Personal Statement:Modern Languages 3

Modern Languages (German, French and Chinese) Personal Statement

Having been brought up in Belgium, I have found from an early age communicating in "foreign" languages the most rewarding challenge. At 15 I volunteered at an international music festival in Nantes. Separated from adults and English speakers altogether, I was out of my comfort zone. Conversation quickly began to flow, however, and firm relationships were forged. This experience reinforced my belief that languages are my vocation.

Using my language skills to communicate with German and French speakers is very rewarding for me therefore I take great interest in a language's syntax and grammatical structures. For this reason a career in translation and interpreting is appealing, so I have completed work experience with Wolfestone Translation Ltd, a local translation and interpreting service. While there I was fortunate to observe translators at work as well as taking part in translation exercises. Linguistically this was very challenging, but it was also enjoyable and further motivated me to reach higher levels of fluency.

My exploration into German literature began with Thomas Mann's 'Buddenbrooks', which gave me not only an insight into the lifestyle of the aristocracy in the mid 19th century, but also the historical divide between Northern and Southern Germany, as embodied in the comical character of Herr Permanander. To my surprise and interest some of these divisions are still evident in modern German culture, prompting further research on my part. I have also read 'Crime and Punishment' by Dostoyevsky and am currently reading 'L'etranger' by Albert Camus in French to broaden my knowledge of foreign literature.

At university I would like to take the opportunity to explore in depth a language outside the "traditional" European ones. Learning a new language, especially one based on an unfamiliar alphabet would be extremely demanding. However I am confident that my diligence and interest in the puzzle of how a language functions would make me an ideal student to study a language ab.initio.

After finishing my studies in Britain I intend to live and work in Germany. I have visited the country several times; on a school trip to Berlin which ignited my love of the city and on a private exchange to Wittlich, where I made a fantastic friend in my exchange partner, and had the opportunity to gain an insight into a more rural German lifestyle and attend a Gymnasium. These visits, combined with an experience in which I accompanied my father on a business trip to Frankfurt to translate for him, cemented the fascination with Germany first founded by my studies.

Beyond academic achievements I am a leader of the school's Fair Trade committee, in which we both applied for and achieved Fair Trade status for 2009. As a part of this I organised a South African themed dinner to promote the Fair Trade movement. The proceeds of this event contributed to supporting the Goedgedacht Trust, a charity based in the heart of the rural Western Cape, South Africa. Visiting the Trust myself last summer was a humbling and educating experience; I saw first hand the incredible work the Trust does to support local teenagers through further education and was privileged to work with the fantastic individuals that invest so much into the Trust.

Since June 2008 I have held a position as an 'events waitress' for a local hotel. Serving at large weddings and functions can be particularly stressful as perfection is expected at all times. I have to cope with difficult and often unusual situations, helping me to thrive under pressure and the job has improved my confidence, both in working in a team and in taking leadership.

I have no doubt that my absolute dedication to languages in terms of both culture and a means of communication makes me an ideal candidate to further my studies at university. My commitment, enthusiasm and endeavour will help me to be a highly successful linguist.

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