Applying to read English and Modern Languages (French) - oral proficiency?

For my college - st hildas - I applied to do English and French as a joint honours, so had only one French interview. This interview was mostly in English apart from two questions at the end. However, if those applied to do only French had one interview in English and then another entirely in French.

They won't ask you really tough questions - my interviewer asked me about the different experiences of watching a film and reading a book. This was something I'd written about in my personal statement and was vocabulary most people go over in school. I've heard of other interviewers who ask about your holiday or food or something completely irrelevant but common vocabulary, but mine was based on academics and my application.

I think I was fairly competant. If you've ever had an oral exam that had to be conversational, it was kinda like that but more relaxed and spontaneous. I did ask the interviewer to repeat a question because I wasn't sure I understood, and for my last answer I was fumbling around for this one word for about a minute and the interviewer helped me out. So I was by no means perfect, but I got an offer a anyway!

I think if you're nervous about it, try practicing spontaneous discussion with a teacher or french partner or something. But you're by no means expected to be fluent or even close to fluent. Just competant to communicate an idea as clearly as you can.

Thanks so much, this is a relief! (Although I have never had an oral exam, save the informal ones my teacher gives occasionally.) I will ask my French teacher from last year if he will help with my practicing.

As for St. Hilda's:

How do you like it? I have been reading up on it (TSR college pros and cons page), and certain aspects appeal to me, like the active drama society and the connectivity with the rest of the college. I've heard no mention of pianos, though; can I still pursue that by joining a music society even if it's through another college? And a relaxed academic atmosphere (as the thread puts it) sounds nice, but do you feel you're getting as much from your degree as people in other colleges?

I was looking at applying to Balliol, which seems to be the most concentrated centre for extracurriculars, as well as the "classic" Oxford college, or maybe Merton. That might be a matter for another thread; but I was wondering why (or if) you chose St. Hilda's and what your overview on it is.

I get my exam results tomorrow to find out if I get in for definite, so I'm not at St. Hilda's yet! (I'm faaaaaairly certain I'll get the grades though!) But I've spent four days there during the interview process, and been to an induction day a few months ago as well.

If you're into music, I think St. Hilda's is great. They've got this new music building in the college itself called the Jacqueline du Pré building that has several practice rooms with pianos that any St. Hilda's student can use for free. So I think it's quite good for musicians, especially pianists. I play the piano myself, and this facility is one of the things that attracted me to the college. Here's a link to their website where they talk about music at St. Hilda's: http://www.st-hildas.ox.ac.uk/student-life/student-life-music-st-hildas

Also, I'm not 100% certain, but I'm fairly sure that societies are across all colleges, and not in-college. I might be wrong about this, but I think you can join a society no matter what college you are in.

Obviously I can't give you a complete answer since I'm not actually at St. Hilda's yet, but from what I've experienced, St. Hilda's has a very nice atmosphere. It seems to be a very friendly environment, and I personally enjoyed that and applied there because of it - they were the friendliest college I visited. Also, there is a good amount of state school students applying there, and a good balance between boys and girls. I can't speak for their attitudes towards academics, but I'm sure they work just as hard as every other Oxford college. And the plus side is it's really pretty! There's a river on site and in summer students can use the punts for free.

To be honest, I think everyone who goes to Oxford is going to have a chance to get as much out of their degree as possible; that's more up to the individual than what college they attend. It's Oxford, so standards are going to be high across the board.

What subject are you thinking of applying for?

Well, best of luck to you, and I hope to see you there! (I am intending to apply for joint honours in English and French lit as well.)

The music/piano situation looks really cool, as do the tutors there in English and Modern Languages. I'll definitely consider applying to St. Hilda's.

The French tutor at Hilda's is probably the most friendly and committed tutor I've had. She marks work thoroughly and gives very detailed feedback, which is more than can be said of some other tutors.

The only things that might typically be seen as drawbacks of Hilda's are the fact that it is quite out of the way for Oxford standards (but still only a 15 minute walk from the centre) and the fact that it isn't a 'classic' Oxford college architecturally speaking. Of course for many these aren't problems and can even be benefits.

Maybe I misunderstand the tutorial system, but I was under the impression that if you study at St. Hilda's, all of your French tutors over the four year course are at St. Hilda's?

Also, is your tutor by chance Helen Swift, the lady from the videos? (Being interviewed by someone who has clearly delineated for you what she looks for in a prospective student certainly has its perks.)

Alongside Balliol and St. Hilda's, Wadham and Oriel appeal to me. Do you (or anyone else reading this) happen to have an opinion on these colleges?

Maybe I misunderstand the tutorial system, but I was under the impression that if you study at St. Hilda's, all of your French tutors over the four year course are at St. Hilda's?

Also, is your tutor by chance Helen Swift, the lady from the videos? (Being interviewed by someone who has clearly delineated for you what she looks for in a prospective student certainly has its perks.)

