Cambridge Modern and Medieval Languages (MML) Students and Applicants

Hi,

I'm in year 12 at the moment and wondered if anyone could recommend some good French literature which is not too hard. So far I've read L'Avare by Moliere and L'Etranger, both of which I really enjoyed, but I'd like to try some different authors and I'm not sure where to go next. Also, how much did you read before you applied? I'm worried I won't have enough!

Thanks

yeah so i'm on this thread for an unrelated reason, i'm not at cambridge or anything but 'un secret' by philippe grimbert is a good book thats not too heavy, its fairly easy to read and moves fast, and it has interesting potential further reading/discussion about its context etc. so maybe try that? also the film is good. but read the book before seeing the film!

i also have a question of my own - i hope this is the right place to ask it, if not i apologise!
i'm going for an interview next week at sidney sussex, for spanish and ab initio portuguese and i was just wondering if anyone could tell me if you are expected to speak in the ab initio language at all, if they would ever ask you to/put you on the spot?
its just that i said in my personal statement that i'd been studying portuguese at home,which is true, but i'm no way near being able to speak, even a little bit!
anyway.. i can't find anything on the website and so if anyone could help me i'd be so so so grateful!

yeah so i'm on this thread for an unrelated reason, i'm not at cambridge or anything but 'un secret' by philippe grimbert is a good book thats not too heavy, its fairly easy to read and moves fast, and it has interesting potential further reading/discussion about its context etc. so maybe try that? also the film is good. but read the book before seeing the film!

i also have a question of my own - i hope this is the right place to ask it, if not i apologise!
i'm going for an interview next week at sidney sussex, for spanish and ab initio portuguese and i was just wondering if anyone could tell me if you are expected to speak in the ab initio language at all, if they would ever ask you to/put you on the spot?
its just that i said in my personal statement that i'd been studying portuguese at home,which is true, but i'm no way near being able to speak, even a little bit!
anyway.. i can't find anything on the website and so if anyone could help me i'd be so so so grateful!

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yeah so i'm on this thread for an unrelated reason, i'm not at cambridge or anything but 'un secret' by philippe grimbert is a good book thats not too heavy, its fairly easy to read and moves fast, and it has interesting potential further reading/discussion about its context etc. so maybe try that? also the film is good. but read the book before seeing the film!

I really wouldn't worry about reading 'too much' or 'too little'. Read stuff you think you'll enjoy because you want to read it. I forced myself to read Candide before my interview and I didn't understand it very well and hated reading it. So now I have an irrational hatred of Voltaire. Hah. I really like Anna Gavalda - she's a contemporary author, colloquial to a certain extent, which is a breath of fresh air in French lit, and Ensemble, c'est tout was a really emotive book, I found, and very readable. The film was nowhere near as good, but it has Guillaume Canet and Audrey Tautou so it wasn't all bad She's written some short stories as well, which I also liked, but E,CT is my personal fave, anyway Huis Clos by Sartre is a short play I was recommended to read when I was in Y12, thinking about it. It was a tough read, but interesting.

Speaking of Guillaume Canet... Jeu d'enfants. Best. Film. Ever. (almost) Can't recommend it enough.

yeah so i'm on this thread for an unrelated reason, i'm not at cambridge or anything but 'un secret' by philippe grimbert is a good book thats not too heavy, its fairly easy to read and moves fast, and it has interesting potential further reading/discussion about its context etc. so maybe try that? also the film is good. but read the book before seeing the film!

i also have a question of my own - i hope this is the right place to ask it, if not i apologise!
i'm going for an interview next week at sidney sussex, for spanish and ab initio portuguese and i was just wondering if anyone could tell me if you are expected to speak in the ab initio language at all, if they would ever ask you to/put you on the spot?
its just that i said in my personal statement that i'd been studying portuguese at home,which is true, but i'm no way near being able to speak, even a little bit!
anyway.. i can't find anything on the website and so if anyone could help me i'd be so so so grateful!

I got an offer today for French and Spanish (post A-Level) from King's College Cambridge today!! Very happy indeed

Where are all the new MML-ers?!

An offer from Downing today!

Did anyone else have their A* specified? Mine has to be in either French or Greek

Congratulations! Is it for 2011 entry or 2012 deferred?

Yay for future MMl-ers!

Applied for French and Spanish (post a-level) to St Catz, got pooled and then fished by Newnham! They haven't specified the offer yet, but I imagine that it will be the standard A*AA.

The last few days have been like a rollercoaster! Well done everyone !

Where are all the new MML-ers?!

HI!

For current MML students, what are the computer facilities like for languages students? Also, which channels are available on the live satellite TV feed, specifically for French and Spanish students?

I just wanted to know about the channels that are available. Perhaps another student can tell me.