English Language and Literature HL

By: F. Sarkis and V. Tamayo

English Language and Literature HL is a subject for those students that love both grabbing a good book and learning about taboo and gendered language. If you are thinking about choosing it because it is seemingly “easier”, that is definitely not the way to go: prepare to be disappointed, as the course requires long hours of reading, analysing, and interpreting texts, be it for language or literature.  
 
Students are assessed through a combination of formal examinations, Paper 1 and Paper 2, a series of written tasks as well as two oral activities.

This subject is recommended for everyone who has a passion for literature, and is keen to learn more about the power of language and its role in society. It is one of our favourite subjects, specially due to its interesting and enlightening nature.
 
If you are interested in pursuing a career in advertising, or in some area similar to it, learning about language makes you more aware of the techniques and methods used to persuade a target audience. And even if this is not related to your preferred area of study in the future, knowing how language is used to manipulate people, and how it differs amongst genders, allows you to be more aware of the power of language, and how it is employed in this society. With this, you will be able to recognise the true intentions of an advert when you see one, and will not be easily tricked into liking them.  
 
English Lang. Lit. Higher level is a demanding subject which will take up a lot of your time; the essays are more complex to write and structure, as well as coming with a rigorous marking criteria. However, it is a very enlightening and interesting subject, which we recommend to anyone and everyone who has a passion for the art of language as well as literature.