Undergraduate

Exploring the English language

On this page

• What you will study
• Entry
• If you have a disability or additional requirement
• Study materials
• Teaching and assessment
• Students also studied
• Future availability

The English language has always been a diverse and dynamic topic. This interdisciplinary course will be relevant to anyone interested in a broad range of questions about English, whether for professional or personal reasons. Is the influence of English worldwide cause for celebration or concern? What are the origins of the language and how has it changed in response to social, cultural and technological developments? How do children and adults learn English? How can English be analysed? What is the basis for our judgements about 'good' and 'bad' English? You will investigate these and many other issues through a combination of computer-based resources and course books.

Course facts

Register for the course

What you will study

By studying this course, you’ll gain:

• an understanding of the history of English and its development as a global language
• a critical appreciation of contemporary uses of English in a range of social contexts
• conceptual frameworks for the study of linguistic phenomena in a range of social contexts
• opportunities to analyse spoken, written and multi-modal English
• a perspective on your own English language experiences, including developing aspects of your own communication skills.

For the core study for the course, you’ll be using a combination of two interactive study-guide DVD-ROMs (PC necessary) and four course books.  The DVD-ROMs contain exercises designed to develop your knowledge and understanding of key terms and concepts in language description and investigation, as well as illustrations and discussions of the diversity of English language practices across the globe.

The four course books are:

• Changing English (edited by D. Graddol, D.Leith, J. Swann, M. Rhys & J. Gillen)
• Using English (edited by J. Maybin, N. Mercer & A. Hewings)
• Learning English (edited by N. Mercer, J.Swann & B. Mayor)
• Redesigning English (edited by S. Goodman, D. Graddol & T. Lillis)

You’ll also receive three DVDs containing related audio-visual material to view on your television.

Entry

Exploring the English Language is a Level 2 course so you should have some experience of Level 1 study gained either with The Open University or by doing equivalent work at another university.

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.

Preparatory work

This course requires access to a PC with DVD drive (internal or external) and an internet connection. You should make sure your computer meets the specification below, and that you have an internet service provider (ISP).

You may wish to read some works from English language studies before starting this course. We recommend:

David Crystal (2005) The Stories of English. London: Penguin.

David Graddol (2006) English Next. London : British Council. This book is available to download from British Council Learning.

If you have a disability or additional requirement

Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and musical notation and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. The printed material is available with a comb binding and in the DAISY Digital Talking Book format. Other alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.

If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.

You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.

Study materials

What's included

Course website with assignment book and techphonetic font to download, plus supplementary and updated study material; online conferencing with your tutor; 2 DVD-ROMS; resource and reference materials, three DVDs including The Adventure of English; and the four course books.

You will need

TV and DVD player (optional).

Computing requirements

This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave. Some of your course software will be provided on disk.

You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual. Please note that you cannot use an Apple Mac or Linux computer unless it is running Windows using Boot Camp or similar dual-boot system.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material, mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. For the first few weeks of the course you will be online with your tutor and student group in order to carry out the first assignment (eTMA 01). We might also be able to offer group tutorials or day-schools. We encourage you to attend these, but they are not compulsory. Where tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the course. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.

You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.

Students also studied

Students who studied this course also studied at some time:

• The arts past and present (AA100)
• The art of English (E301)
• English grammar in context (E303)
• Children's literature (EA300)
• Creative writing (A215)

Future availability

The details given here are for the course that starts in October 2011 when it will be available for the last time. It will be replaced by Worlds of English (U214) in February 2012.

Fees 2012

See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.

Study explained

Financial support

- find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.

Study explained

- all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.

A taste of OU study

Student Reviews

Definitely the hardest course in my modern languages degree, it covered a very wide range of topics in quite a ...
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Unfortunately, this was the least enjoyable of the courses I have done. It is heavy going, with lots of technical ...
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Your questions

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Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35

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