MFL universities - specifically Exeter

[Hockeyplayer321]

I have been reading old threads on here about modern foreign languages because that is what my DC wants to study. I was taken aback to see on one thread that Exeter is not well-regarded for MFL. Is this actually true? It is the uni my DC likes the look of the most - both the uni and the MFL course. They are also considering Southampton (which we know is good for MFL) but that is as far as research has got so far.

Bristol seemed popular from our school (Comprehensive in Cornwall) because it was deemed 'edgy' and cool, but not scary like London!
There are drugs at all universities, of course. And yet Bristol's reputation persists.

Re Exeter for MFL - old boyfriend did French and Spanish there and ended up prof of Spanish at another Russell Group uni. That was the 1980s tho!

And it gives contextual offers to hundreds of schools in our local area including our leafy comp, there's a good list freely available if people want to check if their school is on it.

Can i throw York into the mix. DD graduated from there in MFL a couple of years ago. Needed AAA - same offer from St Andrews. She rejected StA as in her opinion too quiet.
DD got a job on graduating with the EU. She then did a conference translator course as a post grad whilst working. She’s one of those not liked by Mn as she grew up trilingual. She did three languages for her degree and is adding more language accreditations so she can extend the opportunities she has as a conference translator. She’s very happy working for the EU and has no plans to leave although she was interested in a similar job with the UN at one point but then met her boyfriend at work!

Exactly @Thepleasureofyourcompany - where Newcastle has long been viewed as a party university, Bristol is viewed as a druggy University - unfortunately, these labels stick, even if the evidence is purely anecdotal, not scientific

@Thepleasureofyourcompany that list waxes and wanes. And the students tend to make the grades anyway.

My children went elsewhere - wanted to escape rather than follow the crowd!

It's quite a useful list and makes contextual offers very clear though.

Native speakers in class help others to up their game on many counts Parker231, no issues here with trilingual students here!

@ealingwestmum I do not see how they can help others. Acquiring a MFL is personal. Native speakers don’t choose the same options or even go to some language classes. It’s not remotely like school. York is typically a AAB offer now. Like nearly everywhere else! They cannot all chase AAA students. Too few of them!

And yet partying at Newcastle is entirely optional. DD isn't much of a party goer, but managed to have a decent social life without going to clubs all the time.

@clary it was another poster who said "These offers are low!"

@Thepleasureofyourcompany It is not where wild Dc go. You really are very silly to take anecdotes at face value! Maybe it’s all those comp kids coming in? Of course that’s rubbish too! Just accept it’s one of the best for MFL and the vast majority of students there are decent and hard working. Do you believe everything you are told that’s obviously embroidered and not the truth?

The reputation of Bristol is that it’s sought after by some employers. DD wanted law. So it was perfect. No one from her school was taking drugs that she associated with and not at Bristol either. Some students do have more sense. So should posters. It’s also interesting that Bristol is still highly ranked for MFL and has a good rep with employers. Just not a few parents! I could tell you a few stories about Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield students that would make anyone run a mile. So who compiles lists? Who really knows anything? All you can do is hope your student is sensible.

Unless an employer is specifically looking for a linguist, they will view a MFL degree as fulfilling the 'having a degree' requirements and will be less interested in the modules and more in your grade and where you studied.

How many employers outside of the legal profession (it's always law on MN) are interested in where prospective employees went to university these days?

Huh Tizer? Your comments get more bizarre by each thread. I commented that native speakers help DD up her game. This is not exclusive to language alone, but includes exposure to their cultural, political, historical. social input that helps non native speakers like mine to better understand their chosen language, more holistically vs language alone.

You have made an assumption that students work in singular work streams across all modules, but they don’t in many unis. A student of Islamic studies may be in 70% of DD’s classes, and yet chosen Hebrew, Turkish or Persian instead of Arabic. But they are of Islamic heritage, may speak Arabic at home and therefore by immersion with them she picks up skills from these students, whilst not being in their specific language class.

As an aside there are over 120 students studying some form of JH Spanish in her uni, some of which are native speakers. She IS in their advanced classes, and has come 1st in year end results. And has benefited from being in a high performing cohort.

On the Bristol front, my comments have been on course and engagement only. Your feedback, like any posters, is a mixture of 1st hand experience of your DD’s, which is valid, but it is still anecdotal based on one student. That studied there 10 years ago. Be equally respectful of others’ experiences and anecdotal comments that are from more recent times that help inform them and their DC on their options.

And you are not the oracle of all employers. Thankfully.

Less than previously as many more employers move to blind recruitment.

Bristol is heavily promoted on mumsnet by a handful of prolific posters whose kids went there

A few years ago a friend's daughter managed to get into Exeter for languages via clearing

To be fair @CoralBells I often mention Newcastle where appropriate because DD went there.

She didn't study law though

My don does mfl at Newcastle. Itvis great .

Haha and I am all-too aware that I go on and on about Leicester where dd had a surprisingly good experience and Lboro - which everyone sporty who is not there hates 😂😂 but where ds2 is attaining a good sports-playing degree.

I know I mentioned Bristol in a general point but on another thread I posted the negatives from my experience and some would definitely still obtain. Let’s say I’m glad neither of my 2 chose it (not bc of drugs tho).

DD didn't like Bristol because it is too hilly (she has knee joint problems). She also didn't like the feel of the place or the fact that trains home often get cancelled last minute.

Oh man yes it’s hilly! I am from the flatlands and I used to wake in the night with cramp in my legs from the unaccustomed hills! I’d forgotten that 😊

@Thepleasureofyourcompany as I posted on your thread sports science is indeed the best subject to study if your DC wants to work in, you know, sport.

Whether MFL is 'harder' is purely subjective, the 2 fields are so different it's impossible to make a meaningful comparison. And professional sports clubs looking to recruit a sports scientist – whether that's for data analysis, S&C, physio, rehab, psychology or whatever – are going to employ someone with a degree in sports science. Not someone with a degree in an MFL, whatever university they went to, or whatever grade they got.

I don't normally comment on MFL threads as I don't have any experience of language degrees. I did however acquire 4 languages as an adult including one Asian language (passing Institute of Linguists Higher in one, and Intermediate in two more, though oddly the fourth language was probably the most fluent - at least at the time.)

You acquire languages by using them. Yes lots or vocab and grammar to learn but listening, reading and speaking are key. Best done with native speakers. From them, and the material you have been reading or listening to, you get an understanding of the culture. Your first friend who speaks to you in their language is so important.

University will give you a more structured environment to learn about the literature, economy, history or whatever and presumably give you both the skills you would gain from a humanities degree and an understand of another culture.

I cannot see why you would not want native language speakers around.

Oh, and from DDs experience Bristol is very very druggy, way more than, say, her central London sixth form. I think Tizer's daughter started there well over a decade ago. I am waiting for the day she pops up on this board and says "DM you did not know the half of it."

Why would those going to Uni from a comprehensive school be wilder? Most 1st students are wild - for the majority it’s their first time living away from home without parental supervision!