Front Quad of Lincoln College, the walls covered in bright green ivy

Rebekah Goodchild

Fourth-year undergraduate, Modern Languages

Profile

Hi, I’m Bekah and I am a fourth year studying French and German! I I grew up in Halifax in West Yorkshire, and went to a local comprehensive there. I was attracted to Lincoln because it is nice and central, as well as being a relatively small college, as I was hoping for a friendly and welcoming community. This is definitely the experience I have had - there is a lovely environment in College and all of the staff and students are really friendly.

What do you enjoy the most about your course?

I’d say the variety of things I get to study – Modern Languages courses at Oxford tend to place a strong focus on literature, so it is great to have a balance between language practice and essay writing and reading. Especially after first year, we are given plenty of freedom to explore our academic interests and choose for ourselves what we want to study, which I have definitely benefited from .

What advice do you have for prospective students interested in studying Modern Languages?

I would say try to read as much in your target language as you can! I began reading simple books in French in year 11, which I felt to be a helpful starting point. For the personal statement, because the course has a strong focus on literature, I would really recommend reading some classics (in English if that’s better for you!). For example, I read Voltaire’s Candide in French and Kafka’s Das Schloß (The Castle) in English (I took up German from scratch at the start of my degree), which meant that I was able to discuss the sort of literature I’d be studying on the course in my interview, which tutors like. I would also say generally read around and start thinking about what interests you the most, and what makes you excited about studying languages.

What is the best thing about being part of Lincoln College?

Apart from the beautiful College and Library (literally the prettiest college library in Oxford) I would say that it’s definitely the people! As I said, the environment among the JCR (undergraduate body) is so friendly – I’ve met some of the loveliest people during my time here so far. There is also always plenty to get involved with at Lincoln, which makes for an exciting and vibrant environment.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

In my spare time, I love running and cycling around Oxford, as well as hanging out with my friends and occasionally painting and practising piano.