Test taken: Modern Languages Admissions Test (MLAT)
Number of interviews: 2
Time between interviews: A day
Length of interviews: 30 mins
Online interview: No

French: It was two interviewers. They took turns for each section of the interview. A passage from a poem in prose by André Gide. I had 30 minutes with unusual vocab given and with a dictionary. She started the interview by talking about the extract I had to prepare. She first asked me to read aloud some of it until she asked me to stop. She then went through the pronunciation mistakes with me and made me correct myself. Some parts were really subtle and quite complex, but they’ll guide you through it. Then we discussed it for a while as you would expect normally. Then she asked me to translate some of the hardest most ambiguous sections. Don’t worry about coming up with a perfect answer. Just discuss your thought process out loud. After that, a male interviewer asked me about my personal statement reading. He really liked some of the stuff I said that he’d never heard before, but then told me that he disagreed with another part. Both of them were quite stern but don’t be put off by that. Him disagreeing just gives you a chance to prove your point, explain your thinking, take into account his thoughts, and then maybe compromise and clarify what you now believe. They are hard interviewers who will question you at every point, but don’t be phased. Just make sure you have evidence to back up what you’re saying! Then we talked in French. This bit was actually quite difficult. She started by saying that I had mentioned enjoying language learning in my personal statement, but why should we study the literature. I talked about the classic thing of literature being a key to the essence of a country etc. It is influenced by history, politics etc. Then she said: so you say that history influences literature, but do you think that literature influences history? This is hard enough in English, let alone in French, but don’t be afraid to take time to think. Also, just talk! For the bit in French they just want to see that you can carry on, so just keep going! Be flexible! They don’t want to just see you parrot things you’ve learned etc. They want you to work with them! Also, don’t worry too much, it’s actually really fine. Part of the interview you already know how it will go (it’s a text you’ve already seen)! Do think of questions they might ask though while you’re in your 30 mins prep time. Then, when it comes to personal statement stuff, they’re not trying to trick you at all. They genuinely won’t ask trick questions! Just go with them, think out loud and you will be fine! And even if they’re stern, don’t smile and seem harsh, keep going. Russian: Two tutors, subject-specific interview. One asked me all of the questions in English about the text and my personal statement etc, the other took notes and did the conversation in Russian at the end. I was given 30 minutes pre-reading with a dictionary in a separate room, not near my interview room. It was a 1960s poem by a poet I had never heard of, but it had a lot to say about it! They gave difficult vocab in context, but there’s also the dictionary if you need it. 30 mins is a lot of time, so don’t worry if thoughts don’t come straight away. The more you look at it, the more comes. I was asked about my Russian heritage (obviously this is a unique situation) and then we went on to talking about literature in my personal statement. First, we talked about the more modern book “Second Hand Time” and discussed whether it was really literature (it won the Nobel Prize for Literature) and how it differed from just being journalism. Also, what about it had shocked me. Then, I had written a lot about Pasternak, but I think Catriona knew that I would know a lot about it, so seemed to want to avoid it. She was very friendly and actually asked what my favourite Russian work was (essentially asking me what I wanted to talk about). I wanted to talk about the Death of Ivan Ilyich, and we had a really interesting lengthy chat. Make sure to listen to them and take their ideas on board and work with them, rather than just treading the path that you’re used to.  I then was asked in Russian (by the interviewer) about trips to Russia and more about my background and why my father was Russian etc. The chat wasn’t too hard, which was good!

I read everything on my personal statement! And then I used Jstor to find articles around my works, so I could come at them from different angles. Go through your personal statement looking for the things you think they’ll ask about. My advice would be to choose fewer texts, but read around them in more depth

Past papers!! Do them all!

Definitely think out loud! Also, go in with an open mind. If they suggest something different to your idea, don’t see changing your mind as weakness. In fact it shows a flexibility and ability to adapt in an academic environment! Also when they ask about literature, there is never a wrong answer. Say whatever comes to mind!