The common prefix shared by the words "monolingual" and "monochrome" speaks volumes to me, as I believe that a life lived in one language must be grey and cold, lacking the brilliant colours that foreign languages bring. My study of languages has honed my investigational skills through literary and linguistic analysis, as well as enabling me to discover new, original mindsets and thus develop as a person.
I have been learning German for 6 years and have become an ardent advocate of the beauty of the language, which captivated my imagination and enthusiasm right from the start. The literature is so rich and diverse, truly reflecting the development of Germany and how passion and emotion flourished throughout years of repression. I have particularly enjoyed exploring the Sturm und Drang and the Weimarer Klassik literature movements through 18th century poems such as Goethe's "Prometheus" and "Grenzen der Menschheit", which are fascinating to analyse in their treatment of themes such as the establishment of the individual and rebellion against authority.
As an adamant believer in raising the profile of the German language in Britain, I have recently been awarded the title of British Ambassador for the German Language by the German Foreign Office. This summer I studied German intensively as part of a Goethe-Institut Pasch-Kurs in Schwaebisch Hall and achieved the Goethe-Zertifikat B2. This incredible opportunity allowed me to explore many different facets of German history and culture as well as direct a play, present a music evening and interview politicians. In April I spent two weeks in a Stuttgart Gymnasium as a teaching assistant; I not only taught all age ranges in both English and German, but also saw "Was Ihr Wollt" and experienced the unforgettable "Die Lange Nacht der Museen". Seeing the work of Otto Dix and his contemporaries instilled in me the significance of the symbiotic relationship between culture and society, which is particularly relevant to the study of foreign literature in its historical context.
In my free time I am teaching myself French which, combined with my previous study of Latin, benefits my understanding and appreciation of Spanish. Having a command of both a Romantic and a Germanic language extends my fascination for Western Europe, as each language opens up very different cultures, societies and attitudes. As German literature can be controlled and restrained, Spanish literature, in contrast, can be breath-taking and passionate. I particularly admire the way the playwright García Lorca structured and directed his play "Las Bodas De Sangre" to mimic an orchestral symphony, placing emphasis on rhythm rather than individual words. Lorca's love poetry also fascinates me with its stark portrayal of intense, often melodramatic, emotion set against a bleak landscape, mirroring Spain's political and economic climate at the time. The repression of Spanish dialects during Franco's regime is also an area which has caught my interest, encouraging me to research the impact it had both linguistically and socially.
This July I represented my school at the Multinational Youth Exchange, which enlightened me to how essential the EU is in creating valuable international cohesion. Additionally, through my work in the Comenius project with my school's Young Chamber, I have had experience of interpreting, translating to tight deadlines and collaborating in a multinational team, developing lexes encompassing both colloquial and subject-specific language.
In future, as well as reaching proficiency in German and Spanish, I intend to study Russian and Estonian, two very different yet demanding languages. There is never a chance of boredom when becoming a linguist, as the journey to fluency is continually challenging, often surprising, but always dynamic. As Ludwig Wittgenstein simply stated, "The limits of my language are the limits of my universe", and I intend to extend those limits to the furthest possible degree.
Universities Applied to:
- University of Oxford (German and Spanish) - Offer (AAA) Firm
- Durham University (Modern Languages) - Offer (AAB) Insurance
- University of St Andrews (German and Spanish) - Offer (AAB)
- University of Edinburgh (German and Spanish) - Offer (AAB)
- Bristol University (German and Spanish) - Offer (ABB)
Grades Achieved:
- German - Grade A
- Spanish - Grade A*
- English Language - Grade A
- English Literature - Grade A*
