: The Official Noobs Guide to VCE English Language!
« Reply #12 on: August 11, 2012, 05:03:05 pm »
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Hehe fair enough :)

if you do ever wanna do something related, most unis offer degrees or subjects related to linguistics!
Melb Uni for e.g. gives linguistics and some related subjects as breadth! :D :D W00t!

I've actually got my heart set on Monash, but I'll keep that in mind  :P
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Re: The Official Noobs Guide to VCE English Language!
« Reply #13 on: August 11, 2012, 05:50:08 pm »
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;)
aw, but you're in Year 11 yeah?
You COULD still do Language in year 12!


Haha - I don't want to risk it, or stress myself out next year :)

You can pick up English Language 3/4 in year 12, it's possible. Know someone personally who did it, ended up with 45.
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Re: The Official Noobs Guide to VCE English Language!
« Reply #14 on: August 11, 2012, 06:28:40 pm »
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I only did unit 3/4 and I got 46. It is possible. I found that I wasn't disadvantaged by not doing year 11, there were several people who hadn't in my distance ed class.