Modern & Medieval Languages (MML)
The course
The MML Tripos lasts four years, with your third year being spent abroad. It is divided into three parts (called Part IA, Part IB, and Part II), each with a different emphasis. Students are able to focus on two languages during their course from the following: French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish. Each of these (with the exception of French, which is not offered at beginners' level) can be studied from scratch or started at post-A2 (or equivalent) level. A large number of students in the MML Faculty are studying one of their two main languages 'from scratch' - some of these are absolute beginners when they start the course, others already have considerable knowledge of the language (but less than A2 or equivalent), and so are placed in appropriate groups accordingly, so they can go at the pace that's right for them. Any one of the languages above may, alternatively, be combined with Classical Latin or Classical Greek through the Classics faculty; and it is possible to combine one of the modern languages listed with certain Middle Eastern languages ( Arabic, Persian and Hebrew) in the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. Students will become highly fluent in their chosen languages and will have the chance to gain in-depth knowledge about the culture, history, cinema, literature, art, politics, philosophy, values and ideas of other countries. Students may also learn about the nature of language in general - a discipline known as linguistics.
Part IA normally takes one year and is devoted primarily to language work. Students are trained in translation from the languages, in the use of those languages and in oral work. This part of the course also provides an introduction to the advanced study of literature or to the structures and varieties of a language. Part IB has a greater focus on scheduled literature and/or linguistics papers, although language work still features prominently. Students are trained in translation to and from the language and in listening comprehension skills.
During Year 3 (Part II) students spend a year abroad and complete a project of their own choosing: either a dissertation or a translation project. In Year 4 (Part II) language work takes three forms: an oral examination, which you have at the start of the year; advanced translation, both into and out of the foreign language and essay-writing in the foreign language. Students can choose to take each of these papers in either of their foreign languages. It is possible to choose either 2 or 3 papers in which you study culture, literature, cinema, history, thought and philosophy, or linguistics, or a mixture of some of these. They can relate to one of your main languages or to both. If you choose 2 papers, then instead of the third paper you can do another dissertation project of your own choosing.Application and Interviews
Applicants should be taking at least one modern language to be studied at Cambridge. If you are following an A-level curriculum, the usual conditions of the offer will be that you obtain specified grades at A-level: typically A*AA (without specifying which should be A*). We can certainly consider equivalent qualifications such as the International Baccalaureate.
Those who are invited to attend for interview will have a general academic and a subject-specific interview as part of the admissions process: one interview will be with a Tutor or college officer who may well have an academic interest in one element of your subject, and your second with the Director of Studies in MML. We try to conduct our interviews in a friendly and informal manner and no special preparation is necessary. We ask, in advance, for two pieces of written work, composed as part of a school course preferably in a language other than English. Applicants will be asked to sit a written test on the day of their interview (which does not require advance preparation). It is also usual for applicants to be given a short passage in their chosen language to read beforehand for discussion at interview and normally a brief conversation in the appropriate language will take place.
