french personal statement example

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Successful Personal Statement For Modern Languages At Oxford

Last Updated: 10th August 2020

Author: Adi Sen

• Modern Languages

Table of Contents

Welcome to our popular Personal Statement series where we present a successful Personal Statement, and our Oxbridge Tutors provide their feedback on it. 

Today, we are looking through a Modern Languages applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Oxford University. The Modern Languages Course at Oxford aims to teach spoken fluency in colloquial and more formal situations, as well as the ability to write essays in the foreign language, and the ability to translate into and out of the foreign language with accuracy and sensitivity to a range of vocabulary, styles and registers.

Read on to see how the candidate approached this Personal Statement. 

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement:

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

Enrolling on our Oxbridge Modern Languages comprehensive Programme will give you access to Personal Statement redrafts. 

Your tutor will give you actionable feedback with insider tips on how to improve and make your Personal Statement Oxbridge quality for the best chances of success.  

Modern Languages Personal Statement

France has developed a literature of unequalled richness and variety. Europeans in any age have had few thoughts, desires, or fantasies that a French writer somewhere has not expressed-it has given the Western mind an image of itself. In this sense, French literature serves as a pool in which many cultures meet. Therefore, in particular, it is French literature’s universality which interests me.

Nevertheless, I enjoy how literature provides a window into an author’s contemporary society. For example, ‘Madame Bovary’ draws us into Flaubert’s disgust for the bourgeois existence of the 19thcentury; Zola’s ‘Thérèse Raquin’ invites us into the leprous lower-depths of Paris. I am interested in how both these writers, unparalleled in their psychological clarity and narrative muscle, provide such a brutal and relentless account of their chosen subject matter: for Flaubert, the indulgent decadence of the bourgeoisie, exemplified by Emma Bovary; for Zola, the moral dankness of the murderous lovers. In addition, I have watched Kassovitz’s ‘La Haine’ and Truffaut’s ‘Les quatre cents coups’, both similar to Zola and Flaubert in their rigorous exploration of character. Focusing on social outcasts, these films act as an exposition of societal problems. ‘La Haine’ sheds light on the all-encompassing violence and cultural exclusion of the suburbs of Paris, while ‘Les quatre cent coups’ reveals the shocking injustices in the treatment of juvenile offenders. Thus, such French cinema serves to illuminate the neglected–I relish this narrative potential in the discovery of truth.

Besides these more realistic works, both my English and French A Levels have introduced me toAbsurdism.I have appreciated the works of Beckett (‘Fin de partie’, ‘En attendant Godot’) and Ionesco (‘La Cantatrice Chauve’, ‘Rhinocéros’). These tragicomedies simultaneously entertain and provoke–the reason why I found them so enjoyable and yet so powerful. To pursue this interest in Absurdism, I read Voltaire’s absurd ‘contes philosophiques’, ‘Candide’ and ‘Micromegas’. Fiction, I found, proved to be the perfect medium of expression for Voltaire’s empiricism and scepticism. Therefore, like the tragicomedies of the 20th century, I thought Voltaire’s work succeeded both as entertainment and as an accessible manifesto of his philosophical beliefs. Furthermore, I decided to follow up this interest in such ‘contes philosophiques’ by undertaking an Edexcel Extended Project, entitled ‘Ancient Influence on French Existentialist Literature’, for which I was awarded an A*. Here, I focused on why Camus, in ‘Le Mythe de Sisyphe’, Sartre, in ‘Les Mouches’, and Anouilh, in ‘Antigone’, chose to use classical themes and motifs to communicate their own particular perception of Existentialism. Despite its challenges, the more I worked at this project, the more certain I was that this is what and how I would like to study.

Moreover, I have taken an interest in symbolist French poetry. Having studied some poetry by Baudelaire (‘Les Fleurs du Mal’) and Verlaine (‘Romances sans paroles’), I have become fascinated by the crippling and contrasting emotions communicated in these poems. I now admire how the very sound of the French language can control the register of a poem and, thus, highlight its true meaning even amongst the most abstract, intangible imagery, employed by Baudelaire and Verlaine. I am intrigued by the French language in part due to this precision.

