Personal Statement - French and Italian

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Languages provide the basis of communication, understanding and our thoughts. In order to know a language successfully, I believe that one needs to live it, and this is why I chose to take a gap year. For the year ahead I have taken on the challenge of studying in France, where I will be exposed to French culture and language in its authentic context. Living in Paris, I am already benefiting from hearing Francophones use their own language and I better appreciate the French culture. My dedication and enthusiasm means that the challenges new languages pose to me have never seemed daunting, but rather intriguing and inspiring. Studying two languages will also engage my thirst for knowledge - it is not enough for me to simply learn about language, literature or history, I want to know about how they intertwine to form a nation's identity.

I am unable to escape my fascination with old and new. The way a country's contemporary situation influences the evolution of languages intrigues me. I have read about the evolution of France through books from different eras - Voltaire's "Candide", "La Bete Humaine" by Zola, both very philosophical texts which reflected attitudes at the time which are still relevant in France today. I better appreciated "L'Etranger" by Camus re-reading it after studying the Occupation of France during the Second World War, understanding the context of the period and Foucault's theory of panopticon. I was compelled by the modern perspective of France's relationship with the Maghreb which came from Benaissa's "Nee En France". References to Italy recurred in many of the English books I read; "The Merchant of Venice", "A Room With A View", "The English Patient". Exposed to Italy from all these perspectives, I want to experience the language and culture first-hand which I will do on a visit to Italy during the summer. Studying the Italian language at degree level provides the perfect opportunity for me to amalgamate these experiences and understand a rich culture.

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

My flair for languages was apparent from an early age, as I studied English and Afrikaans in school, while learning French at home and finding out more about Zulu and how it links to other Southern African languages. During my time in Zimbabwe, my aptitude for languages flourished, and I was given the opportunity to give a speech in Ndebele to my school. The experience proved very rewarding, both reinforcing my self-confidence and spurring me on in my linguistic studies. I greatly benefited from home-schooling when I was younger, as I work well independently and was able to adapt my subjects to my own interests. I loved reading French short stories which helped both my grammar and lexis, and I soon recognised a number of similarities between Afrikaans and French. The influence of the Huguenots soon explained this, but I was left seeking another language with even closer ties - a Romance language such as Italian. Studying the evolution of the Roman Empire, I inevitably studied the evolution of Romantic languages. Studying the revolutionary writers of the French Revolution enlightened me to the importance of literature to any language. I have chosen to take a module in third year Literature during my time in Paris. I am an avid reader and I welcome the opportunity to read foreign language texts as this gives me greater variety. I greatly enjoyed Stephane Hessel's "Indignez-Vous!" which deals with human rights issues, something central to my intended career as an interpreter. My achievement of full marks in my French oral exam and the overall A* for A-level French are testament both to my dedication and ability. I am eager to begin French/Italian language exchange classes in Paris to better my comprehension and fluency in Italian which is thus far self-taught. After my year abroad, which will help improve my proficiency immensely, I hope to be ready for the challenges that my chosen course will offer.

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

For the year ahead I have taken on the challenge of studying in France, where I will be exposed to French culture and language in its authentic context. Living in Paris, I am already benefiting from hearing Francophones use their own language and I better appreciate the French culture. I have chosen to take a module in third year Literature during my time in Paris. I am eager to begin French/Italian language exchange classes in Paris to better my comprehension and fluency in Italian which is thus far self-taught. After my year abroad, which will help improve my proficiency immensely, I hope to be ready for the challenges that my chosen course will offer.

Additionally, I will visit Italy during the summer to experience the language and culture firsthand. This visit will allow me to connect the various literary and cultural references I have encountered with real life experiences, thereby enhancing my understanding of Italy and its language.

These experiences outside formal education are invaluable to my preparation, providing cultural immersion and practical language application which will greatly complement my academic studies and career ambitions as an interpreter.

Universities applied to:

• Oxford
• Glasgow
• Durham
• Warwick
• UCL

Grades achieved:

• A* in A-level French
• Full marks in French oral exam

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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