BA (Hons) English and Chinese Studies

Summary 2012/13

• Study the two major global language of the 21st Century;
• Familiarise yourself with the language, culture, society and business institutions of the world’s largest nation, destined to be a major player in the 21st Century;
• Be able to respond to a world need for graduates proficient in Mandarin Chinese and English.
• Develop first-hand 'China experience' through an optional year studying abroad in Guangzhou;

Please note, this programme is suspended for September 2012 entry.

Studying English and Chinese Studies allows you to focus on the two major global languages of the 21st century. You will be immersed in the past, present and future of English, and develop good working knowledge and proficiency in spoken Mandarin and familiarity with written Mandarin. You will appreciate how language contributes to the identities of its users, gain an appreciation of the diversity of English and develop the skills to analyse linguistic data, literary and cultural texts whilst also studying Chinese arts, business practices, institutions and media.

2012 Entry Requirements

280 UCAS tariff points overall, A level English preferred. No prior knowledge of Chinese is required.

Details

Who is this course for?

This programme will appeal to people who wish to combine the study of English with the language, culture, society and business institutions of China.

Our students come from a diverse range of educational, social and cultural backgrounds and are of different ages but all share a genuine interest in discovering more about their subjects.

You will experience a dynamic and modern programme which takes into account the very latest scholarship and research.

All modules will develop your specialist and key skills, stimulate and educate, and provide an excellent basis for a variety of career options or for further study.

What will I gain from this programme?

A degree in English and Chinese Studies is still a relatively new qualification although Chinese is the fastest developing modern language at school level.

Degrees combining Chinese with another subject are increasingly sought after qualifications because British and European businesses have identified a major need for graduates with Chinese language skills and an understanding of Chinese culture.

Gaining a degree in English and Chinese Studies, you will acquire a qualification which opens up a range of employment opportunities and also the possibility of a career in teaching (further training required).

What will I study?

In Year 1 you are introduced to major aspects of English language and/or literature and provided with opportunities to further your critical, analytical and communication skills. You will begin a study of Mandarin Chinese language, Chinese IT skills and be introduced to modern China, its institutions, culture and society.

In Years 2 and 3 you will study various aspects of the English language and/or literature. If you choose to study language you will be able to choose between modules focused on approaches to linguistic analysis, as well as modules addressing particular issues in language study. If you choose to study literature modules you will be able to study periods including the Renaissance, the 'long' eighteenth century, the Victorian period and the modernist period.

You will acquire advanced Mandarin language skills and take modules which enable you to become familiar with Chinese society and culture, media and journalism, politics and economics, in addition to Chinese literature. You will also have opportunities to develop advanced language skills such as business Chinese and English - Chinese translation. You will pursue your language skills collectively in seminars and individually through multimedia language packages.

Additionally, in the third year you will undertake an English and Chinese Studies comparative research project under supervision, which leads to a 5,000 word project report.

If you wish to undertake a PCGE in English upon graduation, you are advised to study a combination of language and literature modules in your English and Chinese Studies degree.

How will I study?

Teaching and learning activities are varied, with traditional lectures and seminar-based learning complemented by student participation in workshops, student-led presentations, independent research projects and group activities.

Placement

Although not a compulsory part of the course, you will have an opportunity to take the 'Study in China' option which enables you to spend a year studying in one of our partnership universities in China and transfer up to 120 supplementary credit points.

Students who may not be able to afford to study in China for a full year will also be facilitated to spend a short period of placement or residence in China if desired.

Who will be teaching me?

You will be taught by a group of dedicated and enthusiastic tutors who are experts in their field. We teach at undergraduate and postgraduate level and also publish books, contribute to academic journals and speak at international conferences. We are committed to providing our students with an excellent learning experience and update our modules regularly to ensure they are always current and relevant.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment involves a mixture of coursework and formal tests or examinations. Most emphasis is placed on work produced in your own time or formally presented in class. Typically, you can expect to be assessed on translation exercises, essays, linguistic analyses, class tests and oral and group work.

What are my career prospects?