Finally, I contributed regularly to my school’s Modern Languages magazine, ‘Babel’, and have competed in ‘Les Joutes Oratoires’, a national French debating competition in which I reached the final. Through these experiences, I have begun to thoroughly enjoy communicating in French. I believe an extra language extends one’s range. It releases you from the inertia of one cultural gear–achange of perspective that I find truly enlightening and enjoyable. I will be working in Paris from January to March.

For more inspiration, take a look through our other successful Personal Statement a nalysis articles:

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Good Points Of The Personal Statement

Throughout this statement, the applicant engages consistently with a range of French texts at a very advanced level.

The applicant is able to demonstrate not only an awareness of a huge tranche of French literature but also how specific works intersect. This comparative criticism is carried out by the applicant across several different forms in a manner that is lucid and impressive.

The applicant has mentioned their personal research and is able to indicate why it is interesting and relevant. They are also able to indicate how their personal pursuits are reciprocally and beneficially related to their academic studies.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

At particular moments, this applicant veers from an academic register into an overtly formal one; a stylistic turn which, while remaining clear in meaning, is a little jarring.

More personal information would have been a welcome addition to this statement, especially since its academic calibre is so relentlessly clear throughout; the statement has the potential to be slightly breathless in its rapid consideration of big swathes of literature.

The statement could, therefore, have happily absorbed more personal information without diluting its clear academic potential.

In addition, the candidate could have taken slightly more care over their phrasing, which occasionally takes a tone bordering on reductive or patronising; a risk which is perhaps not worth taking in this context.

UniAdmissions Overall Score:

The candidate effectively and efficiently communicates a level of cultural awareness which goes far above and beyond the demands of their curriculum.

They are able to demonstrate how they practically carry forward their interests in extra-curricular and academic activities. Throughout the statement, the applicant engages a muscular, academically-considered tone which is clear and authoritative.

There was room in the statement for greater personal depth and warmth, and for greater justification for some of the strong academic arguments being posed.

And there we have it – an Oxford Modern Languages Personal Statement with feedback from our expert tutors. 

Remember, at Oxford, the Admissions Tutors are often the people who will be teaching you for the next few years, so you need to appeal directly to them.

Check out our Free Personal Statement Resources page for even more successful personal statements and expert guides.

Our expert tutors are on hand to help you craft the perfect Personal Statement for your Oxford Modern Languages application.

With our  Oxbridge Oxford Modern Languages Premium Programme we help you craft the perfect  Personal   Statement , achieve a highly competitive MLAT score and teach you how to  Interview effectively.

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Personal Statement Starter Guide

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Example Personal Statement: Languages (French and Latin)

A student analyses their personal statement.

I applied to study Modern and Medieval Languages at Cambridge University in October 2016, as well as French and Latin courses at Durham, Exeter, Edinburgh and St. Andrews. The MML degree course allows students to select two different languages and, as one of my languages was ancient, I had to appeal to both the Classics and MML departments in my Personal Statement. I received offers from all five of my universities.

A student breaks their personal statement down into parts, analysing each section as they go so you can learn from their experience.

Teaching children in my weekly Latin club has given me the opportunity to see the foundations of a language being set. I have relished demonstrating how to assemble the fundamental blocks of a language into complex sentences and illustrating the linguistic patterns which emerge.   

In order to make the opening lines eye-catching, start with something unique about you. It could be an interesting personal reason why you chose your subject, or something which not many other candidates will have done (i.e. running a Latin club.) 

For me, the joy of language lies in this puzzle of translation. Each line of poetry or prose requires a mind that can commit to memory and apply grammatical rules with mathematical precision, yet still appreciate the nuances and stylistic manipulation that make a language unique. I have the linguistic flexibility necessary to comprehend and compose French, whilst the analytical skills taught in Maths have instilled in me the rigour and grammatical accuracy required of an inflected language such as Latin. It was this meticulousness which enabled me to achieve full UMS in my Latin Language, French oral and two Maths modules. I have also extended my range of languages by attending the JACT Ancient Greek Summer School and completing an online course in Italian; two languages which I was curious to find as equally contrasting in structure as Latin and French. 

