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.

The content of the courses offered by each university can really vary so I would also take this into account depending on the languages.

At least when I studied MFL a few years ago, York and Warwick had a stronger "linguistics" approach to language whereas Durham favoured literature / language history-type modules.

I studied at Durham and the language school was excellent.

You really are very silly to take anecdotes at face value!

Silly to listen to people I know in RL rather than you? Goodness. That's a bit arrogant.

DD's doing Double Hons History at Exeter, has loved it and will be doing post grad there too. It's a good Uni and lovely City. AFAICS, their pastoral care is not bad, and they've been mostly great with DD's health condition. The main problem seems to be Rich Entitled Students, but you'll get those anywhere Redbrick and more at Oxbridge.

Sorry Joint Hons....am so exhausted I told a delivery man our address didn't exist!

@Thepleasureofyourcompany My first hand experience in real life is routinely trashed! It’s MN at its most horrible. Only some views are valid and they must be a view that says Bristol is awful despite never having had a Dc there. Around 3 of us had Dc at Bristol. Only one of us had a Dc studying MFL. So I’ll leave it there. I’ll also reiterate that you can avoid anyone taking drugs anywhere. We single out drugs but accept students being routinely drunk.

Tizer, in which year did your DD start at Bristol?

Country lines has had a massive effect in terms of drug use across the country. In the past when I posted about issue (and I would assert that you are often more trasher than trashee) the response on this board has been, effectively, that there was something wrong with DD. That she were some form of Billy-no-mates. Yet PMs told a different story. A lot of other students were struggling as a result of the drugging/clubbing/drinking behaviour of their flatmates and the lack of pastoral care at the University.

DD also had (albeit lockdown) experience of Imperial and DS went to LSE. A totally different, and much more learning focussed, vibe and one which suited them. DD has said that Bristol would be a great place if it were not for the drugs. Seeing her off at Paddington now so long ago I, and probably the rest of the mainline station, spotted a student who smelt as if he had been hotboxing for a month. Yes he was getting on the Bristol train. I texted DD who confirmed she could now smell him at the far end of her carriage. You smell weed when walking around the city. Part of a unique vibe which suits some, but not others.

It's not your first hand experience @TizerorFizz , it's your dds and what she chooses to tell you.

Unless you personally went there in the last few years?

I think you will find that the DD started well over a decade ago.

I can't imagine getting this worked up about anyone saying Edinburgh or Exeter are druggy/middle class or all the other things anyone could say. If your dcs have a good time at uni then great but accept not everyone feels the same. Your dd left years ago and you aren't on the payroll so no need to get so cross! I'm genuinely glad your dd had a good time at Bristol!

It’s relentless though isn’t it? It’s not remotely evidence based. Drugs were around 10 years ago! Not sure why your memories are so short? Remember ecstasy? The club drug. It’s just so sad that people pile in. I have no doubt Scottish universities and Exeter has drug taking too. It’s just best to avoid tittle tattle and choose a uni based on academic reputation for MFL. I’m actually sick and tired of mentioning Bristol as a good place to study MFL and immediately find posters say all sorts of things about the uni which have nothing to do with MFL. @Hockeyplayer321 Many apologies for supporting Bristol on this thread you can believe what you decide to believe. The usual attacks have been directed at me. It’s relentless. I’m not apologizing for saying it has a great MFL dept. it does.

There are good and bad aspects of every Uni - Bristol is no different. No sure why DD didn’t consider Bristol for her MFL. She only had York and StA in the UK. Her other choices were Uni’s outside the UK.

@TizerorFizz
Perhaps if you were not quite so arrogant and dismissive in your posts posters would be more prepared to listen to what you say? Calling other posters silly and claiming to speak with authority regarding what employers are looking for with regard to number of languages studied is quite an arrogant attitude. I don’t believe you work in graduate recruitment so perhaps your advice should come with the caveat ‘in my opinion..’.rather than stating as a ‘fact’ what employers are and are not looking for. Your dd must have started at Bristol over 10 years ago so your view is based on her experience, which is not current. I don’t doubt that Bristol has a vg MFL department, but choosing somewhere to study involves a number of factors and recent student experience is a valid consideration.