The skills developed during the course prepare you for a wide variety of careers. Written and oral fluency are given high priority and such skills are very attractive to employers. You might expect to gain employment and/or further training opportunities in areas such as teaching (further training required), retail management, journalism and media, publishing, library work, computing, managerial work, arts administration, and public and voluntary sectors. The degree also provides an excellent foundation for further academic study.

Related Programmes

BA (Hons) Chinese Studies and Business

A Great Study Environment

Based in 160 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, the Ormskirk Campus is a unique and inspirational place to study. Industry standard resources and cutting edge technology combine to make an interactive and highly advanced teaching and learning environment. Everything you could want is on one site with 25 acres of sport and leisure facilities, more than 1,000 rooms in halls of residence and fantastic modern spaces in which you can study and socialise.

The University library gives you access to thousands of books, journals, online resources and extensive PC and media provision. You'll get all the support you need to succeed, reflected in Edge Hill University being ranked in the top two in England for students' personal development, and the top three in the country for assessment and feedback, in the 2011 National Student Survey. The University is also featured in the top four in England for graduate employment.

How do I apply?

Apply online through UCAS at www.ucas.ac.uk.

See our How to Apply pages for more information on the application process and our Admissions criteria.

Fees and Finance

For academic year 2012/13, Edge Hill University will charge £9,000 for full-time BA, BSc and LLB degrees. Eligible students will not have to pay upfront for their tuition. The cost of tuition will be paid by a loan which you will only start to repay once you have finished the course and are earning over £21,000.

Eligible full-time students can also apply for a maintenance grant, subject to household income, and a non-means-tested loan to help with living costs.

Edge Hill University offers a range of scholarships for prospective full-time students. These include £2,000 Entrance Scholarships rewarding determination, commitment and achievement in creative arts, performing arts, sport and volunteering. Eligible entrants with outstanding grades are recognised through the £1,000 High Achievers Scholarship.

The University will also be offering awards, worth £3,000 in cash benefits and fee/accommodation waivers for academic year 2012/13, to eligible prospective full-time students through the National Scholarship Programme.

For more information on scholarships, including eligibility criteria for each award, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/scholarships.

To find out more about fees, grants and loans for academic year 2012/13, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/undergradfees2012.

Please note, the above information is for UK and eligible EU students only. International students should check the fees and finance information at www.edgehill.ac.uk/internationalfees2012.

Not got the entry requirements?

Students returning to education may present their previous experience in work (paid or unpaid) to support their application.

Students with relevant study through either a professional body or appropriate academic course can apply to join the programme at an advanced stage.

For personalised advice based on your circumstances, please contact us or come to an event.

Where can I find out more?

If you would like to receive a copy of our prospectus or be kept updated about forthcoming events, contact the Course Information, Advice and Guidance Team by emailing study@edgehill.ac.uk or calling 01695 657000.

If you want to attend one of our open events held throughout the year, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/opendays to book your place.

You will also find Edge Hill University staff at many national careers fairs and UCAS events.

Still want more?

If you have any questions you would like to ask the programme leader about this course, please contact:

• Dr Richard Xiao, Department of English and History, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Edge Hill University, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 4QP
• Tel: 01695 657180
• Email: Richard.Xiao@edgehill.ac.uk

Overseas students should visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/international or email international@edgehill.ac.uk for further information.

Modules

In years 1 and 2 of the programme, you will take 60 credits of English and 60 credits of Chinese Studies in each year. In year 3, you will take 40 credits of English, 60 credits of Chinese Studies and a 20-credit comparative research project in English and Chinese Studies.

Please note, if you intend to apply to study Secondary PGCE English upon graduation, you are advised to take a combination of English language and English literature modules.

Year 1

LNG1008 The Structure of English investigates the formal features of English by examining its grammar. You will explore the major elements of English grammar and how they are used in practice.

LNG1009 Studying English Language introduces you to a variety of English Language topics that linguists research. You will also explore the different methodologies involved in linguistic research.