Your reasons for applying for your subject should be made clear early on in your PS. This will probably be the section where you are able to convey the most passion for your subject.  

Here I also explain why I have chosen my two languages in particular; for courses where you’ve chosen a combination of subjects it’s important to justify why this mix appeals to you.  

I mention my other A Level subject and demonstrate how it is relevant to this course. Everything needs to be tailored to prove that you are an excellent candidate for the specific subject(s) for which you are applying. 

I also go into detail about my AS results in this section to demonstrate my aptitude for these subjects. Note that universities will receive your grades but not your UMS scores.  

This section is about my skill for languages in general. In the next couple of paragraphs I discuss each language separately. It’s important to keep your PS clearly structured in this way, especially when applying for two different subjects. 

When exploring a language, a study of the culture will naturally follow. I became captivated by French culture when I read Philippe Delerm's 'La Premiere Gorgee de Biere.' I found the French language, with its languid vowel sounds and euphonic rhythm, was the perfect medium for Delerm's sensory descriptions. In the same way, the lavish descriptive passages in Flaubert's 'Madame Bovary' convey the wild romanticism of Emma's aspirations, as well as the monotony and claustrophobia of provincial life, far more effectively than any translation. In contrast, the harsh vernacular used in Faiza Guene's 'Kiffe Kiffe Demain' and films such as 'La Vie d'Adele' and 'La Haine' enhances the realism of these powerful stories. 

Here I mention the ways I’ve explored the French culture. Note that I don’t just list the books I’ve read, but instead reflect on each one, mentioning what I found interesting. 

In this paragraph, I comment on the importance of the French language in each of the books and films mentioned. Try to link examples in this way, looking for a theme that runs throughout or perhaps a contrast between two narratives. This makes the PS seem more natural and fluent, as well as demonstrating your ability to process and apply your knowledge independently. 

As an Auschwitz ambassador, I have learnt the critical importance of cultural connection, a technique the Holocaust Educational Trust uses to reverse the dehumanisation of the Jews. I feel the same connection when examining any society's literature, ancient or modern. Reading of the longing of Propertius for his Cynthia or Catullus' bitter affection for the unfaithful Lesbia, the humanity of their experiences is strikingly contemporary. From the colourful history disclosed by Tacitus to the hilarity of the 'Lysistrata' or the wickedness of the 'Amores,' the sentiments expressed by the ancients remain just as appealing and relevant in the modern day. Indeed, one only needs to turn to the rhetoric of hate surrounding the US Presidential Election to find the merciless invective characteristic of a Juvenalian satire. 

Whilst reading Satire VI, I was struck by how the innuendo exclusively used to describe women in the past remains largely unchanged in the modern media. I also came to this conclusion whilst conducting research for my voluntary EPQ. For example, the Latin word 'docta,' the feminine form of clever, previously used to denote something far less respectable than intelligence, to me seemed all too similar to modern day articles which euphemistically described Hilary Clinton as 'a woman of experience.'

This paragraph covers my reading for my second language: Latin. 

Here I link in my experience as an Auschwitz ambassador (which is seemingly irrelevant to a languages degree) to demonstrate how it has furthered my enthusiasm for the subject. 

Again, I don’t just list my reading here but illustrate what I’ve learnt from it. 

My course was one where it was possible for me to be called to an interview so I left ‘hooks’ in my PS that I thought would make good discussion material later. I was later asked to expand on the point about Hillary Clinton and my EPQ topic at my interview. 

Mentioning current affairs (and how your subject links to them) demonstrates that you can see the importance of your subject in the wider world. You should also offer your own opinion, because this will make your PS stand out as unique. 

My French film club has exposed fellow pupils to a broad range of films, from the deeply moving 'Le Scaphandre et Le Papillon' to the bittersweet 'Persepolis.' I founded the Latin Society and led several Classics days for local primary schools as well as inviting the classicist and author Natalie Haynes to lecture. I play grade 8 flute and 6 piano, exploring French culture through music, with a repertoire including Faure, Chaminade and Gaubert. I lead the Debating Society and was awarded Best Speaker in the countywide round of the ESU Public Speaking Competition, for a speech entitled 'Can Language Change the World?' 

