Everyone is aware how much language is necessary nowadays – that is why a lot of people choose philology as their educational path. One of the most sought-after fields of study is English philology. It is necessary to remember that these studies are not the same as a language course. By deciding to start studying English, students develop not only their language skills, but also acquaint themselves with English culture, history and literature.
Beginnings
It is said that beginnings are difficult, and the same holds true during these studies. At the beginning, some things which have to be learnt may seem like ‘black magic’, for example the phonetic alphabet, but after a few repetitions, it is easy to understand and remember.
Some people may have a language barrier, but fortunately speaking becomes easier with each class, it just takes time to adapt. Lecturers understand this problem very well and they try to help, often using as simple vocabulary as they can so that everyone is able to understand as much as possible.
Classes
Language classes, including reading and writing, vocabulary, grammar, but also the history of English-speaking countries, linguistics, and literature are typical subjects that every student must pass. Each university also has different specialisations to choose; depending on which is chosen, the other classes will differ. One of the most popular educational paths is teaching, but translation studies are also popular. In the first one, we deal with topics such as pedagogy and voice emission, while in the second one the focus is on oral and written translation. Students very often learn another language, choosing from a few offered by the university, for example Spanish, or German. There is also the possibility of student exchanges to different European countries, for instance Croatia, France, or Norway. Programmes (such as Erasmus+) include one or two semesters of free studies at foreign universities.
What next?
A lot of people think that after English philology you can be a teacher or translator.
Actually, if we think about it longer, it is difficult to find a profession in which such knowledge would turn out to be redundant and unnecessary.
Apart from translation agencies and schools, positions in corporations, editorial offices, publishing houses, companies, offices, and start-ups and others where you work with language are also open to graduates.
Considering the question if it is worth studying English philology, everyone will certainly come to their own conclusions. However, I am convinced that the majority will reply in the affirmative.
By deciding to study English philology, you both develop your language skills and also gain knowledge about English-speaking countries by learning about their history, culture and literature. English studies broaden our horizons and provide us with knowledge that will certainly be useful in many various fields and workplaces such as translation and <a href=”https://www.atominium.com/en”>localization</a> industry or copywriting.
(translation K.K.)