LIT1012 Practical Criticism. "What does this mean? How do I think about meaning in this text?" This module will deepen your appreciation of a wide chronology of English literature through close attention to the detail of the text. This is an introductory module which will provide you with the analytical vocabulary necessary to develop and broaden your interpretative and evaluative skills.

LIT1013 Critical Reading builds on the interpretive and evaluative skills developed in the Practical Criticism module by exploring a range of critical theories and approaches which excited literary critics and authors in America and Europe from the 1920s through to the present day. Their ideas help us to articulate our views and criticisms in the ongoing debate about English literature. These approaches enhance our experience of the texts so the study of theory will be accompanied by extracts from a wide chronology of English literature.

CHN1001 Mandarin Chinese (1) for semester 1 is designed as a breakthrough into Mandarin Chinese for beginners with little or no prior knowledge of Chinese. It teaches basic Chinese skills for listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and covers how to communicate using basic ‘survival’ Chinese. It also introduces you to Chinese ICT tools and skills.

CHN1002 Mandarin Chinese (2) for semester 2 teaches more advanced Chinese language skills which enable you to engage in daily life conversation using simple Chinese more confidently. More advanced Chinese IT skills will be introduced.

CHN1003 Introduction to Modern China furnishes you with background knowledge of modern China. This will include aspects such as history, geography, ethnicity, language and dialect, and education. You will also consider socio-cultural aspects of modern China and other Chinese speaking communities, giving you a framework for the study of Chinese politics, economics and society in years 2 and 3. Both contemporary developments and important historical backgrounds are covered.

Year 2

LNG2116 History and Development of English provides an overview of the history and development of the English language from its earliest beginnings to the present day. It covers the influence of Chaucer and Shakespeare on the language, and looks at the role of dictionaries and the King James Bible in the making of what English has become today.

There are input sessions focusing on the rise of Standard English, the nature and spread of dialect over time, and the effect of linguistic borrowing. Later sessions focus on recent change in the language and the growth of regional standards of English around the world.

LNG2117 Approaches to Sociolinguistic Variation looks at the major social factors that govern language use and language variation, concentrating on the linguistic expression of social status and group solidarity and the ways in which change in society is affecting language. Sociolinguistics is the study of language and society.

At the heart of the discipline is the knowledge and understanding that there is no one 'type' of language used by every speaker within a given community, but that it differs between social groups and contexts. Language use may vary by such factors as age, gender, class, ethnicity and geography. Variationist sociolinguistics examines how language is used across society and explains why this variation exists. It relies on quantitative methodologies to draw results from large pools of data, underpinned by a broader, interdisciplinary understanding of society and culture to help interpret those findings.

LNG2118 The Language of Shakespeare and his Time allows you to explore distinctive Early Modern English linguistic features of Shakespeare’s work in great detail, including morphology, syntax and pronunciation. You will compare them with corresponding features in contemporary Standard English.

LNG2119 Child Language Acquisition provides an overview of the processes involved in first language acquisition. The module will consider how children develop language in terms of phonetics and phonology, lexis, grammar and comprehension. It will also introduce and examine theoretical accounts of how we acquire our first language, such as behaviourism, innatism etc.

LNG2120 Analysing Discourse takes a linguistic approach to the examination of discourse, both written and spoken. It explores how discourse is structured above the level of the sentence and considers how meaning in discourse is created and shared between addressor and addressee. Furthermore, it presents a linguistic approach to the study of how discourse, whether spoken or written, contributes to the creation, maintenance and contestation of ideologies.

LNG2121 Early English allows you to gain greater familiarity with linguistic features of Old and Middle English. The module requires the undertaking of an in-depth analysis of the language of writers such as Chaucer and Gower and alternative works such as Beowulf, Piers Plowman and other major texts of the period. It affords opportunities to understand the complexities of describing the English of an age before standard forms of the language were widely adopted and increases awareness of major literary texts written in English.

LNG2122 Phonetics and Phonology provides you with practical and theoretical knowledge and skills in the description and classification of speech sounds. Using English as its focus, the module begins with the study of articulatory phonetics, focusing on segmental and suprasegmental features of accent. The module then uses this knowledge as a foundation from which to begin the study of basic phonology. Concepts such as phonemes, allophones and syllables are discussed in some detail.