We single out drugs but accept students being routinely drunk.

Yes, because generally:

1. Possession of drugs is illegal and an arrestable offence
2. Drug taking is more highly addictive than alcohol
3. Drug taking leads to more physical and mental health issues than alcohol.
4. Drug taking is more likely to lead to financial problems.

I'm not denying that alcoholism exists, and can inflict misery on individuals and their wider family/friends; but usually not to the extent/extremes that drug usage can.

Could I ask what they were?

McGill, Sorbonne, Leuven and Ghent

Thank you, we might look at universities abroad too, I had a look but these were definitely not in my radar..

Exeter has a very wide range of modules with increasing focus on intercultural communication. It is one of them most flexible language degree programmes that allows students to a large extent to tailor make their degree from first year onwards with options in politics/ history/ film/ literature/ linguistics/ visual history.

It is absolute nonsense to suggest students only get three hours contact time. They have more than that on a single core language module let alone all the culture modules that they would be expected to do.

Exeter also offers 7 languages all from beginners - Chinese, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Russian and Portuguese. quite a few students are able to add things like British Sign Language or TESOL. It's not a particularly small department and it's more wide-ranging than most.

My DD had an amazing time doing MFL in Exeter. She really loved making a film about an overlooked feminist writer which became part of a longer film that got shown at a Spanish Film Festival in Scotland. She was always happy with the range of courses available - she did French and Spanish and had a ball. There was a lot of opportunity to do linguistics or courses on film as well as literature. The pastoral care was also really good - my daughter was looked after very well in Exeter especially during the pandemic.

I think I'd caution against using MN as a guide. Loads of people have strong opinions - courses change dramatically over a v short period of time, so what was true even a couple of years ago, may no longer be the case. If your daughter likes the course and the Uni, then that tells its own story. There will always be people who have negative or positive takes on a place, but Bristol, Exeter and Durham are all much of a muchness in terms of range of options and in terms of price.

Also Arabic, Persian Turkish… but in a different dept (Arab and Islamic studies). But you can do eg French and an initial Arabic for eg.

@aliceottley This is probably wise advice! My DD really does like the look of Exeter!

@blackpearwhitelilies Thank you very much for that insight into Exeter. I am guessing that you are a MFL academic or post-grad student? DD has done further research this half-term and, alongside Exeter, is also considering Southampton, Liverpool, Swansea and Aberystywth (is that how you spell it)? Do you have any idea what the languages departments are like there please? She did like Nottingham when we visited but reckons the course has a fair bit of compulsory literature so is not keen anymore....

blackpearwhitelilies ... "It is absolute nonsense to suggest students only get three hours contact time." That is exactly what he had in his fourth year.

My child is just finishing their first year now at Bristol. It’s meh overall.

V bright at school. Teaching here has been lacklustre and uninspiring. Hoping for better engagement from staff next year.

Accommodation very expensive for next year. Similar to edinburgh, London and other big cities.

My kid has always scorned drugs so no surprise he hasn’t taken any. Same for smoking. He says in his friend group, only one smokes cannabis. He enjoys a drink though. He has made a great group of friends.

Bristol is fine but nothing special. I don’t feel evangelical or defensive about it. Child is happy there. But definitely intellectually under-stimulated, which is a shame for a curious and enthusiastic young person.

For a bit of balance my dd did French and German at Exeter; finishing 6 years ago now and really enjoyed it. What tipped her into choosing there over Leeds was they had better flexibility with year abroad.

Her best friend did 3 languages; really enjoyed it, stayed on to do a masters in translation and is now working in management in a translation business in London.

When we visited we really liked the feel of the university and the city and it seemed to suit her style.