This section covers my extracurricular activities. Note that each one is still linked to my academic studies. This shows an admissions tutor that you are constantly thinking about your subject and how it relates to the world around you. 

I truly value the power of the spoken and written word so it is therefore a natural progression for me to study a subject by which I'm so captivated. 

Finally, the concluding line should sum up the PS and your reason for applying (so that you avoid finishing on the extracurriculars section.) 

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Focus on the courses you're applying for

Your cultural engagement.

If you’re applying for modern languages courses that involve studying cultural as well as linguistic elements, then every uni we heard from stressed the importance of reflecting on your own cultural engagement with countries where the language is spoken:

• ‘We like to see evidence of your enthusiasm for, and immersion in, the language(s) outside of your A level studies. This might include time spent in the country, exchange activities, reading the press or books in the target language, watching films, etc.’ (Dr Lucy Bell, University of Surrey)
• ‘We would like to know how you have been able to engage with different cultures and communities, and your thoughts on the cultures, histories, or politics of the societies where the languages of study are spoken.’ (Irina Nelson, University of Southampton)

Dr Swift at Oxford explains how your ‘cultural engagement’ can be demonstrated in various ways. 'Doing simple things that are readily available to you via the internet, like reading short stories, following a blog, watching a documentary, or listening to French radio can be extremely valuable if you show what you got out of them. Take advantage of any opportunities available to you. But what's crucial is what you got out of the experience.'

And what you gained from it

What matters isn't so much what or how much you've done, but what you learned from it and how you present this evidence in your statement .

Simply saying you’ve travelled or worked abroad won’t do – it's only when you explain what you gained from it that it starts to support your application. What tutors don’t want is a list of facts about the country, things you've done, or books you’ve read, without explaining how this has expanded your personal experience.

What else to include

• An honest opinion: Dr Swift advises to 'always be honest in your response to whatever you've read, watched or listened to. If you didn't particularly enjoy Camu's L'Etranger, for instance, don't say that you did.'
• Your voice: 'Nelson Mandela and Wittgenstein both said interesting things about language, but I think it's really not worth giving over some of the precious 4000 characters to someone else's words.' If you do refer to a quotation, it must be more substantial than 'I think X was quite right in that view.'
• Talk about extra-curricular activities: include mentions of voluntary work, how you help younger pupils, or what you're learning from the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) if you’re doing one.

Starting a language from scratch?

If your chosen courses include a language you haven’t previously studied at an advanced level, then Dr Davies at Aberystwyth University advises that you should indicate what makes you feel that you’re likely to be successful. For example, describe your experience of studying it at GCSE, evening class, or any other way you’ve engaged with it.

We had further advice from Oxford on how to demonstrate motivation and commitment to a culture and language you haven’t studied before: 'get to know some of that culture’s literature in English translation, or watching films with subtitles. For beginners' courses, we are particularly interested in the connection to the particular language area and what has motivated you to think about that culture above other beginners’ options available.'

So a good way to focus this would be to not only answer the question ‘why do I want to study a new language at university?’ but rather 'why this new language and particular culture?'

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French Personal Statement Example:

Ever since visiting Paris for the first time as a youngster, my love for the city and it’s vibrant culture has only grown more intense. This trip inspired my sustained engagement with French culture and language, and I would like to pursue my passionate interests by reading French at university. Learning more about French theatre, cinema, literature and art, and immersing myself in French culture, is my aim within further education and in this respect I would like to take as much from university life as possible. Being already fluent in French and English means that a wide variety of sources are at my disposal and I look forward to taking full advantage of this academic opportunity and to also partaking in the many extra curricular facets higher education has to offer.

During my school career I strove to build up a skill set that will prove indispensable whilst at university, and I have been proactive in my pursuit of and commitment to the study of French culture and history. Taking part in European class, a period at school that widens my knowledge of French politics, art and philosophy, I enjoyed discussing contextual topics with my peers and producing projects as a group. This stimulated my interests further and allowed me to build upon my interpersonal and communication skills. I was asked to head an assignment and I learnt that flexibility and interaction is extremely important to successful teamwork – I would like to apply this knowledge to university projects wherever possible and to build up my leadership skills even further. My communication skills were also bolstered by my work experience at a London based residential agent, as I spent my time moving between departments speaking to and learning from the many employees I met. I also worked in the sales department and enjoyed liaising with clients while shadowing an executive, and this experience taught me much about positive body language and how to interact effectively on a professional level.

