Hi there! I’m Caitlin and I am a 4th year French and Spanish student here at York. I am so excited to share my favourite things about Language and Linguistic Science with you. Here is a quick guide to my top things about studying with us at York.
The Course
I first came to York on an open day in 2016 and I absolutely fell in love with. Instantly, I knew that York was the right place for me. I only had an A level in French, but I really wanted to improve my language skills. I decided to take ab-initio Spanish alongside my other language!
This was, without a doubt, the best decision I have ever made! The support from my tutors in my first year at York really helped me to get up to university standard by the time that we joined the post-A level class in second year. We often have whole year or entire module group chats, so it’s really easy to talk to each other if you’re stuck on the homework or just want some advice about a concept you don’t understand. Our ab-initio class was so close knit! We had an amazing relationship with our tutors – so much so that we all cried on our final day of classes! My Spanish is now as good as my French (probably even better) and I enjoyed every moment on my course!
Another positive is that all classes are actually taught in the target language, so you can really improve your speaking skills in every class. The seminars take place in smaller groups so I’ve found that I’m much more confident practicing speaking and engaging in my language. We also offer intercultural buddy sessions where you can drop in and chat with native speakers, amazing for improving your confidence.
Personalised degree programme
Another plus about any course in Language and Linguistics is that you can completely tailor your degree to you! You can mix and match with a wide range and combination of modules to create an incredibly personalised degree programme. Personally, I prefer studying language and history. Therefore, this year, I chose to take my own project module about literature written by women during the Mexican Revolution. My lecturers have always been on hand to support me every step of the way and I have never felt lost or confused. After all, they are just a quick email or meeting away and they quickly resolved any doubts I had.
Societies
At York we have an amazing choice of societies that you can get involved in. Literally anything that you can think of. Be it Covid or not, there is always something for you to do. In my second year, I joined the Latin American Society and attended their end of term party. We learned some bachata and salsa moves and it was a real laugh! If you want to practice your Spanish or just want to make some amazing friends, I really recommend getting involved with them! They regularly offer cookery, dance and language classes and are one of the biggest societies on campus!
Year abroad
Without a doubt, my favourite thing about studying at York is the incredible memories of my year abroad. Language and Linguistic Science has links all across the world and, whether you want to study at university or gain valuable work experience, there really is something for everyone!
The year abroad improved my confidence and speaking skills so much, and I have so many incredible friends and amazing memories from my time there. I wish I could go back every day!
In my first semester I studied at Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP), Mexico, for five months. As an ab-initio student I was so nervous and worried about my level of Spanish. However, by December I was crying because I didn’t want to leave this amazing country and all my friends! Whilst abroad, I studied at the University for three days a week and then had the opportunity to travel all across Mexico. My Spanish now has improved so much, and I have incredible memories from my time there.
If you want to study abroad, I recommend that you grab every opportunity you have! There is so much support available to you at York. If you need some help or advice whilst you are abroad, your lecturers are always happy to help you. I remember being on the phone with an 8-hour time difference back to my teachers in the UK . They helped me sort out administrative problems with the university, making getting settled so much easier.
If you want to hear more in-depth experiences from ex year abroad students, we have just launched our own year abroad blog. This includes more detailed blogs from me and other students, sharing our memories and tips about living abroad. Be on the lookout for updates from us!
I hope this short blog from me has given you some things to look forward to and get excited about! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us!
- Caitlin
Read more about studying Language at Linguistic Science at York
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