First year language students, how are you finding it?

Scroll to see replies

qwertyuiop1993

So are you personally able to put emphasis on both translation AND literature later on, rather than having to sacrifice one for the other? The former I consider as a really useful skill while I love the latter :awesome:

What advantages does doing Sole bring?

I know for German the advanced translation paper is available for Finals, not sure about Spanish, but it's a special paper so you can only take one normally anyway (Which is a shame because there was one called French Literature and War which seemed fascinating!)

For sole I get more freedom in my choices. For finals you will do two language papers for each language, then choose 2 papers for one language and 3 papers for the other.

I have three language papers (a compulsory medieval French exam) and then a choice of 6 modules from any of the fields of literature/French linguistics/general linguistics/European film/Literary theory etc. Of course the dual linguists can access these, but they are constrained by having to balance their choices between two languages :smile:

How's school - not as inspiring as the magnificent grounds of Magdalen? I went for a walk around the dee park, one of my favourite places. Also, why does Magdalen get to be right next to the Botanical Gardens when they're the college that is the least lacking in green spaces? :wink:

Reply 81

username430180

Original post by JSam1994

By the time i do my year abroad i'll have been with my boyfriend 7 years, i'm worried now :zomg:

I never really thought about how long it'll be..
Other than that, i'm just excited :biggrin:

I'm doing French and German at Newcastle. I do struggle with A level, so i hope i can handle it :colondollar:

7 years? I really don't think you've got owt to worry about :P

Reply 82

JSam1994

Original post by (:Becca(:

7 years? I really don't think you've got owt to worry about :P

He's doing Architecture so he's doing his work placement in either Australia or America while i'm in France/Germany. Keeping in touch will be difficult with time zones and stuff, and its not true what they say! Absence doesn't make the heart grow fonder, it's more like 'out of sight, out of mind' haha :zomg:

Reply 83

Ivanka

I've just finished first year at UCL, so I'm going to share my views...

Basically, prepare for high workload. You'll have to learn advanced grammar (not as obvious as at high school, at least in my case) as well as enhance your writing and speaking skills. Do not expect that your level will rise continuously unless you spend more time listening to podcasts, reading articles and talking to natives in your target language. On the other hand, I think that you can still succeed even if your level doesn't improve that much because the exams test something different.

If you have any questions with regards to UCL, feel free to PM or quote me.

Reply 84

lowri

Original post by Ivanka

Ooo, thanks very much for posting this. UCL is my firm for French and German. I'm mentally prepared for the amount of work, but is it still an enjoyable course for you? And which languages are you studying?

This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

Reply 85

Ivanka

Original post by lowri

I did Spanish and Arabic this year (my degree allows me to change Arabic for something else, I'll see how it goes). I am finding it enjoyable, basically because the course is very flexible and I can elect modules that are taught outside Spanish and Latin American Studies Department (I intend to specialise in linguistics which is not taught at the department), be it SELCS or another UCL body.

I don't study French nor German, but as they are taught within SELCS, I'd say they should be OK.

Reply 86

Buongiorno

Original post by Ivanka

What kind of modules are available in Spanish?

Reply 87

Ivanka

Original post by Buongiorno

What kind of modules are available in Spanish?

Go to http://www.ucl.ac.uk/selcs/undergraduate and then follow First-Year Courses, Second-Year Courses, and Final-Year Courses. There you'll find courses run by each department of SELCS.

Apart from Spanish Language I, I also did SPAN1220 for a term.

Reply 88

rainbow.panda

Original post by nickth

Joint honours students seem to have far more fun :smile:

I hope that's true because I'll be doing French and Spanish at Leicester (hopefully) this year!

Reply 89

cognito_08

I'm second year French student at King's.

As someone said earlier, if you want your language (particulary listening and speaking) to improve you MUST do personal work. Seek out people to speak to and listen to French radio/watch French news regularly.

If your A2 Grammar is good then you will not struggle in 1st year grammar at all.

Reading literature in a foreign language is difficult the first time around. DO start reading your core texts EARLY.
(There's some talk above about Oxbridge and literature. At King's ALL my "non-language" modules are literature or poetry... The only other option I had this year was "French History".)

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 90

lowri

Original post by Ivanka

Thanks for replying :smile:

I intend to specialise in linguistics too, but I've heard that you can only really start to choose your own modules past the 1st year.
I'm going to take another look at the UCL website now... :smile:

Reply 91

Ivanka

Original post by lowri

Thanks for replying :smile:

I intend to specialise in linguistics too, but I've heard that you can only really start to choose your own modules past the 1st year.
I'm going to take another look at the UCL website now... :smile:

If you do BA French and German, then it'll be different.