Coordinating the school charity fashion show enabled me to hone my organisational skills and to demonstrate the efficiency of my time management and decision making aptitudes. I learnt quickly from my mistakes and took full advantage of the opportunity to thrive under pressure and to put on the best event possible. At the end of the year I will have another chance to develop these skills in relation to event organisation when I manage the planning and its implementation for the school prom.

I hope to partake in event organisation at university and to be a part of the French society, meeting a diverse range of people in the process. Sharing my interests and learning about those of others is a very important part of life and I look forward to positively contributing to my friendship group in this way. Coming from a multicultural background I enjoy having friends and acquaintances from many different upbringings and hope to continue this at university and to encourage social and cultural diversity.

I highly anticipate learning more about French literature and cinema. I often attend the French Cinema to watch films, my current favourite being a film by Cedric Klapisch. I have an insatiable interest in literature and I often read works by, among others, Moliereand Stendhal as the historical and mythological themes in these works fascinated me. Alongside my enjoyment of fiction, I also read Le Canard Enchaine and am very fond of its satirical content and style of writing. I would like to work at the student newspaper whilst at university and to develop my writing skills further, perhaps creating some satirical content would also enable me to use my creative flair and to entertain others.

During my time at university increasing and broadening my pre-existing skills is very much a priority and I will put much enthusiasm into partaking as actively as possible with university life and all it has to offer. The skill set I developed at school and during my work experience will benefit me hugely when faced with the challenges of further education and I hope to overcome these with confidence and motivation. I also hope to develop my knowledge of my chosen subject and hope to be able to take both educational and leisure trips to France to enjoy all these experiences, which will no doubt supplement and assist my studies.

French Personal Statement Example

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Criminal Justice Personal Statements: a Comprehensive Analysis

How it works

• 1 Introduction
• 2 Personal Motivation for Criminal Justice
• 3 Conclusion

Introduction

Writing a good personal statement is super important if you wanna get into criminal justice. These statements give you a chance to show why you’re interested, what you’ve been through, and what you wanna do in the future. It’s a way to tell your story that goes beyond just your test scores and grades. This essay looks at what makes a criminal justice personal statement stand out. By checking out some examples, we’ll see what themes and tricks make your application better.

Knowing these can help future students and also show how many different ways people get into criminal justice.

Personal Motivation for Criminal Justice

A big part of a great criminal justice personal statement is explaining why you wanna do it. Lots of people talk about personal stuff that got them interested. For example, someone might say, “Seeing the problems in my neighborhood made me wanna fight for justice and fairness.” Stories like this are strong because they show something real about you that test scores can’t. They show you’ve got a real reason for wanting this career.

Another thing that makes a personal statement good is talking about experiences that show you’re ready for a career in criminal justice. This could be stuff like school achievements, volunteer work, or jobs you’ve had. For example, you might say, “During my time at the public defender’s office, I learned a lot about preparing cases and helping clients. This made me sure I wanna work in criminal defense.” Sharing these experiences shows you’ve been actively getting the skills you need.

It’s also super important to link what you’ve done in the past with what you wanna do in the future. You need to explain how your background led to your career goals and how the program you’re applying to will help you get there. A good example might be, “My research on restorative justice in college inspired me to dig deeper into this at grad school, where I want to help develop new policies.” This shows you’ve got a clear plan and know how the program fits into it.

Personal statements should also show that you know a lot about criminal justice and care about its principles. This means being aware of current issues and problems in the field. You might talk about your views on things like criminal justice reform, how money affects crime, or the ethics of law enforcement. For instance, you could say, “Working with incarcerated youth opened my eyes to the problems in our juvenile justice system, and now I want to push for policy changes to fix these issues.” This shows you’re deeply involved in the field and committed to making a difference.

