Modern languages - Warwick? Southampton? Bath ?Cardiff?

[snowyowl70]

My year 12 DD1 is starting the Open Day rounds this month (Cardiff and Cambridge) and just wondered if anyone had any thoughts as to her choices (at this stage). She wants to do French and German and possibly with European Studies (Bath/Southampton). Could do with advice re Southampton as is so far from us (4 hour drive) and was hoping not to have to drive down for the Open Day as her course requires interview so she will be asked down then if she is on the interview list. Anyone know what the accomodation is like? Reasonably priced ? I see the Uni has several campuses - is this an issue in terms of getting to know people from other courses ? Any thoughts on Cardiff ?

Does she want to focus on literature, language or both?

Bath is very language focused (like Leeds and Aston) whereas Cambridge and Cardiff are much more literature I think (Dniece is French and Spanish but wanted language so I know more about these).

Some courses have all teaching in the target language (harder but really builds language skills) and some teach in a mixture of English and Language.

Some courses also offer modules on translation which can be useful if this a possible area of future work.

Sorry I don't know Southampton.

However DD did languages at Cambridge fairly recently. Yes you do have to cover some literature but the course progresses you can focus a lot on language, history, thought and linguistics and if a student does not wish to do much literature they can design their choices so they do little of it.

She is more language focused but interested in history/politics modules too and is quite happy to do some literature. Long term would like to work for Diplomatic service or in EU etc so don't know what her best options are really. Think she will have to see what her AS marks are like as Cambridge said needs high A grades to be considered for interview . Predicted 4 A's at AS so should be ok for lots of other good universities.

DNiece went for just languages in the end, but she was considering International Politics and Spanish at Aston. Not sure if you can do two languages but it might be worth a look.

DD went to Cambridge for French & German - but Southampton was her reserve as they gave her an EE offer! (Her other choices were Durham, Warwick & Bath)

Sorry - meant to say SOuthampton offerred a chance to study a third language as well. Her friend just graduated from there (also languages) and loved it.

DS has SOuthampton as reserve, but for a different subject.

Thanks Milliways - how long ago was the EE offer ?? Think standard offer is now AAB !! What is the accommodation like at Southampton ?

It was 4 years ago. Offer was an AAB/ABB standard (last year before A* came in) and they interviewed her, then phoned to explain they made a few of these offers each year and really wanted her :)

Her other offers were AAA/AAA/AAB/BBB!

I can't remember too much about the accommodation but think it was good. They get a free bus pass for the first year as well - but they don't get an NUS card. Good luck with Cambridge. Has your DD considered linguistics? My DD switched to this and loved it after her linguistics modules in first year - and it is a tripos on it's own now.

Thanks for that. She did a taster day at York a few weeks ago and did a linguistics workshop (enjoyed it and happy to take some modules in it but not focus on it) and a Chinese workshop (decided definitely not for her but may try and pick up Russian). Cambridge is an aspiration but as a Northerner from a state school - albeit with good GCSEs (8A*s and 5 As)- she is keeping an open mind on her chances until she knows her AS marks.

Please don't rule Cambridge out straight away - a close friend of mine is/was a Northerner from a state school, with worse GCSEs than your daughters, and not exactly stellar AS module results - and she got in!
Bath is lovely, I remember loving it when I visited the university. Good luck wherever she decides! :)

Your DD must have really impressed them !!

Thanks Lexagon ! She is just trying to be realistic to avoid being gutted if she doesn't get in- a friend applied to study History there last year and didn't get in and she considers her friend far brighter than herself ( but I suspect my DD may interview better as much more outgoing and confident) . I think she may fall in love with Bath though when we visit and she loves the look of the course there.

My DD was from a state comp too (in South) as were lots of the friends she made there. She did have amazing grades but a friend had 10 A* GCSEs and 5 A grade AS and A2 and didn't get in so it's not all grades. DD did attend an adult French language class and arranged her own exchange trip which gave her language interest stuff to talk about though.

DD1 is currently in Lyon, France on her second visit to her French pen pal on her independently organised exchange ! She has even been to school with her the last few days. She is also going as a leader on a Swiss scout camp in the summer running workshops on women's rights/issues in German !!!! (she is suitably terrified as German is her second language !) Staff at school are brilliant lending her French/German films too so don't know that she could do much more. Oh yes, she is working towards her Queens Guide award and for her new skill she is going to try and learn some basic Russian .

My DD who did languages at Cambridge was also a Northerner from a comprehensive. Shealso got very interested in linguistics and did a fair amount of it.

My daughter is at Trinity College Dublin doing European Studies which involves two languages, plus lots of eg history of European thought, culture etc. She's loving it and is off to Sciences Po for her year abroad next year. You do need 4 A levels, but can apply as an add-on as it's not through UCAS.