English is probably the subject that most people think they know everything about – I thought I did, anyway. But the time I’ve spent at King’s so far has allowed me to realise that there’s so much more to it than I ever expected!
Studying English means learning about much more than literature
For a while, I really struggled to pick what I wanted to study at university. I loved all the humanities subjects at school, and I thought I would basically have to drop most of them. But as soon as I started looking into King’s, I knew English was the subject for me. In your first year, your modules will introduce topics of history, politics, philosophy and languages that will help you gain a much deeper understanding of the texts that you read. By the way, films and photos also count as texts! Studying English has given me the tools to dive deep into whatever subject I’m interested in, both ‘classic’ English materials and unconventional ones.
With a campus in the middle of the city, the subject is all around you
London has got to be the best place in the world to study English – I’m not exaggerating! For many of the texts you read, your lecturer will be able to point out the places in the city where the authors lived and worked, which really helps you understand their environments. But it’s not just that, you’ll also be able to actually go to a lot of these significant places. Imagine a lesson about Shakespeare in the Globe Theatre, it’s fantastic! What you get up to in your free time can also be a huge advantage. For me, attending shows in the West End meant I got to know the individual theatres and plays so well that I could use the knowledge I had personally obtained for some of my classes.
It opens countless doors for your career after university
English students don’t just become teachers, it’s only one option of many. I’ve told you how much the subject actually teaches you about the world, and employers know that too. I wasn’t sure what exactly I wanted to do with my degree when I started, but that was no problem at all. King’s events helped me understand all the opportunities I have, from publishing to journalism, working with charities, marketing, and so much more.
You’re in a community full of creative people
In my opinion, the best place to go on campus is your own common room. This is especially true for the English department, where you’ll always be greeted by a friendly face – even if you’ve never met them before! I’ve never had trouble finding someone to chat with in my department. This amazing community has also motivated me to get involved in a lot of creative projects. The girl next to you in your seminar might be directing a play this semester, and she’ll encourage you to audition. Or an editor of one of King’s many magazines will tell you that submissions are open for essays, poetry or prose. There are endless opportunities to get involved, even if you haven’t done anything like it before!
You’ll develop new skills from day one
While we’re on the topic of writing, English has helped me hone both my academic and creative writing skills. It still astonishes me how much I’ve improved over the last year and a half. I used to stare at an empty page for hours and overthink every single sentence I put down. Many of my modules have online forums, which give you a chance to write out potential essay ideas and other thoughts on the material throughout the semester and get feedback from your seminar leaders and fellow students. Seminars have pushed me to improve upon developing my own ideas, thinking critically and having productive debates. These skills have already been useful outside of university, as I’m positive they will be for the rest of my life!
More information:
To explore the King’s English Department page, click here
To see what other courses King’s has to offer, click here
To read blog posts about Arts & Humanities career options at King’s, click here
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