Lastly, a good personal statement needs to be well-written, with no grammar mistakes, and should follow academic writing rules. A polished statement shows you pay attention to detail and can communicate well—both are super important in criminal justice. Aim to be clear, logical, and concise. Using vivid examples and keeping a good flow can make your statement more engaging and impactful.

In the end, criminal justice personal statements are a crucial part of the application process. They give a glimpse into your motivations, experiences, and goals. By clearly stating why you’re motivated, highlighting relevant experiences, connecting your past to your future, showing your knowledge of the field, and writing well, you can create a strong statement that stands out to admissions committees. These statements not only boost your application but also add to the conversation about the many paths into criminal justice. So, they’re more than just formalities; they’re powerful tools that can shape the future of the field by bringing in passionate, knowledgeable, and dedicated people.

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Criminal Justice Personal Statements: A Comprehensive Analysis. (2024, Sep 17). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/criminal-justice-personal-statements-a-comprehensive-analysis/

"Criminal Justice Personal Statements: A Comprehensive Analysis." PapersOwl.com , 17 Sep 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/criminal-justice-personal-statements-a-comprehensive-analysis/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Criminal Justice Personal Statements: A Comprehensive Analysis . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/criminal-justice-personal-statements-a-comprehensive-analysis/ [Accessed: 19 Sep. 2024]

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PapersOwl.com. (2024). Criminal Justice Personal Statements: A Comprehensive Analysis . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/criminal-justice-personal-statements-a-comprehensive-analysis/ [Accessed: 19-Sep-2024]

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• English personal statements

English and French degree personal statement example (1a)

My desire to study both English Literature and French stems from a deep interest in the relationship between language and literature. Roland Barthes referred to literature as 'the question minus the answer' and it is this that captivates me because the 'answer' varies so greatly from reader to reader. It is not just the answer that intrigues me but also how the 'question' is constructed and I find that the foreign language introduces a new perspective to literature.

Studying English Literature to a more advanced level has been the basis of broadening my reading. I enjoy exploring the diversity of poetry through reading various eras of poets, being especially drawn to the metaphysical poets because of how they employ wit and intellect. Additionally, I have liked the works of Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes and was interested in how Hughes traces their complex relationship in 'Birthday Letters'. I also found the confessional nature of Plath's poems striking and explored this further through reading 'The Bell Jar'. While I enjoy poetry and the novel, drama also appeals to me because of the added dimension it gives to a text. 'Death of a Salesman' is an example of this and I was particularly interested in how Miller uses time and place in demonstrating the downfall of his protagonist. My study of literature has been complemented by studying History which has allowed me to deepen my understanding of various areas of literature in context. Examining the early Cold War provided me with a clearer understanding of the political climate that influenced George Orwell's vision of the future world in '1984'.

I was first introduced to French fiction by reading 'Le Petit Prince' and by acquiring a firm grasp of the language I was then able to explore French literature. More recently I have read Camus's 'L'Etranger' which built on existentialist ideas that I first discovered in Sartre's 'Les Mains Sales'. I am interested in the development of this philosophy among French writers, especially in the context of World War II in France and the French Resistance. Pursuing French at degree level especially appeals to me because of the opportunity to spend a year abroad. I feel it is essential to live and study in France for an extended period of time in order to develop significant fluency in the language as well as to experience the culture first hand. I have visited France on several occasions but I look forward to taking a French language course in Nice this Easter to improve my ability to use the language effectively.

In my spare time I particularly enjoy music. I play bass guitar in the school jazz band and as the current leader of the band I have been able to further my leadership and organisational skills, particularly during our tour to Italy in 2007. I have also enjoyed working with younger members of the school through teaching and organising music groups and I hope to continue participating in musical activities at university. My participation in a World Challenge Expedition to Bolivia in 2006 was an invaluable experience. This presented me with many challenges of organisation, time-management and team work which I was able to overcome through determination. Perhaps the most rewarding experience during the expedition was a week spent in a remote village involved in teaching and repairs to the local school. During the expedition I was also able to develop the basic Spanish I had learnt in Year 9 and I am very keen to take this up again at university, as part of my course or outside my studies.

