Jasmine

After visiting an open day at Aberystwyth University, I instantly fell in love with the picturesque coastal town and its unique student experience. However, it was without a doubt, the enthusiasm, friendliness and warm welcome that I received from the Modern Languages Department that sealed the deal.

Being a languages student at Aberystwyth University meant I was a part of a tight-knit languages community. With small class sizes every student benefits from an intimate learning experience and invaluable support from lecturers, who will be sure to know your name!

Studying a joint-honours degree in French and German at Aberystwyth has allowed me to progress my language skills in all linguistic areas. I also deepened my cultural understanding through modules such as European and French Film, German Speaking Refugees from National Socialism and French Travel Literature. The latter of which I was a co-recipient of the André Barbier prize for the best essay in French, in which I analysed French travel literature in Indochina from both the mainland French perspective and the native Vietnamese perspective.

For my year abroad I studied at partnership universities in Perpignan in the south of France and Salzburg in Austria. For me, the best way to describe my year abroad is that it was without doubt the hardest thing I have ever done, but also the best and most rewarding. The study exchange offers an insight to student life abroad as well as a fantastic opportunity to communicate with native speakers and make friends from all over the world. In particular, communicating with my new German friends on my year abroad not only massively improved my confidence in speaking German and consolidated my language skills, but it also formed lifelong friendships.

Since recently graduating from Aberystwyth, I have planned a five week-long interrailing trip around Europe, notably Germany and Austria to visit twelve friends that I met in Perpignan and Salzburg. In the future, I hope to build upon the skills and experiences I gained from my languages degree through living and working in a German speaking country.