Advice on Modern Languages and Linguistics at Oxf

[TokyoBouncyBall]

DD is in Year 12 and after receiving a really good report (headed for all A stars and the pride of her French department) suddenly wants to apply to Oxford for French and Linguistics.

I know nothing, can you help. In particular, how hard is it to get in? Will her GCSE grades matter (the relevant ones are all As, sciences are 7,8). She has ADHD and is medicated, does this have any bearing on anything.

She's obsessive about sociolinguistics and is going to try and find a college with teaching staff who specialise in this, but what else should she do?

I don’t know a huge amount about the linguistics side of things I’m afraid but does she like literature? As that is a big part of the modern lang course at Oxford.

Yes, English Lit is her 3rd A Level and her subject teacher raves about her natural ability in it. (Honestly, the recent parents evening was like nothing I have ever experienced, I think they have switched our child).

I don’t have any specific advice, but my DD (19) will shortly finish her first year at uni so we’ve recently been through the process.

One question that we found helpful to discuss is what she could see herself doing with her degree choice say five or 10 years down the line? That really helped my DD select her course. Best of luck, it’s an exciting time!

@TokyoBouncyBall Ha! That’s great. Best of luck to her. My only advice to her would be to read, read and read- ideally some slightly more advanced French literature that her teacher should be able to point her towards. And keep up with her obsession with linguistics of course!

DD is in her 3rd year reading French at Oxford. It was her idea to apply and I was thrilled to support her. She is studying linguistics (for the first time) as an option, not as joint honours. The teaching across the degree programme is rigorous and challenging. There is a huge amount of reading to be done, grammar, speaking and translation classes, and fortnightly essays, written, uncommonly for an MFL undergraduate degree, in English. Hard work, as it should be, but DD is having an absolute ball and has found an environment that suits her in every way imaginable.

At A level, DD was awarded A, A, A, with the A being in French. A for a non-mother tongue speaker is rare, so hats off to your DD for her predicted A. GCSE results are not a major factor when applying. DDs were all 9s, 8s and 7s.

Modern Foreign Languages is one of the least competitive subjects for which to gain entry to Oxford, with about half of candidates interviewed being offered a place: https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/course-listing/modern-languages. This page also lists colleges offering French and Linguistics joint honours.

Does your DD's school have experience in supporting Oxbridge entry? If so, they should be able to advise on choice of college (in my DD's case, this was to do with her now college's established links to our part of England) and whether your DD's ADHD needs to be mentioned by the school in her application.

The application process involves sitting the MLAT (Modern Language Aptitude Test) - past papers are available online so candidates can practice - and a remote interview. As a PP said, literature is a large part of the course, with philosophy, plays and film featuring too.

What else should your DD do? There's an open day on 11 May - details here: https://www.mod-langs.ox.ac.uk/schools-liaison-and-outreach/meet-us-person
At interview, candidates need to persuade the interviewers of their unwavering dedication to and passion (I'm squirming as I heartily dislike this slovenly use of that word) for the subject. Showing engagement with the language beyond the A level syllabus is really important - reading, listening, watching, speaking - as a way of communicating that dedication to the interviewers. So your DD should start now if she's not doing so already, and keep notes of her views and reflections in preparation for (hopefully) an interview.

Good luck to your DD! It's really good to hear of a young woman ambitious for herself 😊

The Mumsnet platform is struggling with my DD's A level grades. They were A star, A star, A. Fingers crossed as I post....

@IdaGlossop Thank you that's very helpful indeed, despite the best efforts of the MN formatting. We've signed up for the Modern Languages open day.

In terms of college choice, school may well be able to help but as she has very specific ideas about the areas of linguistics she is interested in, she's also going to go through the staff in each college and see which ones are most aligned with her desire for sociolinguistics and history rather than phonology.

I'm hopeful she will do alright in the interview, as she's a running a French immersion course all on her own - she mentors Yr11 students at school for French, her phone is in French and she plays video games in French with English subtitles. Which may not be the right vocabulary for studying Racine but never mind. I will definitely point her at some more literary extension though as well.

Sounds like your daughter is doing brilliantly at school and you must be proud of her.

GCSEs are important for Oxford but they are taken contextually (i.e. those assessing the information will also have access to information about the school's average performance and so set her attainment in that context). Also they are just one factor, and will be considered along with the MLAT test, written work, UCAS form, and interview.

She should declare her ADHD as an extenuating circumstance. It is always to the candidate's benefit to declare anything and will not be held against her. If there are specific accommodations she needs (e.g. if she's entitled to extra time in exams), this will also mean she can request them.

Past papers and practice tests for the MLAT are available on the Oxford website: https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/guide/admissions-tests/mlat. Nearer the time she should spend some time practising those.

Tell her not to get too hung up on college choice. Modern languages does a large amount of reallocation before interviews, in order to distribute candidates more fairly. Of course she should apply to the college that she likes the look of most, but she shouldn't be surprised if she ends up being interviewed elsewhere, and in practice students always end up thinking their own college is the best.