I am now looking forward to the challenges and opportunities of university. I relish the thought of deepening my understanding of language and literature and I hope to contribute fully to university life.

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English & french personal statement example 2.

It has always been my greatest ambition to learn to speak a second language fluently. I firmly believe that languages, as the building blocks of communication, are increasingly vital skills to possess in a modern world in which traditional boundaries are rapidly changing and with this in mind, I studied three foreign languages for GCSE, enjoying the experience greatly, although it was my intention to carry only French onto a higher level of study. I am fascinated by the contrasts and contradictions of French culture and history - such as the way in which France is the Catholic Church's 'eldest daughter', claimed to have the largest concentration of traditionalist Catholics in the world, and yet is also a fiercely secular proponent of "laicite" and free-thinking. However, my main interest is in the language itself, which is truly beautiful.

While I always intended to learn French, it has only been in this past year that I have come to appreciate the level of my interest in English and in the analysis of literary texts in my own language. How authors throughout the centuries have utilised language to manipulate their readers' emotions and beliefs is fascinating both on an abstract level and as a practical skill, used by the media and politicians and in everyday life, to inspire particular responses. For these reasons, translation appeals to me a great deal - how can one preserve these subtle nuances and still render a text readable from a completely different cultural perspective? The Italian proverb <i>traduttore, traditore</I> - translator, traitor - seems at times an accurate summing of the situation. The question has absorbed me ever since reading Les Miserables in translation and realising how many English 'versions' exist, all with different features due to their particular context and publishing history.

I am very committed to improving my understanding of the subjects I study. A two-week stay with a host family in France this summer helped me develop my language skills and the knowledge that I can hold my own in real situations has boosted my confidence tremendously. I have also honed my skills of analysis through constant, voracious reading - some years back I was able to raise over seventy pounds for charity by holding a sponsored 'No-Reading' day at my school! I am also a senior librarian in the school library and very much enjoy fostering an interest in books in the younger pupils.

When reading, my tastes veer towards the fantastic and in particular the works of Tolkien and Frank Herbert's Dune series. To create alternate pasts and futures in such a wide scope, and such detail that the creations become worlds in their own right, with values and cultures both sympathetic to their audience's attitudes but also consistent within the internal structure of the novel and entirely separate from our own... the epic scale of such world-building never fails to amaze me. For much the same reasons, the historical fiction of Dorothy Dunnett and Mary Renault also appeals to me, through the ways in which the authors skilfully recreate a particular time-period.

I also enjoy music, in a wide variety of forms. My musical tastes range from modern pop, via musical theatre, to Gilbert and Sullivan operetta. What I lack in talent, I supplement with enthusiasm both singing with the School Choir for several years and, more recently, studying for the Grade 1 piano exam.

Profile info

This personal statement was written by helle for application in 2008.

helle's Comments

Pretty pleased with this - it's conventional but I feel it gets 'me' across quite well. Probably bits I'd change if I did it again, but still. Universities applied to: Oxford, Warwick, Liverpool, Durham, St Andrews. Offers from all of them.

Related Personal Statements

Haha this is a brilliant.

Tue, 19/08/2008 - 15:27

haha this is a brilliant personal statement. did you go to oxford then?

this is realllyyyy gud, u dnt

Wed, 03/09/2008 - 09:54

this is realllyyyy gud, u dnt sound arrogant just very passionate about ur subjects becuase u go into such detail. its conventional, but really well written in a nice simple style. not surprised u got offers from everywhere.

prétentieux

Mon, 15/09/2008 - 12:01

this is a good statement as

Thu, 25/09/2008 - 14:57

this is a good statement as far as i can see, im just starting ym statement, it seems its going to be an interesting exercise to say the least. good luck and well done

this is really, as you've

Mon, 20/10/2008 - 11:10

this is really, as you've said, a bit too conventional. written in good language though.

This was really useful for me

Tue, 12/05/2009 - 18:21

This was really useful for me, I'm looking to study the same subjects at similar universities. Jumping on the band wagon: you could have been more original. However, the prose was fluid enough to prove a good candidate, and it blatantly did what it was meant to do. Congrats :)

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