Cambridge Modern and Medieval Languages (MML) Students and Applicants

Wow, butterfly girl, that course sounds great! I'd love to go on something like that, as I get really easily bored in A level lessons too.

City_chic, really sorry to hear you didn't get in.

For my interview, I read some Garcia Lorca (Bodas de Sangre and Yerma) and Esquivel (Como Agua Para Chocolate) and for French I read 'Les Petits Enfants du Siecle, Les Trois Contes, L'Etranger and La Chute. I also read a translation of Madame Bovary.

Is anyone on here taking AEA French or Spanish?

but I didnt actually know that- I assumed all 1A papers were compulsory- are they not? Do you know if people can choose to do both literary and linguistic all the way through their mml course?

For 1A you have to choose one scheduled paper which for French and Spanish is either Literature or Structures and Varieties (linguistics). It's slightly different for other languages which I'm sure other people can clarify. So basically in first year for each language you can either do literature OR linguistics although you could do say literature for French and linguistics for Spanish. However in later years I think you can combine literature and linguistics. It's all on the MML website though if you want to have a look.

As for AEAs, they're not too bad. I did French and Spanish last year if anyone wants to know anything about them. Just do practice papers and you'll be fine.

City_Chic, if you're thinking about reapplying I would definitely recommend doing the AEAs as I think they definitely make your application stronger, especially if you can get distinction. I reapplied (also mainly because I wasn't really happy with any of my other choices) and obviously I don't actually know but I feel like they probably helped. Feel free to PM me if you want any advice about the whole reapplying thing.

Aw, thanks I'm seriously considering re-applying this year, but it's really quite a big decision to make I suppose. But then again I'm not too happy with the choices left that I've got so it'd be the best thing to do perhaps.

I've heard that 'Les Petits Enfants du Siecle' is supposed to be really good. I'll check that one out.

definitely reapply!
And id try to get 90% in your A2 modules if you can (not that it would severly disadvatage you if you didnt) and definitely have a go at the AEAs
basically, do everything you can to strengthen your application-within reason

My opinion is, while reading 'good' books' in french are worth doing, you want to have a very good handle on the big names- id say thats much more important because it shows a more intellectuall slant on your interest in languages (thus you are more intellectual generally and seem better suited to cambridge & its course)

so id familiarize yourself with hugo, baudelaire, flaubert, moliere, camus, satre, rousseau, zola, voltaire (candide), balzac, beckett (wiki page on french literature has a section with the major writers/works/ playwrites/poets of each century. and read a bit about all the various literary movements: romanticism, the parnisans, realism, symbolism, surrealism- bc theyre especially important in french literature and read a little about the significant historical events of french history (in particular the revolutions)

you dont need to do this- but it would certainly strengthen your case if youre really serious about having another shot at cambridge. also- if might be worth reading a few books from their reading list (somewhere with the Fr 1A papers on the mml site- i could find it for you if you cant)

the more you read, the more at home you'll feel- generally as an intellectual and you'll probably find certain areas appeal to you especially- so if you could talk about something intellectual and demonstrate insight and passion that would really impress.

On the subject of the Cambridge reading list; would it go against you at all if it appeared that you were only reading books that you saw on there to try and specifically impress them at Cambridge. Like 'sucking up' in a way?

If you actually genuinely liked them, then that would be great. If you were to just read them to look good, there's not much point - much better to read stuff you enjoy! Les Petits Enfants du Siecle is good, if slightly depressing, but it's probably better to get the edition with commentary, as it has explanations of some of the French slang terms.

Oh, and my idea of 'critical acclaim' was Wikipedia and Sparknotes - it's what happens when your local library is rubbish!

Errggh, I really must remind my French and Spanish teachers about the AEAs!

I'm not sure if you can decline them,but you're obviously really good at languages, so you hopefully won't need as much time to prepare as you think. If it all gets too much for you though, you could always drop it, as it's more important to do well in your A levels. If you want any help with GCSE Spanish, PM me - I did GCSE Spanish in Years 10 and 11 having never done Spanish before, whereas everyone else in the class had studied it for 2 years before that, so I had to do some very quick catching up! It was scary but worth it in the end.

On the subject of the Cambridge reading list; would it go against you at all if it appeared that you were only reading books that you saw on there to try and specifically impress them at Cambridge. Like 'sucking up' in a way?

I'm not sure if my school has any record of pupils doing AEAs... not as far as I know anyway. I'd have to ask the examination officer probably and ask about it. How hard are they really though? Are there practise papers available too? Also, if you fail it, can you just decline it without the unis knowing you ever sat it? Also... lol, would a Merit in it still be good in an admissions tutor's eyes? That's terrific that you got in a second time around. Can I ask if you were pooled the first time? I'll probably take you up on the PM thing at some point, thanks

Yep definitely see if your school can offer them at all. If they don't, pester them until they introduce it
The idea of AEAs is that they're based on what you're normally studying for your A level but harder questions ie you don't have to do any extra revision. As I saw it they wouldn't take up too much time as it was just a 3 hour exam and a couple of past papers to practise. It's difficult to put a measure on how hard they are, it's harder reading and listening comprehension, fill in the gap exercises, probably some rephrasing exercises and a 500 word discursive or creative essay (if I remember rightly!)
The best way to see is to have a look at some past papers. OCR does the French and their website seems to be pretty rubbish and doesn't have any past papers but there is some related info here http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/aea/french/documents.html
If it helps the Edexcel website has a specimen paper for Spanish here http://www.edexcel.org.uk/quals/aea/9881
I'm sure you could find some actual past papers if you google it. I actually think I may have got an old French paper off our very own TSR so search the language forums here as well!
As for marks, I don't know whether you can decline it but I guess you can just choose not to put it on your UCAS form. And yes I'm sure they will be impressed with a merit - I got a merit for French and a distinction for Spanish.
I asked about AEAs at an open day I went to before applying the second time. They said they looked on them very favourable and it shows you can bridge the gap between school and uni. They also said they'd give a medal to anyone who got distinction in physics! Ok so we're not doing physics here but that shows they do value them.
What else? Oh yes, I was pooled the first time...although I slightly suspect I was automatically pooled as I fitted the criteria, who knows. And you're right, it's definitely better to apply to a different college, clean slate and all that.
Anything else, just ask!

To be honest I'm not actually sure what processes schools have to go through for you to be able to sit an exam. The examinations officer should know though, or be able to find out.
My teachers were very helpful and marked the papers I did and answered any questions. We also had a half hour 'Oxbridge/AEA' class every two weeks doing harder grammar and such like. I hope your teachers do give you some support as it's in their interests as well that you do well
There is listening, I think it's split a quarter for reading, quarter listening and half writing. The listening's in the same style as for A2 but the language level is harder and you have to write a bit more.
And no problem, I like to be of help!