The Cambridge University Course
The Cambridge Modern Languages course is wide-ranging and flexible. It requires the study of two languages chosen from French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Russian, Dutch, Modern Greek. Any one of these languages may, alternatively, be combined with Classical Latin or Classical Greek; and it is possible to combine one of the modern languages listed with certain Middle Eastern languages (e.g. Arabic and Hebrew) in the Oriental Studies course.
Both languages may be studied from A-level standard, or one language from A-level standard may be combined with a language you have not previously studied (or have studied to a lower level, such as GCSE). Only French may not be taken from a standard lower than A-level.
- The first year of the course concentrates primarily on the study of language (written and spoken), with classes appropriate to the level from which the student is beginning. Beginners study the language intensively, using a variety of learning methods, and reach a standard similar to that of A-level by the end of the year. Post-A-level students study the use of the written language, translation from the language, and oral communication. As soon as possible in the first year beginners start to learn the language in context, and some literary and other texts of a suitable level of difficulty are studied. Post-A-level students choose between a number of options (literary, linguistic, historical) to supplement their language study and prepare them for more advanced study of such topics in later years of the course.
- The second year brings the language work of those who were beginners up to the standard they reached in their post-A-level language at the end of their first year. More advanced language work (including translation into the foreign language) is done in languages which were started post-A-level. All second-year students study a selection of literary or linguistic or historical topics from a wide choice. This choice includes options in linguistics* and in medieval studies, though neither of these is compulsory. In the second year a portfolio of essays may (with certain restrictions) be offered in place of one written examination paper.
- The third year is spent abroad in one or sometimes two countries relevant to the language or languages the student intends to study in the fourth year. The third year may be spent studying at a foreign University, teaching as an English Language Assistant in a school abroad, or in some other form of employment in the foreign country. Preparation is undertaken during the year for a final oral examination, and students also complete a Year Abroad Project (dissertation or translation project or linguistics project).
- The fourth year builds on the year abroad and the previous two years in Cambridge and requires advanced language work (in either one or two languages) and the study of three specialised areas relating to the literature, language, history, thought, or other cultural aspects (e.g. film) of either one or two countries or language areas. Comparative options are also available in both language and literature. A second dissertation may be substituted for a written examination in one of the three specialised areas studied. Linguistics* remains an available option in the fourth year. There are also a number of options that may be ‘borrowed’ from other subjects.
Teaching is provided in University lectures, language classes, and seminars, and in College-organised ‘supervisions’ (usually two or three students taught together). College supervisions focus on the student’s literary, linguistic, and other options as well as supplementing central University language teaching.
* For students wishing to specialise completely in Linguistics there is a full-time Linguistics course, which has both a one-year and a two-year version. Students may apply to transfer to this course after either one or two years of the Modern Languages course (or of some other courses). The full-time Linguistics course does not include a year abroad.
More detailed information about the Modern Languages course may be obtained from Mrs Künzl-Snodgrass, Director of Studies in Modern Languages (Part IA), Jesus College, Cambridge CB5 8BL or by requesting a copy of the Modern Languages Prospectus from the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages, Sidgwick Avenue, Cambridge CB3 9DA (01223 335000). Information is also available on the Faculty’s website at http://www.mml.cam.ac.uk/.