English and French degree personal statement example (1e)

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

"Language shapes the way we think and determines what we can think about" - Benjamin Lee Whorf. I do not ever remember a time when I did not have a passion for the French Language, the culture or the country itself. Born from this fascination of France I enrolled in extra-curricular French lessons from the age of 7. The tuition I received at this early age from a native French speaker sparked a desire to assimilate her success in imparting a love of a foreign language upon others. Equally, the complexities of the English Language have long since been a fascination for me; the study of where our language derived from, coupled with the constant evolution and modernisation of our lexis has driven me to pursue a career in teaching.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

I am dedicated to my school life and my passion for a career in French and Teaching is reflected in my choice of A-Levels. The study of French is directly related to my choice of course. Here I have learnt about all aspects of French society, from Politics, Culture and Social Issues to the study of Classical France through the medium of Film and Literature. I also study English Language where I have been taught about the structure and origins of our speech, but also Child Language Acquisition. With the knowledge of such a skill I hope to apply this to aspects of my teaching career. However, I found that the study of Psychology has been insightful into understanding Gender Development, Cognitive Behaviour and perhaps most importantly the impact of positive and negative reinforcement on a child's progress. This wisdom will contribute to the goal of creating an optimum learning environment. In addition I follow the course of Extended Project where I have learnt about time management, essay writing and research and analytical skills; all favourable attributes for University Study.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

I found the opportunity to build upon and ameliorate my teaching skills with a placement at an English Language Training company. Here I aided pupils aged between 11 and 20 to enhance their linguistic abilities in tasks ranging from basic language acquisition to advanced IELTS training. I have since been back numerous times as I found it so fulfilling and it truly cemented my desire for a career in this field. My leadership skills are also an asset to my chosen career path and I have improved these through involvement in a Community Leaders course at school. This gave me the opportunity to teach sports and sporting activities to a variety of Primary School children. As a result I found advances in my social and public speaking skills.

Part-time employment in a fashion retail environment has also given me desirable qualities for a career in teaching. I am able to assess the needs of individuals and tailor my approach accordingly; this is a rudimentary skill transferable to the classroom. Furthermore I have demonstrated a capacity to converse in French by speaking to customers in their own language. My leadership and team-working skills have been recognised with promotion to a senior position and I am in training for a managerial role. The opportunities I have been given throughout school are beneficial for my career. I held the post as senior prefect and am currently Head House Captain where I lead the school in inter-house events. I was also delighted to receive the Spanish and Psychology subject prizes and French commendation at the annual prize giving ceremony.

My hobbies also lend themselves well to a career in French and Teaching. I participate in homework help for foreign students and enjoy doing wider reading in French; I'm fascinated by the works of authors Michel Tournier and Victor Hugo and these have helped improve my wider knowledge of French Culture. I endeavour to reach my goal and teach English in France in the future and I hope to one day be the inspirational figure for a new generation of linguists.

Universities applied to:

• University of Birmingham
• University of Reading
• Coventry University
• Essex University
• Nottingham Trent University

Grades achieved:

• French (AS) - B
• English Language (AS) - A
• Psychology (AS) - A
• Textiles (AS) - A

How personal statements have changed?

The current personal statement format, with three 'scaffolding' questions, was introduced by Ucas in September 2025. This personal statement was submitted before then, using the old essay-style format. It has been carefully edited into the three-question format, with all of the original wording kept.

Need help with your personal statement? You can ask a question or get feedback from The Student Room community (and our trained personal statement experts) on the personal statement advice forum.