UCL Modern Languages Interview

Hey,
I'm new to this site, so this is my first post. I was just wondering whether anyone here knows what the Modern Languages interview is like at UCL? I received a letter yesterday inviting me to come for an interview, but I don't really know what to expect. I know that it is less formal than an Oxbridge interview, but is there any particular way I should prepare myself for it? Thanks,
Corinna

Reply 1

WastingMyThyme

Hey there, I'm in the same boat there- got my letter last week about an interview next wednesday! Scary or what hey ?! Would be interested to hear what people know already about them ?

All I know so far is that obviously, part of the interview is conducted in the previously studied language and that it really isn't on the same level as an Oxbridge one, like you said. A friend of mine had his interview there for chemistry and said the questions were raaaaather vague.. not that that's much help to you!

Anyway let's have some replies. . !!

Reply 2

Shadow X

can anyone shed some light on their UCL language interviews... please

Reply 3

polly423

Sure, I was interviewed for French and Spanish last year, and the interview wasn't really that bad. It lasted about 20 mins, 10 mins for each language, i was interviewed by two people, one from each department and for each language, I basically had to talk about why UCL, my a-level subjects, my interest in the languages and then converse in the two languages for 3-4 mins each x

Reply 4

username107348

7

I had mine a few weeks ago for French and Italian. I was interviewed by the Italian department so luckily I didn't have to speak any French and I am learning Italian from scratch. It was only a sort of conversation about me and my interests. My personal statement didn't even come into it. I was asked to talk about any book I had recently read and stuff like that. It's more of a chat thab an interview really, but I believe that if you are interviewed by the department who's language you are currently learning you will be required to speak a small amount of the language.

Reply 5

Joanna May

15

whistlecru

I had mine a few weeks ago for French and Italian. I was interviewed by the Italian department so luckily I didn't have to speak any French and I am learning Italian from scratch. It was only a sort of conversation about me and my interests. My personal statement didn't even come into it. I was asked to talk about any book I had recently read and stuff like that. It's more of a chat thab an interview really, but I believe that if you are interviewed by the department who's language you are currently learning you will be required to speak a small amount of the language.

Mine was exactly like this (in fact I daresay I was actually at the same interview as this person, which is weird!). The guy asked me why I wanted to study Italian, I said something about visiting Rome and being interested in ruins, and we chatted from there. It was really informal, and it's not a test, you're allowed to be wrong about things :smile:

Reply 6

username107348

7

Joanna May

Mine was exactly like this (in fact I daresay I was actually at the same interview as this person, which is weird!). The guy asked me why I wanted to study Italian, I said something about visiting Rome and being interested in ruins, and we chatted from there. It was really informal, and it's not a test, you're allowed to be wrong about things :smile:

Lol. Was yours Wed 21st November?

Reply 7

Joanna May

15

whistlecru

Lol. Was yours Wed 21st November?

Yes, it was :smile:

I presume you got an offer, if you've come back to answer questions?

Reply 8

username107348

7

Joanna May

Yes, it was :smile:

I presume you got an offer, if you've come back to answer questions?

Yeh I did, BBB so I'm well chuffed. What 'bout you?

Reply 9

Shadow X

Hi there...

I had my UCL interview yesterday 12th)

The interviewer said that UCL would get back to me in about 2 weeks.

Is this true??

How long did they take to get back to you?

thanks

Reply 10

Bella_trixxx

I had mine yesterday too, and they said they'd take a month! :frown:

Reply 11

Joanna May

15

Shadow X

How long did they take to get back to you?

They interviewed me on the Wednesday afternoon and I had a reply by the Friday evening.

whistlecru

Yeh I did, BBB so I'm well chuffed. What 'bout you?

Yeah, ABB. Mine was for French and Italian though, which is one of the more competitive combinations. Was yours straight French?

Reply 12

Mumintroll

Hi, did any of you who have been interviewed at UCL have it during a "modern languages open day"; if so, what did that, aside from the interview itself, consist of?

Reply 13

Bella_trixxx

Not much, really; quick talk about the course by some members of staff, a tour around the campus by the students, then an afternoon full of interviews :smile:

And I think they also played a silent film somewhere, but I didn't go to that...

Reply 14

j03926

Well I sent off my application for Spanish & Russian on 19th November but I still haven't heard anything whatsoever. Is this usually the case?

Reply 15

Bella_trixxx

I don't think it matters really; they've told me they'll take a while now because of Christmas and such...
And, YAY! Someone who's applying for the same course as me at almost exactly the same unis! :biggrin:

Reply 16

rougefatale

1

Don't worry, the UCL interviewer (at least the one from the German department) was really friendly and he really made me feel enthusiastic about going to UCL and London in general. They're honestly just interested in getting to know you, they don't want to put you through some horrific test or anything!

And they're very quick too- I got the decision the very day after my interview. Good luck! :biggrin:

Reply 17

Taemon

12

The interview's very much a two-way thing. If you ask questions about the course, or about suggested background reading, or about anything else that comes to mind (within reason!), you'll be showing that you're a passionate and interested candidate who's really thinking hard about the course you're applying for. It also means that they have less time to ask you questions!

As for time scales.. I had an interview on the 5th December, and had an offer by the 11th (ABB, French with ab initio Italian).

Reply 18

tomjaa

rougefatale

Don't worry, the UCL interviewer (at least the one from the German department) was really friendly and he really made me feel enthusiastic about going to UCL and London in general. They're honestly just interested in getting to know you, they don't want to put you through some horrific test or anything!

And they're very quick too- I got the decision the very day after my interview. Good luck! :biggrin:

yeah. thats what i thought before the interview. and i was right. i was grilled for 10 minutes on Spanish literature (themes, context etc). A bit like an oral essay. pretty horrible. maybe its different for other candidates, but my interview was pretty much hell.

UCL Modern Languages Interview

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