LNG2123 Modern English Structure and Usage teaches aspects of modern English grammar (morphology and syntax) or structure, and examines their interaction with variational aspects of modern English usage. The module provides an opportunity for you to become familiar with an appropriate level of grammatical terminology and to develop important practical skills in detailed grammatical analysis.

LIT2020 Renaissance Drama: Texts and Contexts explores the drama of the English Renaissance from 1450 to 1660, a period of extraordinary civil tumult and cultural change. You will evaluate the remarkable dramatic literary output of the reigns of up to ten different monarchs beginning with the Tudors. The complexity and diversity of the literature categorised under the broad term 'Renaissance' will be acknowledged and the term will be problematised as much as it is defined.

Effort will be made to explore canonical and non-canonical drama together with drama by both male and female authors. The playwrights under discussion may, for instance, include: Shakespeare, Marlowe, Middleton and Elizabeth Cary. Themes which may be examined could include monarchy, rebellion, the people, class, nationalism, religion, heresy, superstition, witchcraft, gender identity, self-fashioning, anti-feminism, proto-feminism, sexuality, and the body.

LIT2012 Renaissance Poetry and Prose: Texts and Contexts traces the development of the two key literary genres, poetry and prose narrative (including autobiography) from the English Renaissance (1450 to 1660), a period of extraordinary civil tumult and cultural change. You will evaluate the remarkable literary output of the reigns of up to ten different monarchs beginning with the Tudors. The complexity and diversity of the literature categorised under the broad term 'Renaissance' will be acknowledged and the term will be problematised as much as it is defined.

Effort will be made to explore canonical and non-canonical prose, poetry and writing by both male and female authors. These writers may, for instance, include Shakespeare, Wyatt, More, Herbert, Marvell, Milton, Mary Carleton, Anna Trapnel and the Cavalier poets. Themes which may be examined could include monarchy, rebellion, the people, class, nationalism, religion, heresy, superstition, witchcraft, gender identity, self-fashioning, anti-feminism, proto-feminism, sexuality, and the body.

LIT2022 The Long Eighteenth Century I: 1660-1760 provides an introduction to texts, authors, genres and central themes from the Restoration in 1660 until the dawn of the Romantic period one hundred years later. A typical syllabus may include an introduction to the Restoration drama of Wycherley, Etherege and Congreve and an examination of the poetry of Rochester, Dryden, Aphra Behn, Pope, Swift and Mary Leapor. You will also consider the emerging English prose novel as seen in the amatory fiction of Behn, Delariviere Manley and Eliza Haywood, and the works of Daniel Defoe, Samuel Richardson and Henry Fielding.

LIT2023 The Long Eighteenth Century II: 1760-1830 provides an introduction to the texts, authors, genres and central themes from the first stirrings of what has been traditionally perceived as the Romantic age in the 1760s until the dawn of the Victorian age seventy years later. A typical syllabus might include an introduction to such poets as Yearsley, More, Smith, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Blake, Keats, Shelley, Byron, Clare and/or Burns. You can also expect to encounter the novels of Burney, Austen, Mary Shelley and/or Walter Scott; and texts written as part of the French Revolution controversy by writers including Price, Burke, Wollstonecraft, Godwin and MacCauley.

CHN2001 Mandarin Chinese (3) for semester 1 progresses from module CHN1002 and systematically introduces more complex Chinese grammar and key sentence patterns. The module will also cover more advanced vocabulary items to enhance your competence in communicating in Chinese in a range of demanding interactive situations.

CHN2002 Mandarin Chinese (4) for semester 2 builds on module CHN2001 to help you understand more complex grammar and sentence structures. The module will also help you develop a finer, more extensive vocabulary and further your knowledge of language functions.

CHN2003 Chinese Culture and Society provides a cultural and societal overview on contemporary China in terms of chosen topics such as social customs, etiquette, families, fashion, food culture, holidays and festivals, legends, traditions, and ancient philosophies. Cultural differences between the West and East in general, and between Britain and China in particular, will be highlighted where appropriate.

