My top choice is actually at Liverpool to do Combined Social Science in French, psych and egyptology...quite hard to write a PS covering all three! I am 3 lines over the limit, so any help on what I can remove or add will be greatly appreciated!
Languages have interested me ever since I started learning French in middle school. I have enjoyed learning languages and always revelled in being able to communicate to people from other countries. A life-long dream for me is to be bilingual and I hope that by taking a degree including a foreign language, my goal will be achieved. French is the language I wish to continue at university because it is one of the most beautiful languages in the world and I am fascinated by life in francophone countries. Although I have not studied French at post-16 level, I have never allowed my ability of French to slip, and I have continued to learn the language in my spare time.
My A-levels in science subjects have taught me to be inquisitive and to look at things with a logical mind. This kind of thinking will be beneficial when it comes to learning a language full-time. Psychology was my favourite subject in Sixth Form and I would love to be able to continue this at university alongside French. I am fascinated by the workings of the mind and I hope to further my knowledge in this subject. My A-level in Biology has fuelled my interest in the human body and I am sure that this will provide me with a good basis to study Psychology at degree level.
I have recently completed six months of voluntary work at a residential home. For the summer of 2004, I worked full time at a holiday club for children with profound learning difficulties and mental health problems. I was able to learn a lot about language acquisition as well as a basic level of makaton sign language. I thoroughly enjoyed working at the holiday club and I felt I was able to put my skills to good use when working with the children. Although the job was hard, it was a rewarding experience I am glad to have had.
I am taking a gap year starting in September 2004 and I will be working as an auxiliary nurse at a hospital until February 2005, when I am going to China to teach English for six months. I have worked with small groups of children at my school to help them prepare for their exams in English. I think that going abroad and teaching English will not only make me more confident and mature, it will also open up new doorways for me in terms of jobs and lifestyle. I am currently learning Mandarin Chinese which, although is very difficult, is a language that is very important in today's world and a skill I will need for my time in China.
In my spare time, I like to practise and perform music. I play the piano, the alto saxophone and I sing. I have reached Grade 5 on the piano and I recently passed my Grade 8 singing exam with a merit. I am in a number of groups, such as the Isle of Wight Youth Concert Band, the Voices of the Isle of Wight Choir, and my school's orchestra and choir. I thoroughly enjoy being in these groups because I like to work with others participating in something that I really have a passion for. Being a member of these musical groups helps me to express myself and build upon my teamwork skills. Because of my love of languages, I have learnt to speak some basic Italian, Spanish, Modern Greek, German and Mandarin Chinese. Holidays to these countries have enabled me to use my language skills, which I wholly enjoyed. I am also fascinated by Egypt and would love to learn more about ancient Egyptian culture and especially the language.
A joint degree in a language and another subject would enable me to bring my interests and skills together in a very practical way. I believe learning a second language to be of utmost importance for all people and I hope to bridge the gap between people who don't speak English and myself. I know that my university experience will broaden my horizons and further develop my character. My drive, compassion, team spirit, work ethic and calm determination are qualities I believe will serve me well in a demanding, yet stimulating language degree.