This year long programme aims to highlight the importance of languages and presents key features of language study at the University of Cambridge.

Last year’s programme was a resounding success, 84% of our 2020/21 cohort are now studying a modern language at A Level (in 2021, 3.1% of A Level entries were MFL)! The programme was also featured in The Linguist, the professional journal of the Chartered Institute of Linguists.

The aims are to:

• Inspire students to continue with their languages beyond GCSE
• Make language learning interesting and exciting
• Demonstrate the value of learning other languages and cultures in the working world
• Build confidence at speaking their target language
• Raise aspirations towards Higher Education
• Show them all the different course options and languages on offer at Cambridge

November: Masterclass 1 – Where can languages take you?

Students in Years 11 will benefit from masterclasses to learn about the value of learning languages beyond GCSE. Participants will have the chance hear from Trinity alumni on career options with a language degree.

December: Masterclass 2 – Undergraduate Level Lecture

Students will experience an undergraduate lecture to help give a flavour of language study at university. Students will experience language teaching in one of their current languages of study and be provided with an ab initio session in a lesser taught language (e.g. Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES) course), hence developing awareness and raising interest in expanding their love for learning languages.

January: Masterclass 3 – Cambridge Application Process and Personal Statement Advice

Students learn about the Cambridge application process and receive advice on how to write their personal statement, in the context of a languages application, followed by a question and answer session with college outreach and teaching staff.

February: Masterclass 4 – Current Undergraduates

Students will also have the opportunity to meet and talk to current undergraduates studying at Trinity. A pair of languages students will also deliver an aspiration-raising session about why they have chosen to study languages, including stories and photos from their year abroad.

March: Masterclass 5 – Languages at Cambridge – What does it look like?

Trinity academics demonstrate a mock supervision to show how discussion and intellectual curiosity is fostered and supported

March/April: Masterclass 6 – Applying to Oxbridge – Myths and Misconceptions

There prevailing myths surrounding Cambridge which can often put people off from applying. Here we bust common misconceptions about applying to, and being a student at Cambridge.

We are looking forward to seeing applications from students with a passion for languages. This programme is open to all year 11 students of a language and we would particularly like to encourage students who might be considering studying languages at university.

You will need to meet the following requirements

• You must currently be a student in Year 11 (S4 Scotland; Y12 N.Ireland)
• You must be predicted to achieve GCSEs in a language graded at 7-9 (or A/A* level). For Scottish applicants, you must be predicted to achieve National 5s in a language graded at A.

We would like to support as many students as possible through the programme. However, this programme aims to support students from backgrounds that are under-represented in higher education. Therefore, if it is oversubscribed, we will prioritise students who match one or more of the following criteria:

• Have lived, or are currently living, in local authority care
• Are attending a UK state school
• Are eligible, or have been eligible within the past six years, for free school meals
• Are a refugee
• Have caring responsibilities for a family member
• Live in neighbourhoods with low overall progression rates to higher education
• Have no parental history of higher education
• Have a disability

Zoom webinars

When you register to attend a webinar-style session, you will then be sent a Zoom link which will allow you to join the event. Your camera/microphone will not be enabled, and you will only be able to communicate with the hosts/panelists running the session by typing out questions or comments. The majority of the events will be in this format.

Zoom meetings

Some of the more interactive events in this programme may require your camera/microphone to be switched on. These will take place using the Zoom meeting function – upon registering, you will be sent a Zoom link to attend one of these sessions. As part of the registration process, you will need to obtain the written permission of a parent/guardian to attend an event of this kind. A DBS checked member of staff will be present in each event where participants’ cameras and microphones are enabled.

Do I have to attend all sessions?

We would like students to attend as many of the webinars as possible throughout the year. Each session will be offered at numerous times and dates in order to enable more students to attend. However, we understand it may not be possible for students to attend all webinars and we’re happy to pass on key resources to participants who were unable to attend a particular webinar.

“At first, I wasn’t too sure how useful languages would be for me later in life. I don’t really have many ideas careers wise, with the only thing I have a slight inkling for being medicine, but this has made me see how much languages can help extend my options, as opposed to just giving me one career path.”

“This programme is amazing and I am so thankful to be chosen for it! Also, just listening to all of the experiences of those involved made me happy. I have no idea why.”

“The way in which language study was amplified through the exploration of Art and History; it gave me a lot of ideas as to how to broaden out outside my current school syllabus.”

“It was nice to learn about first person experiences at Trinity. Each student had different experiences and interests, reflecting the variety of opportunities offered by the course and the year abroad.”

“getting to listen in on such an interesting conversation. It is the most authentic experience that I have had of what it is like to study at Cambridge in an environment where your learning is at the heart of the system, and the privilege of working with and being taught by academics who are so incredibly knowledgeable.”

“I now know a lot more about Japanese than I did before the session and am very excited to show off my new knowledge to my family! Whereas before I was mainly interested in studying a European language to a higher level, this session has made me intrigued to take an Asian or Middle Eastern language. Thank you.”

“I’m from a village where everyone knows everyone else and I’m quite worried about how massive the jump will be to living so far away in a place where I don’t know anyone, but this session helped because it made me feel like that’s normal and I’ll be ok.”