CHN2004 Study in China encourages and facilitates you to spend a year studying at the University’s partnership institution in Guangzhou to get first-hand "China experience" through contact with the country’s language, society and culture. The module will also allow you to transfer up to 120 supplementary credits, thus enhancing your employability on graduation. Given the diversified circumstances of students, especially mature students, this is an optional module. Short term residential study in China is also encouraged and will be facilitated.

Year 3

LNG3117 Language and Education focuses on the roles played by language in facilitating, or at times obstructing, access to learning. At a broad level, we examine the context of educational language policy in the UK, particularly the National Curriculum for England and Wales, and the experience of bilingual learners in British schools. At classroom level, we observe the language practices of teachers and learners, relating them to educational theory and to our own experience. The teaching and learning of literacy is a third focus - how reading and writing are learned, but also how they are used as tools for learning.

LNG3118 Language and Gender explores the ways in which language both reflects and perpetuates the very notion of gender difference, engaging critically with gender stereotypes. Since the 1970s, scholars have tried to answer questions of how men and women are talked about and of how their language use reflects differences between them. Whilst these feminist approaches sparked considerable research and ultimately created a new field of enquiry, developments over the past forty years have been influenced by the argument that men and women are not inherently different. Instead, gender is considered to be a social construction created and maintained through language.

LNG3119 Language and World Development examines the roles played by English and other languages in the contemporary global linguistic ecology, focusing on a range of multilingual contexts throughout the world. The linguistic legacies of colonial activity and the influence of modern communications technologies are considered, with language policies and planning critically examined. The development of new English varieties will also be studied, as well as the risk to smaller languages resulting from encroachment of English and other powerful languages. Using case studies, the module views these issues from a language rights perspective.

LNG3120 Communicating Sexuality considers whether so-called 'gendered' language is better explained by focusing instead on sexuality. The module looks at the linguistic and wider communicative practices of people not fitting the categories of typical 'female' or 'male'. Given this new research into alternative sexualities and lifestyles, the module examines real people's lives and experiences. Issues such as the linguistics of hate campaigns, attitudes leading to homophobia, the reclamation of language, and the use of special codes that minority groups adopt to communicate among themselves will also be considered.

LNG3121 Bilingualism investigates bilingualism as a socially and culturally contextualised phenomenon. The module begins by identifying processes involved in the acquisition of more than one language in the contexts of both the family and various formal educational settings. At the level of individual language use, conversational code-switching is examined in the light of current research findings. At the level of communities and societies, there is examination of different models for the functional distribution of languages and attempts for language planning. The focus of the module is on bilingualism as a worldwide phenomenon, but attention is also given to language diversity and the use of languages other than English in the UK.

LNG3122 TESOL introduces you to the principles and practice of good English language teaching. Issues dealt with during the module include the history of language teaching and learning, individual learner differences, grammatical terminology, materials development and planning ESOL lessons. The module is delivered by a combination of tutor-led presentations and student-centred, practical seminars.

LNG3123 Forensic Linguistics concerns the application of linguistics to describe and analyse language and discourse in the legal process. The law is overwhelmingly a linguistic institution. Laws are coded in language and the concepts that are used to construct law are accessible only through language. Legal processes, such as court cases, police investigations, and the management of prisoners take place almost exclusively though language. This module takes a broad view of the subject to examine a wide interface between language and the law.

LNG3124 Beyond English takes a typological approach to language. It enables you to understand the major features of the structure of English at a more universal level, in terms of the ways in which the features of English phonetics, phonology, morphosyntax, semantics and writing system compare with the same features in other numerically significant or otherwise relevant languages.

LNG3125 Language and Identity explores a variety of past and present approaches to the study of language and identity. The module will examine how different identities are constructed and look at their intrinsic relation to language and other socio-cultural phenomena. Placing a strong emphasis on the symbolic social value of language differentiation, the aim of the module is to make students aware of the importance of promoting more tolerant attitudes towards language variation in society and reducing linguistic prejudices, a perspective that will be essential for those intending to develop a career in educational contexts.

