Arabic and Spanish degree personal statement example (1a) voluntary work

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

I once heard of an Arabic saying: "every language is a way of feeling the world". For me, this is a large part of why I love languages so much. They have allowed me to see the world from a different point of view and come closer to the essence of what is beginning to form in my mind as intrinsically “Spanish” or “Arabic”. Having spent my childhood in Greece, I have always felt the need to discover new cultures and feel that studying languages at degree level will fulfil this curiosity while opening many doors.

Through studying Spanish at A Level I have come to realise the extent of my love for the Hispanic world and its language. My course introduced me to “Como Agua Para Chocolate” by Laura Esquivel; I found reading an authentic Hispanic novel a real thrill as it has brought that world alive for me and given me a new enthusiasm for the language. I now intend to explore the theme of magical realism in Latin American literature further, beginning with Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s “Cien Años de Soledad”. The money I saved from working at the weekend allowed me to take an intensive Spanish course in Salamanca, before travelling through Andalucia independently during the summer. I thoroughly enjoyed this, not only because it was a taster of what a Gap Year would be like, but also because I had the opportunity to immerse myself in Spanish culture. This experience confirmed my wish to pursue my studies to a higher level.

I feel that studying Arabic would open my mind and allow me to explore a totally different culture. The Arabic influence on the Spanish language would make it intriguing to study both languages together. After studying Islam as part of my Religious Studies GCSE I would be interested in reading the Qur’an in its original language. This would allow me to form my own perspective of it, rather than being influenced by that of the translators and also give me the pleasure of reading the original Arabic script, which I find very beautiful.

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

Having learnt Spanish and French together since year eight, I have used the overlap in vocabulary to my advantage. Reading “Née En France” by Aicha Benaissa and Sophie Ponchelet has given me an insight into the life of an Algerian girl living in France, which I found fascinating. I am also working towards a GCSE in Italian, and have found that both Spanish and French help with it, again due to the similarities in vocabulary and grammar.

During my time in the Sixth Form, I have spent time after school teaching my Head of Sixth Form Spanish grammar and vocabulary for her Spanish GCSE in which she achieved a high “A” grade. I found this experience very rewarding, particularly watching her improve week by week, and I was able to share my passion for Spanish with her. I have also visited a primary school every other week and assisted in French lessons. This has provided me with some experience of teaching foreign languages which will be useful for the future.

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

I am an active member of the Philosophy Society in my school, which has enabled me to continue learning and discussing certain aspects of philosophy. As part of the Amnesty International group in XXX, I regularly volunteer in their fundraising events, such as book sales, because it is a cause I am particularly passionate about. Also, I took part in Young Enterprise, which helped me work better in a team and showed me the importance of listening to others, which I have put into good use in my part time job.

During my Gap Year I plan on gaining a TEFL qualification in order to volunteer by teaching English in Latin America, so that I could use my knowledge of Spanish to better advantage. After this I would love to travel though Latin America to gain a fuller understanding of other Spanish speaking countries in preparation for university.

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.

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