Personal Statement - English Language 2

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

English Language has greatly interested me ever since high school. I enjoyed analysing and discussing texts, understanding why certain language is used, and looking at the meaning behind the words. I also enjoyed writing essays, as it gave me the opportunity to express my views and understanding of the topics. That’s why I was thrilled when I achieved an A in English Language and a B in English Literature for my GCSE’s. I was more delighted when I saw I had an A* for the speaking and listening part of the GCSE.

There are many topics that I find intriguing in English Language. For example I have always found it interesting how people who live in one place, like England for instance, could have such varying accents and language use from one town to the next. It’s also interesting how language has changed over time, which is a shame in my view as I love the way English was spoken in the 1800’s. I became a fan ever since I read Jane Austen’s novels in high school.

But I have always felt that I can achieve a lot more, and by doing this degree I will be able to reach my full potential. This is because my future plan is to become a teacher. I have not yet decided if I will remain teaching the younger age groups, or if I will go on to teach adults. I hope that the teaching English as a foreign language aspect of the degree will help to me make that choice, as it will give me an insight into what is involved in teaching adults.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

That’s why I was thrilled when I achieved an A in English Language and a B in English Literature for my GCSE’s. I was more delighted when I saw I had an A* for the speaking and listening part of the GCSE.

During the years that followed in employment, I gained many important skills that are useful both in education and in the work place. These are skills such as teamwork, initiative, punctuality, and good communication. It also served another purpose; it reminded me how much I actually enjoyed learning and studying. I also came to realise how important it is to have a good solid education for securing good jobs.

I started with early years education. I have since gained three years experience working in nurseries and schools, and have just completed a child care qualification. I am currently a teaching assistant in a primary school. This is a rewarding role, and I have learnt a lot from it. Skills like patience, compassion, enthusiasm, and organisation are all important for this work.

As this is one of the major goals in my life, I intend to work to my utmost to achieve the best results. I have always felt that if you are going to do something, you should do it well or else not do it at all. I do understand the amount of work that will be required, and I feel I am prepared for it. This is because the coursework I recently completed for my child care course was all done independently from home. Therefore doing a lot of work alone is something I am ready for, and indeed looking forward to.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

Writing is something I am very much used to, as I used to write articles discussing topics such as religion and social issues for events and activities organised by people I knew who were a part of a University’s student society. I enjoyed doing it, and felt it came naturally to me.

I have also been involved with a local women’s group for several years, where we would organise bazaars, social activities, events and weekly discussions. From this I feel I learnt good organisational skills and time management, which will be helpful in managing work load at university. I also gained good social and communication skills which will certainly be useful starting university, where there’s the opportunity to meet such a diverse range of people.

Grades achieved:

• A in English Language GCSE
• B in English Literature GCSE
• A* in speaking and listening part of GCSE

How personal statements have changed?

The current personal statement format, with three 'scaffolding' questions, was introduced by Ucas in September 2025. This personal statement was submitted before then, using the old essay-style format. It has been carefully edited into the three-question format, with all of the original wording kept.

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