LIT3021 Victorian Literature I: Novel explores the rise of the novel in the Victorian period. You will study a range of canonical Victorian authors, including Charles Dickens and Elizabeth Gaskell, and analyse a number of characteristic Victorian genres such as realism, sensation fiction and the Bildungsroman. The module will also provide you with an understanding of the reading practices and cultural context of the period.

LIT3022 Victorian Literature II: Poetry introduces you to the main currents of English poetry in the Victorian period. You will study a range of Victorian poetry, including the work of Alfred Tennyson, Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Christina Rossetti. You will engage with Victorian poetic theory and formal experimentation and also explore characteristic Victorian poetic themes such as religious doubt, social duty and gender issues.

LIT3023 Modernism explores the radical upheaval in literature at the beginning of the twentieth century. Concentrating on the key period from 1910-1930, the module examines the range of experimental, ground-breaking work produced by such figures as James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, T.S. Eliot and Ford Madox Ford. The modernists cast aside the conventions inherited from the Victorians and reinvented the rulebook for English literature. Their work can be dazzling, baffling, but always rewarding. This module looks at a representative sample in order to answer the question: “what was modernism?”

LIT3024 The Sense of an Ending: Late Twentieth Century looks at a range of literary texts from the second half of the twentieth century, the period when many of today's leading writers developed their art. Beginning with the aftermath of the Second World War, the module looks at a range of poetry and fiction and examines how these writers moved away from modernism to develop distinctive approaches to the representation of contemporary life. Key authors include Samuel Beckett, Basil Bunting, Anthony Burgess and Penelope Fitzgerald.

CHN3001 Mandarin Chinese (5) progresses from module CHN2002 to help you express yourself using advanced grammar, showing depth and precision on subject matters of high level such as culture, society and economy. Writing in Traditional Chinese characters will also be introduced.

CHN3002 Mandarin Chinese (6) builds on module CHN3001 to help you communicate in a systematic and comprehensive manner using appropriate expressions and language norms in context. The module also develops advanced language skills including translation and extended writing.

CHN3003 English and Chinese Studies Comparative Research Project aims to further develop and consolidate your skills in independent research. The module will facilitate an independent, proactive and reflective approach to learning and develop your awareness of critical, theoretical and methodological issues appropriate to the field of English and Chinese Studies. You are required to complete a comparative research project which leads to a 5,000-word report written in English based on supervised independent research.

CHN3004 Chinese Media and Journalism provides an overview of Chinese media and journalism. You will explore the organisation, operation and theoretical foundations of contemporary Chinese media as well as considering policies, trends and issues. The aim is to facilitate reflection on China’s media system and to evaluate the general structure and function of media in China.

CHN3005 Contemporary Chinese Literature combines language learning with the examination of contemporary Chinese literary works. The aim is to expose the socio-cultural contexts in which the Chinese language is in current use on a day-to-day basis. You will also consider theoretical discussion of Chinese literature, with a focus on selected literary works in the post-1978 era, including works from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

CHN3006 Politics in Modern China provides an opportunity to explore a broad introduction to a range of major issues in contemporary Chinese politics and social change. The module will focus on the three decades in the post-1978 reform period.

CHN3007 English-Chinese Translation provides an overview of translation studies as well as an opportunity to develop and practice your advanced language skills for mediating between English and Chinese.

CHN3008 Business Chinese equips you with the linguistic and cultural competence required for conducting business in the Chinese language. You will learn business terms, communication styles and formats for various business settings, while acquiring linguistic and cultural competence for conducting business in Chinese. Experience of reading and analysing business documents will also help to enhance your specialised business knowledge.

CHN3009 Doing Business in China is designed to offer a framework for understanding Chinese business culture along with a guide for acquiring further knowledge on China. You will benefit from understanding the business environment and usual business practice in China, the opportunities available to international companies wishing to invest in China, and the impact of continued Chinese growth on world markets.