French and Hispanic Studies - BA (Hons)
The modules are so varied and you can also take elective modules if you’re interested in another subject area.
I’ve always been very intrigued by languages. I’m from Germany and I learned French, English and Latin at school there; then, in Year 12, I came to school in England and started learning Spanish in my own free time and got very passionate about it. So I decided I’d like to do French and Spanish for a degree.
I wanted to do a degree that wasn’t only about learning languages; I wanted to be involved with literature or film, other aspects of learning a language. Kent seemed like a good option because the modules are so varied and you can also take elective modules if you’re interested in another subject area.
For our language module we have grammar lessons and workshops, which are like reading lessons. For the workshops, we are given a text to read before the class, then we either talk about it or translate it, and have a discussion about it together.
We also have speaking lessons where we do lots of practice, which has helped me a lot. It doesn’t matter if you make mistakes because everyone makes them.
I also take part in a scheme called the tandem programme, where you exchange languages. You let the department know what languages you speak and they match you up with someone who speaks the language you are learning. I met a girl from Panama who wanted to learn German. When we meet up we speak German for 30 minutes and then Spanish for 30 minutes. It’s really good.
I did a module on Spanish literature last term, which was very interesting. I thought Spanish literature would be too difficult for me but actually I enjoy it a lot! This term I’ve just started Spanish cinema and I love that too.
Definitely, yes. You can email them or go to see them during their office hours. If you’re not sure you’re going in the right direction in an essay, they will meet you to discuss it and offer advice.
I like to use the study hubs in the accommodation – in Darwin, or Keynes – rather than the library because they tend to be less busy, and I find it easier to focus there. I’ve been to yoga, Zumba and spinning classes at the sports centre but I prefer to do physical activity outside, so I like to do the park run here on a Saturday morning.
I’ve decided to do a work placement, rather than a study placement, because I thought it would be a good chance to try out work opportunities and see if they are what I would like to do in the future.
As I’m doing joint honours I’ll spend part of my year in France as a tour leader and then next February I’m going to be working in Spain, in Bilbao, for Happy Erasmus, which looks after exchange students. We’ll be organising events, activities and trips and supporting them all the way through their Erasmus experience. I’m really looking forward to it. I’m thinking about becoming a tour leader when I graduate – I love showing people my own perspective of another country and culture, and I love working with young people.
Come to the open days, ask lots of questions and have a look at the city of Canterbury itself, to see whether you would like it here. And then, if you have any questions, there’s a buddy scheme that allows you to email a current Hispanic Studies student to ask about the course and the student life. I think that would be very helpful.
