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Studies & Degrees in American Language and Literature (in Universities)

Choose where you would like to study American Language and Literature (in Universities):

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Humankind has produced pieces of its creativity in the form of literature. The study of literature highlights the fact that we can actually exercise our skills of interpreting and critical thinking. Alongside with this fact, this branch of study, specially American Language and Literature, will give us access to the History which shapes our world, and particularly the country that has been considered the world power in the past decades, the United States of America.

In American Language and Literature, students are exposed to international and skilled instructors who have extensive knowledge in American literary history, English language, literary genres, and American literary heritages that include remarkable playwrights such as Willian Dunlap, Washington Irvin and Arthur Miller among others. Teachers will also thoroughly discuss American renowned writers so that their students get a more profound understanding of the works from F. Scott Fitzgerald, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Herman Merville, and Henry David Thoreau among others. The study of American Language and Literature extends to the study of American literature, American fiction, American writers, and American literature women authors.

A program in American Language and Literature mainly aims at the following academic objectives:

1. Introducing the students to the history of literature in English, including training in literary criticism and interpretation.

2. Developping the students' research skills, critical thinking and interpretative skills,  which will be beneficial to every student in acquiring jobs abroad in a wide range of fields. It will also be helpful for those who want to pursue post-graduate programs in American Language and Literature.

3. Reinforcing the students' abilities in interpreting written communication, in creating analytical and argumentative lines of reasoning, and in expressing themselves in a multifaceted and polished English prose.

American Language and Literature main areas of study may include the following majors, depending on the university you are attending:

1. Language and Culture

2. Literature, Literary Criticism, and Literary History

3. Applied, Research Writing, and Professional Writing

These three major areas of study are indicative of the program’s interdisciplinarity, that aims to educate individuals in advancing their knowledge and skills in a creative and flexible manner. Such skills, when honed well, will be true assets that will help the students in their future endeavours as professionals owning a certificate and diploma in American Language and Literature.

American Language and Literature is not just dedicated to the American culture and the works of American writers. The program also emphasizes the study of comparative world literatures. Non-canonical literature will also become a part of the course so to speak. Graduates of Bachelors of Arts in American Language and Literature can pursue careers related to Literature, Professional Communication, Education, Media and Communication Studies, and Cultural Studies.

Job positions for American Language and Literature (in Universities):

English and American Literature Trainer

If you are competent and fluent in speaking American English you have an edge over the rest of those who can’t. Being and English and American Literature Trainer means that you are equipped with an invaluable kind of English education that includes knowledge in American culture and literature. You, as an English and American Literature Trainer, should be educated in various disciplines that deal with linguistics, second language teaching, research techniques, rhetoric and composition, and other fields of teaching and learning strategies.

To gain a greater advantage over other English-proficient speakers who aspire to land an English trainer position, it is also a must that you have knowledge in American literature since this is a guarantee of a high standard qualification.

There are various fields in the industry such as the industry of telecommunications, marketing and advertising, education, and publishing that seek for outstanding professionals who have impressive credentials in using the English language, teaching the English language, and providing trainings using the English language.

The industry of call centers in many countries outside the United States is undergoing an intense growth. Thus, the demand for English and American literature trainer is no longer confine in the academe but in the corporate world as well.

Nowadays, the widespread search of companies hunting for English Trainers has extended to non-native speakers of the English language. As long as a an aspirant possesses the qualifications of a very good and effective trainer, equipped with exceptional work experiences and English proficiency background, he or she has the best shot in acquiring a position related to English teaching or other English-related positions.

An English and American Literature Trainer should have certifications granted by recognized teaching institutions namely TEFL and TESOL, too, since a firm grasp of the English language will not suffice most of the time. As for the core values that an English Trainer should learn to live, such include: continuous learning process, excellence in providing services to students and other clients, corporate social awareness and responsibility, and complete understanding of identity in an American literature sense.

As a trainer of American English and American literature, you are expected to master the art of providing classroom learning experiences since you are tasked to conduct trainings, seminars, teaching presentations, and other instructional events with a common objective: impart the American English language, along with its literature the most effective means. With this note, it should be emphasized that you should have verifiable experiences in teaching ESL and relevant background in second-language acquisition since most of the participants involve in learning American language and literature are non-native speakers.

More so, as an English and American Literature trainer, you should be able to develop your students’ English fluency with American accent. This would be possible if you are going to immerse your students with diverse English materials and resources deemed to be effective in giving effective learning procedures.

Finally, your functions and responsibilities as a trainer will be adequate if you will provide your students and every participant of your training with a comprehensive knowledge of American literature and culture that pertains to literary works produced within the area of the United States.

American Language and Literature Specialist

Your knowledge in American Language and Literature becomes indispensable to companies seeking professionals who have an in-depth understanding of culturally produced texts, not to mention the fluency and proficiency you acquire in using the English language. Your familiarity and knowledge in both literary and linguistic perspectives and theories can not be matched easily with other English programs.

The study of the English language and the study of American literature in particular will bring you more opportunities in dealing with English practices in the society. Your expertise and knowledge of nature and functions of the English language under the domains of literature and society will equip you in taking opportunities applicable to classroom works. Your capabilities to analyze both spoken and written forms of the English language, related to real world experiences will be helpful in pursuing careers that require interviewing English speaking people, collecting of linguistic data, and walking through the lives of local writers of the past and the present.

The career path set by American Language and Literature Specialist is as diverse as the sea because relevant and exciting opportunities await you. This is because companies, schools, universities, and government agencies and departments are very much willing to hire professionals who have a clear grasp of American language and understanding of American literature not to mention professionals who are critically-inclined in evaluating socially constructed texts.

The industry looking for American Language and Literature Specialist is very competitive as it values professionals who are equipped to engage in media, advertising, public relations, marketing, and telecommunications among others. Your education and secure grounding of the English language and literature, powered with skills relevant in gathering, interpreting, and presenting of information are another credentials you possess that will be considered relevant to careers that deal with archiving, museum and library works, publishing, civil service to name a few.

Your duties and functions as American Language and Literature Specialist involve imparting your knowledge in particular areas of study namely American Literature, Critical theories and literary criticisms, Film Studies, Linguistics, and the complexities of the English language. More so, as a Specialist you are responsible in training students polish their communication skills in English, to strengthen their abilities in analyzing all forms of literary expression decisively, developing the holistic understanding of literatures in English and in instructing them to become future scholars who will further do advanced researches in English studies.

As American Language and Literature Specialist, you are expected to become immersed in wide range of readings and language arts written in English. You should be able to relate and link American literature topics, varieties of the English language, various genres of English literary texts, and American authors dominant in specific American period such as the Civil War Era, Reconstruction and Industrialization, World War I, Depression Era, World War II, Civil Rights Movement, and America’s role as the world superpower.

Finally, you must be knowledgeable in discussing the pertinent works of remarkable American writers such Edgar Allan Poe, Allen Ginsberg, Langston Hughes, Tennessee Williams, Mark Twain, and many more.