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Join The Student Room TodayBe part of the UK's largest and fastest growing student community. It's free to join and a lot of fun - Get inspired, express your ideas, interact and share Personal Statement:Modern Languages 2From The Student RoomTSR Wiki > University > Applying to University > Personal Statement Library > Modern Languages 2
Modern Languages Personal StatementThe depth of culture and history in Europe is vast. I have always been fascinated by language. I first gained my taste for languages as a small child, being brought up bilingually, and spending my summers in Sweden. I later went on to study French and German at secondary school. I did well in both, winning the German prize in year 11 and in year 12 the German and French prizes for attainment. I want to continue with my studies in at least one of these languages, as I believe that even A level studies are merely the tip of the iceberg. I would like to develop my knowledge of other cultures, and I feel the best way do this is by studying a new language ab initio. Another northern European language strikes me as the most interesting way forward. In 2004 I took part in a German school exchange in Bad Windsheim. In July 2006 I returned there independently for a further week when I did work experience both in a pharmacy and with a vet. Spending time in Germany gave me a valuable opportunity to find out more about both Germany and its people, and to improve my German. I have enjoyed travelling independently in recent years, exploring the UK, Sweden, France, Germany and Denmark. I always prefer to travel by rail, as it affords the perfect chance to view the landscape and observe cultural differences. I read a wide variety of genres, from crime to fantasy and I particularly like reading translated works and comparing the way authors portray their own cultures (for example Dario Fo and Henning Mankell). My role as a student librarian for four years at xxxx High and my part-time job at a local award winning bookshop both involved me in many literary events. I attended Poetry Live in 2005, and the Gothenburg Book Fair Bok och Bibliotek in 2005 and 2006. At the 2005 fair I interviewed the author Philip Pullman, and later had an article published on a website. I enjoy watching films in Swedish, Danish, German and French. As well as going to British and foreign theatres I have organised a school theatre trip to London. I keep up-to-date with current affairs by reading foreign newspapers and watching foreign news on the internet. I was involved with Comenius Youth News for three years and at a gathering of representatives I was able to chat with both Germans and Norwegians. During the project I wrote a number of articles and was involved in the running of its website. Over the years I have been involved in the Nordic community at the Scandinavian Church in Liverpool, helping at fundraising events, along with Swedes, Norwegians, Finns and Danes. Last year I acted as a barrister in the Bar Mock Trial competition. Having won our regional heat we finished second in the national finals at the Old Bailey. I thrived under the pressure of this role and gained a valuable insight into an area I knew little about, whilst also enjoying myself. I have played rugby (reaching a national quarter final), tennis, the piano and the saxophone, and am thus aware that only practice leads to success. Studying languages at university will provide me with a thought provoking and stimulating experience. It will give me life-long transferable skills and a high level of fluency in two languages. It will extend and develop my enthusiasm for languages. I am convinced that modern languages is the choice for me. Universities Applied to:
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CommentsGeneral Comments:This personal statement was written in 2006 and used for applications to courses beginning in September 2007. It is 3328 characters long. Comments on the statement: |
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