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?

[NewUser1111]

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.

[TokyoBouncyBall]

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).

[BruFord]

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!

[NewUser1111]

@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!

[IdaGlossop]

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 😊

[IdaGlossop]

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

[TokyoBouncyBall]

@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.

[foxglovetree]

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.

[Juja]

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.