My DD is first year French and Italian at Oxford - her college has a strong linguistics reputation. Do DM me for further information if that would be helpful.

In case anyone's interested, she did get an offer. Now it's just a matter of grades.

Many congratulations- that’s super news @TokyoBouncyBall - I do hope she’s excited. Any queries do post on this thread
www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education/5159139-current-oxbridge-students-continued-again?page=16&reply=141385651

Bookmarking as DD is also thinking of French/Latin at Oxford or Cambridge. She's currently Y12. Helpful advice on here about prep for test and interview.

Well done to your DD @TokyoBouncyBall

Well done @TokyoBouncyBall daughter.
My daughter is studying French and History at Oxford and loves it.

That's so exciting

Congratulations to her

Hi! I was just wondering how did your daughter do in her gcse's in comparison to her year? my daughter achieved 999888777 but she didn't do as good as her year group did - she's worried that there is no chance of her being competitive now. well done for the offer!! x

@law4569 I wouldn't worry too much about GCSE results. They are just one part of the assessment process, and so your DC would have plenty of chance to shine in their personal statement, predicted grades, MLAT, written work and interview. My DC had exceptional GCSEs, particularly in the context of where they were taken, but only a pretty average MLAT score, and was offered a place.

MLL is not a hugely popular course and so I think anyone with the minimum requirements absolutely should throw their hat in the ring. The one thing that is certain is that the students lucky enough to get a place are a subset of the group of people who applied! Best of luck to your DC.

But at Oxford you can do Ancient Celtic studies or Art History or Ancient Music and still be more employable than anyone else from the other universities.

So for Oxford it doesn't really matter, in fact the more obscure the course, the higher the chance you'll get an offer.

Thank you for replying!! She actually doesn't have written work or an entrance exam which is why she's more stressed that they'll care about it. I do tell her that she did well at gcse but she still thinks because she did a bit worse than her year that there's no chance! It's quite sad the pressure some children feel at this stage - hopefully it all goes well for her (even if it's not Oxford). She has been told her ps is very good, hopefully that with her ps and interview (if she gets one) could work in her favour

@law4569 My DD is reading Modern Languages at Oxford at the moment - just loves it. One language she did for A Level and one ab initio. I wouldn't worry about her GCSEs - they look great. Most candidates for MFL are interviewed unless their A Level predictions are below AAA (the standard offer). There are lots of good interview resources online.

The key is to be super passionate about her chosen language and inquisitive about literature in that language - they are likely to put up a poem or piece of text on the screen and ask for commentary. Do encourage her to read texts beyond the A Level syllabus and mention in her PS. Also some of the interview will be in her chosen language (assuming it is one she is doing at A Level) so good to practice that. I'm afraid I don't know about linguistics.

Oxford is very good at shuffling applicants between colleges during the ten days of interviews - being interviewed by 2 or 3 colleges is standard. DD was reallocated and loves her college and wouldn't be any where else despite being disappointed at the time not to get her first choice.

The teaching is excellent - masses of contact time - and masses of module choices. The arrangements for year abroad are shocking - unless doing German - but with Erasmus returning that should be easier.

Do DM if helpful.

@law4569 Oh wow! MY DC only started this academic year. I'm surprised so much has changed, but I suppose if it's not a super-popular course then streamlining the application process might help encourage people to apply. Honestly, they interview a really big proportion of applicants for MLL. My DC is very much normal-bright, rather than a prodigy or super-dedicated, and I think plenty of people like her get in.

Don't forget as well that MLL is not a super-popular course anywhere, so if your DC meets the requirements to apply for Oxford you she is almost certain to get four good offers from her other choices, so there's no harm in having a punt at Oxford.

did she do well for her school at gcse? I wonder if because it's not very competitive if she'd have a chance with her gcse's and still manage to get an offer

My DD graduated from Oxford last year in ML. Her GCSE grades were 7s, 8s, and 9s. A levels A star, A star, A, based on school-submitted grades because of Covid. She was interviewed only by the college to which she applied, which her school has had strong links with for years. What seems to have worked well for her in the application process is the determination she showed in sixth form at an independent school to fill in that gaps in her learning - a legacy, I'm afraid, of her excellent state secondary.

As others have said, demonstrating just how much you love your subject is what really counts. In the case of MLL, that means reading beyond set texts, reading, listening and watching current affairs, pursuing topics of personal interest, seeking out opportunities to speak and write the language, and participating in extra-curricula activities.Good luck to your DD!

@LarissatheDragon ? Have you seen the employment stats for Oxford? That’s not true at all? Economics at LSE might trump quite a few humanities subjects at Oxford!

@law4569 Oxford require extra tests and written with to be submitted. School can usually advise. DD submitted a politics essay. MFL at Oxford is a course with a lot of literature and essay skills will be assessed. @StrangewaysHereWeCome says, there are various elements to the selection process.

@MeetMeOnTheCornerOxford is no longer asking for any of the tests that were specific to Oxford. So no more MLAT.