French and German (2015)
As is to be expected, studying Languages at Cambridge is a step up from A Level, but everyone understands this and would never let you struggle unaided. I particularly enjoyed studying considerably more literature than at school (I went to a state grammar school) and feeling more ‘in touch’ with the countries in which the languages I studied are spoken through reading contemporary articles, considering topical issues and watching current programmes and films. I could never have imagined that in such a short space of time I could cover so much ground – from medieval poetry to modern-day film – and continue to find studying languages so fascinating. This year, for example, I wrote about the early modern literary fascination with ugliness in one paper, and the widespread presence of surveillance technology in modern German film in another. Modern and Medieval Languages is such a wide-ranging course that there is certainly something for everyone – in fact, most of us found it difficult to choose where to specialise because everything sounded so interesting!
I think MML is a particularly good choice of degree discipline because students become exceptionally well-rounded and cultured, especially after spending a year in another European country (definitely the highlight of being a Languages student!). Having worked at an investment bank during my Year Abroad, I feel I have an advantage over many of my peers, many of whom will first experience ‘real life’ outside of university once they graduate. In fact, the firm offered me a full-time job on completion of my degree, which placed me in an excellent position to begin my final year. In my experience, language students who have been through the challenge of living abroad tend to be some of the most diverse, mature and considerate people, and I feel that these traits are cultivated by the stimulating nature and variety of the course taught at Cambridge.