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Personal Statement:Modern Languages (French and Italian)

This is a real Languages personal statement written by a student for their university application. It has been carefully edited into the new three-question format, with all of the original wording kept. It may have strengths and weaknesses, but it can be used as inspiration for writing your own UCAS personal statement. Ensure your personal statement is entirely your own work, copying from this example or other sources is considered plagiarism and can affect your application. There are lots more examples in our collection of sample personal statements.

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Languages are my passion, and I know I want to take them to a more advanced level. I agree with the statement, "Speaking one language only is a prison", and I hope that by learning others, I will feel the freedom that comes with the command of new languages. Having studied Joffo's "Un Sac de Billes" for my A2 French course, I have become fascinated by the Second World War, and the differences between historical accounts depending on the source. Watching "Au Revoir les Enfants" and "La Vita è Bella" has broadened my knowledge of the subject, and different countries' perspectives of the war. Outside the curriculum, I enjoyed watching "Les Intouchables", and am currently reading "Il Gattopardo" by di Lampedusa, both of which have extended my passion for languages and foreign culture.

My time at school has been enriched by several trips abroad. In year 9 I visited Ambleteuse, where my love for Francophone culture really took hold. I particularly enjoyed a morning in the local market; exploring the maze of stalls and talking with the vendors gave me a great feeling of success and achievement. I realised that it wasn't just the joy of speaking another language with someone who didn't speak my own, but also being in a completely different environment to what I knew at home that appealed to me. This year, I will accompany the music students on a trip to Italy. I see this as an opportunity to explore a part of Italy I don't know and practise speaking the language.

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

Translation really interests me. English seems to have become more and more filled with colloquial language, which provides a fascinating challenge for translators. Comparing the English and foreign language versions of "Harry Potter" (French) and "The Kite Runner" (Italian) has made me aware of the precision and attention to detail translating requires. As a Chemistry and Mathematics student, I have learnt to be precise and thorough, and now consider specialist translation a potential career choice.

I have always found foreign languages highly enjoyable, and I hope to be able to challenge myself further by studying Modern Languages at University.

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

My main hobby is music. I play piano regularly in a band, and enjoy performing in shows, from Kent to Norfolk. I often take part in "Acoustic Evenings" at school, where I perform with a number of other students. As well as this, I have a passion for snowboarding, and I have been fortunate enough to travel to many European countries. This has provided me with brilliant opportunities to practice my language skills and also immerse myself in foreign culture.

At school, I hold the role of Head of Publicity as part of the Senior Prefect Team. My main roles are to organise my team to produce articles for the school website, take photos, publicise events and attend events to help with organisation. This has improved my communication and organisational skills immensely. I have also recently taken on the role of Student Ambassador for French. These positions were set up to help current AS-Level Students, and I have found it a highly rewarding experience. It is very satisfying to help another student progress in a subject I feel so passionately about, whilst also consolidating my own knowledge of complex grammar and advanced vocabulary.

AI generated feedback

This feedback is AI-generated, based on the text of this personal statement:

This personal statement effectively conveys a strong passion for languages and detailed examples that demonstrate engagement both academically and beyond. To further strengthen the statement for the 2026 UCAS application format, it would benefit from explicitly connecting specific academic experiences to the skills needed for university study in Modern Languages. Additionally, including mention of particular universities or courses applied to and clarifying achieved grades would add important context. Highlighting how extracurricular roles developed relevant transferable skills is a strength; expanding briefly on how these skills will help in university could provide more insight. Overall, the authentic voice and rich cultural interests present a compelling foundation for a new UCAS personal statement.

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.

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