Student Ambassadors
We have trained a team of enthusiastic language undergraduates to work with us, and with you, to help showcase not only the importance of continuing with your languages, but also the fun that can be had.
We have students in Bangor, Aberystwyth, Swansea, Cardiff and Glamorgan Universities ready to come to visit your school. Below is a selection of student profiles.
If you would like a Student Language Ambassador to visit your school to speak to your pupils about their experiences, please contact us.
Aberystwyth
Name: Claire Stewart
Age: 18
Where are you from: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Year of degree: First year Degree course: European languages
University: Aberystwyth University
Languages spoken: French, Italian, Spanish
How you learnt these languages: I studied French and Italian for GCSE and then continued them on to A level. I then went on to study these along with beginner's Spanish at university.
What you like about your university: Aberystwyth is very student-based, so it provides a quiet enough atmosphere for getting your work done, but also provides a good night out! There are lots of international students as well, so you meet a wide variety of people.
What you want to do after university: If not translation/interpretation, I would like to either teach English as a foreign language or link my languages with social work and youth counselling.
Name: Paul Tebbs
Age: 19
Nationality: British
Languages spoken: French
University: Aberystwyth
Course: Marketing with French
Why did you choose to study languages at AS and A level?
I didn’t choose to study French because I was ever particularly good at it. I received B grades for most of my subjects at GCSE and so I couldn’t really pick my A-levels on the basis of my ability. I did however quite enjoy learning French at GCSE and so I decided to carry on. The step up to AS level was quite a shock and everybody else in my class seemed to have a much better grasp of the language. At the early stages I strongly considered dropping out and I struggled for a good few months. Gradually though my mentality changed and I stopped thinking it was too difficult for me and I would never pass. Things started to click and I ended up with a B grade at A2 which I was proud of.
Why did you choose to do languages at University?
Definitely a big factor for me choosing to continue my study of French at University was the French exchange I went on in year 13. I had been to France before when I was younger but my French was very basic then so this was really the first time I got to put my French to real use. I had a great time and made lots of great friends. My French improved and I came back with greater enthusiasm for the language and a determination to eventually become fluent.
What subjects could you study alongside languages at university?
Obviously this is dependant on which university you wish to go to and the language(s) you wish to study but the list to which you can combine subjects is vast. I myself was unaware there was a possibility of doing this and when I first applied I just picked Marketing. However when I realised the option was available, I asked to change to a Marketing major, French minor degree scheme. This means a third of my course is made up of French but there are also joint honours degrees which give 50/50 divides and in some cases you can even study three languages.
Cardiff
Name: Rosie Shimmin
Age: 22
Where you are from: Carlisle, Cumbria
Year of degree: Final
Degree course: Joint Honours German and Politics
University: Cardiff University
Languages spoken: German
Why did you choose to learn languages?
I absolutely love German; it sounds so funny, and looks so logical. Up until I was in year 11, languages were taught in a way that meant we would pass our exams, but once I was in Sixth Form; my teachers opened my eyes to the world beyond the language. We were encouraged to look at the literature, the culture and the history of Germany, language became a key to a new world rather than just subject in school. But it wasn’t just plain sailing, and even though, having worked so hard at A-Level, I had come so far with German, I knew there was so much more to learn, and so I continued with German to degree level.
What you did on your year abroad?
I went to Mainz in Germany, which is near Frankfurt. I was an Erasmus student for a year, and had an absolutely amazing time. I not only went to university, and took modules in Politics, and Theatre studies, which allowed me to go on a trip to Berlin, I also got a part time job in a lovely café, sang in a choir and played in a German Oompa Band- BRILLIANT! I loved speaking German, it was like the last piece of the puzzle, German was a real live language, and there I was chatting away in it, and people understood! It felt like a super power.
What do you want to do after university and why?
I have no idea, there are so many options open to people with a second language. I might go back to Germany and take part in a teacher assistant scheme, or I may do a TEFL course. I really fancy learning French too.
What advice do you have for pupils in their language learning?
Don’t worry, just be interested. I am not a linguist, far from it. Look beyond the language that you are studying and realise that being able to speak a language is a skill, like riding a bike, rather than just a subject in school. Take an interest in the culture, try and realise that foreign doesn’t mean alien. With your language(s) you will be able to open doors into a world where they have a different perspective on things from your own everyday life.
Name: Sophie James
Year of Study : 2nd Year
Degree: LLB Law and German at Cardiff University
Languages spoken: German, GCSE level French and I really would like to learn Spanish!
Why did you choose to study German?
It wasn’t necessarily a choice of mine; German was part of my school curriculum in Year 7. I was given the opportunity to take my GCSE in the language in Year 9(at the age of 14) where I achieved an A level grade. Learning a language at school sparked my passion for German early on, which I am now extremely grateful for.
What was the transgression from GCSE to A level like?
This is basically the next step to learning a language it is a natural progression, you are introduced to new topics and new grammatical terms to deal with. This was very difficult for me, as I could only learn German in college, via video conference with a teacher from another sixth form. This naturally proved to be no easy task for me, with only the French teacher for help! My determination to progress on with this language was the motivating factor behind my studies.
What is your most horrid A level memory?
This has to be sitting the 3 hour A level German exam alone- even the moderator fell asleep during my examination!
Why did you choose to study languages at University?
Initially, I wanted to study law. However I wanted to find a way I would not lose my German language therefore a LLB Law and German degree at Cardiff University was of particular interest to me. With of course, the current economic climate, I thought having a second language with law would help me to stand out from normal law undergraduates.
What would you say to those who are unsure whether to study a Language at University?
Do it, don’t be scared. There are plenty of universities which offer a language combined with a subject such as Business Studies or English. Have fun with your language, listen to music or watch television shows online in your chose language subject. This is an easy way to expand your language awareness and vocabulary, without even realising it. Languages don’t just constitute a degree, an A level or a GCSE, they are key to opening up new opportunities, that you could never have dreamt of.
My name’s Kate Samways and I’m originally from Bromsgrove, which is about 20 minutes outside of Birmingham. I started learning French at middle school when I was in Year 6, and quite honestly found it really difficult but a good challenge. At high school I studied French and Latin to GCSE with trial sessions in both Spanish and German, all of which I really enjoyed, although I found Latin was something you definitely have to stick at! I then gained my A Levels in a variety of things including French and Drama and also gained a Latin AS level and a certificate in spoken Italian but I believe that my love of languages comes from my background in Music. I had a massive head start thanks to my mum, who was a music teacher and so encouraged me to play instruments when I was young and I think this ability to reproduce what I hear is what has helped me to learn languages, especially when it comes to speaking and understanding (and basically imitating what you hear a native speaker doing!).
At Cardiff University, I originally enrolled to study French and Linguistics, but having taken up Italian as my ‘extra’ subject in my first year I decided to carry on with both languages and was very pleased I did so as it meant that not only did I get to go on an Erasmus year, but I was able to go to two amazing countries and have two very different experiences abroad. For the first half I carried out a work placement at an IT institute for disabled adults in rural Southern France. I then spent the spring and most of a (very hot) summer in Venice which was a beautiful and eye-opening place to live.
Studying in my final year, I have no regrets about taking a degree in languages, and genuinely look forward to going to my lectures…no seriously I do. In some of them I even get to watch films which at the same time teach me about culture and language, but also make me laugh…who would have thought it?
After University I hope to use the skills I have gained from a languages degree to work in the field of broadcasting as I feel not only studying at university but also studying abroad has given me great communication skills and a massive amount of independence.
