A-levels for languages at Oxbridge

Hello! The only language I do at GCSE level is Spanish and over the last few years, I have developed a huge passion for it. It is by far my favourite subject and also by far my best. I want to do languages at university and I do want to at least try to go to Oxbridge to do that.

So, naturally I'm absolutely taking Spanish at A-level. However, I want to do French along with Spanish at uni (I want to teach French + Spanish) And for that I would need it as an A-Level. Is it too hard to start from scratch? The 6th form I'm going to also does German but I think French would be much more beneficial.

So, if I did take both French + Spanish, I wouldn't know what to take as a 3rd. Pretty much everyone who I've seen get into Oxbridge for languages took an English Literature A-Level and my 6th form says that it is highly advised to take it if you want to apply to Oxbridge for languages. My problem is that it's not my best subject and although I don't mind it, there are other subjects I like more. (Yes I am aware that there is literature in language A-Levels but it is a low enough amount for me to still enjoy it). So I don't know what I should do.

If I don't do English Lit, I would take History. I enjoy the subject much more and the grades I get are much better. Would I still have a shot at Oxbridge if I took it over English Lit?

Thanks!

Just a quick addition! My absolute dream would be French/Spanish/German but surely that would just be a horrendous decision across all aspects?

Hiya there are two languages courses you could possibly take for languages but since you seem to prefer to do history over english lit the history and modern language course seems to suit you more here is the link for more info https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/history-and-modern-languages
And the other one if you are interested aswell https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/modern-and-medieval-languages
hoped I helped xx

https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/modern-languages/subject-area-32%3A-european-languages-and-other-areas-studies

Looks like you'd need both French and Spanish A-level but I have no idea

I've just looked at those courses now, if I didn't do French, then History+Spanish would probably be my back up plan if I did take it as an A-Level, which I don't think I can say about English. I would love to take all three languages but I'm worried that I'll be both completely locking myself into languages as well as really struggling if I haven't done 2 of them at GCSE. Thank you so much!

Most other languages than French are available with an ab initio language at Oxford and Cambridge. It's probably more straightforward to do another language and then pick up French later through an SKE when you are training to be a teacher. I don't think doing an A-level in a language you haven't done a GCSE in is realistic whatsoever. The A-level course is designed assuming competence with the GCSE syllabus.

Note that if you don't enjoy English literature, you may not enjoy an Oxbridge (or at least, Oxford) language degree that much. They are I gather largely degrees in literature, except the language of the texts happens to be whatever target language(s) you are studying. Something to consider. Other languages degrees may be somewhat more varied in their emphases.

Yes I believe you do, for Oxford at least. For Cambridge I think I need French but not Spanish which is quite unfortunate

Most other languages than French are available with an ab initio language at Oxford and Cambridge. It's probably more straightforward to do another language and then pick up French later through an SKE when you are training to be a teacher. I don't think doing an A-level in a language you haven't done a GCSE in is realistic whatsoever. The A-level course is designed assuming competence with the GCSE syllabus.

Note that if you don't enjoy English literature, you may not enjoy an Oxbridge (or at least, Oxford) language degree that much. They are I gather largely degrees in literature, except the language of the texts happens to be whatever target language(s) you are studying. Something to consider. Other languages degrees may be somewhat more varied in their emphases.

What's unfortunate? The fact that you need A-level Spanish for Oxford or the fact that you don't need A-level Spanish for Cambridge?

That for Cambridge, If I knew French and not Spanish, I would meet the entry requirements but because I know Spanish and not French, I wouldn't hit the requirements

Most other languages than French are available with an ab initio language at Oxford and Cambridge. It's probably more straightforward to do another language and then pick up French later through an SKE when you are training to be a teacher. I don't think doing an A-level in a language you haven't done a GCSE in is realistic whatsoever. The A-level course is designed assuming competence with the GCSE syllabus.

Note that if you don't enjoy English literature, you may not enjoy an Oxbridge (or at least, Oxford) language degree that much. They are I gather largely degrees in literature, except the language of the texts happens to be whatever target language(s) you are studying. Something to consider. Other languages degrees may be somewhat more varied in their emphases.

I did also speak to my Spanish teacher about this not too long ago and she said that I would find the French course ok and that I wouldn't struggle too much (This was about German but I'm assuming the difficulty won't differ a whole lot between the languages)