Alongside Balliol and St. Hilda's, Wadham and Oriel appeal to me. Do you (or anyone else reading this) happen to have an opinion on these colleges?

Hey, gimme a shout on everything Oriel, and I know a few people at the other colleges you mentioned so can definitely provide some very biased judgement there too.

In first year the core literature modules are normally taught by your college tutor. From second year onwards you specialise and are sent to tutors from different colleges if need be (so my tutor at Trinity is an Early Modern specialist but I chose two papers in Medieval French literature so I had Helen Swift at Hilda's for those).

Thanks, biased judgment is wanted!

I guess I'll fire away. I've heard Oriel is historically renowned for its English program (half of my desired joint honours), but is that relevant today? (Well, for that matter, what is your subject?) Would you say that all the colleges are more or less academically equal?

Also, are you part of any clubs/societies? I read a rather cynical article contrasting Oxford with Yale - it was pretty down on both - but it said that although Oxford abounds with student societies, belonging to one is generally a social faux pas and seen as a sign of un-seriousness. This strikes me as a bit ridiculous; why would you turn down the opportunity to collaborate creatively with some of the best minds of your generation? Why would, say, an English major turn down the chance to understand Shakespeare from an actor or director's perspective? I certainly hope this article is full of ****, as most other Oxford-related articles seem to imply, but let me know if otherwise.

And while the arrogant American in me is still on his soapbox, I might add: what's up with gowns to dinner? I mean, literally, what is the point? I love history, but the liberal reputation of Wadham appeals to me as someone who is used to a more casual, uniform-less lifestyle. Do you know if the difference in progressiveness between Wadham and the other colleges is actually that pronounced?

I unfortunately don't know too much about the English course. The people doing it though do seem to love it though, and it seems an average amount of work. There are some colleges which are historically more academic, such as Merton and New, check out the Norrington table for general trends rather than exact positions, as of course cohorts vary a little.

Honestly I'm not in many societies, I sometimes go to a political drinks thingy, and the Union, but nothing much past that. Then again, I'm not particularly interesting. I think that a lot of people do partake in uni-wide societies a little bit, and the few that centre there whole life around it do seem generally a bit odd, but then again I don't really know people who do that, since they're not really around much. If you are really interested in a society and gain a lot from it though, who is anyone to judge that, as long as you sound passionate and still remain socially active, then I don't understand how anyone can put you at fault for that at all. A lot of people at Oriel at least take part on college socities, sports etc so there is little time for university ones.

Okay, so gowns are only required for Formal hall. So at Oriel we have two dinners a night, a bog-standard informal hall, where you can come in whatever really, and then formal, which is a 3 course waiter served meal for a fiver which you have to come in with fairly formal attire (suits jackets ties and equivalent) with gowns, but people really take it in their stride and it doesn't have to be centric to your life. Plenty of people go around in trackies and hoodies all day but cherish having a formal hall with your mates a couple of days a week.
At Wadham, you wouldn't have any opportunity to do that unless you went with a friend to their formal hall at another college, I just think it's nice to have the option at hand rather than being forced not to.

When you say the differences in progressiveness, I really don't think colleges are different at all in terms of progressiveness if you use the word in its basic definition, not the definition that it has been coined by the left to describe their general policies. For example some would argue that having no formal hall a la Wadham is progressive, yet I would really argue sapping someone of the choice and opportunity is rather regressive.

Hope that helps.

It's interesting that you contrast being involved in lots of societies with being social; I would've thought the two to be almost synonymous. That's useful to know.

As for meals, your three main daily options are informal hall, formal hall, and off-campus restaurants, I take it? So going and not going to hall are equally viable options (financially, socially, etc.)? And can't you have informal hall with your mates any day of the week?

Supposing instead of reading English and French, I choose to read Philosophy and French, do you think that would change which college I apply to? And would it be reasonable to apply twice, once for English and ML and once for Philosophy and ML (perhaps to two different colleges)?

For my college - st hildas - I applied to do English and French as a joint honours, so had only one French interview. This interview was mostly in English apart from two questions at the end. However, if those applied to do only French had one interview in English and then another entirely in French.

They won't ask you really tough questions - my interviewer asked me about the different experiences of watching a film and reading a book. This was something I'd written about in my personal statement and was vocabulary most people go over in school. I've heard of other interviewers who ask about your holiday or food or something completely irrelevant but common vocabulary, but mine was based on academics and my application.

I think I was fairly competant. If you've ever had an oral exam that had to be conversational, it was kinda like that but more relaxed and spontaneous. I did ask the interviewer to repeat a question because I wasn't sure I understood, and for my last answer I was fumbling around for this one word for about a minute and the interviewer helped me out. So I was by no means perfect, but I got an offer a anyway!

I think if you're nervous about it, try practicing spontaneous discussion with a teacher or french partner or something. But you're by no means expected to be fluent or even close to fluent. Just competant to communicate an idea as clearly as you can.