Course Information

Studying Modern and Medieval Languages at Cambridge

The Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos at Cambridge leads to the degree of Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) after four years of full-time study, of which the third year is spent abroad. The course involves an academic approach to language-based studies. Our courses all aim to encourage a thorough knowledge of languages studied, but beyond that, they are extremely flexible, and, particularly at Part II, allow students to choose virtually without restriction from the many different options available, which cover areas such as literature, linguistics, history, thought, art history, film, and critical theory, it is also possible to borrow papers from other courses.

The hallmark of teaching in Modern and Medieval Languages (as elsewhere in Cambridge) is close attention to the strengths, weaknesses, and general progress of each individual student. The main forms of teaching are:

• language classes (usually in small groups and comprising exercises in grammar, listening comprehension, and use of the language in its various registers, and translation into and out of the language);
• formal lectures and seminars, whose purpose is not only to convey facts but to stimulate you to make your own investigations and think for yourself;
• small teaching groups (known as supervisions, and normally organised by Colleges), which provide an opportunity for discussion, individual advice, and the consideration of your own written work.

By coming into regular contact with a variety of teachers, who are also conducting original research, you will be exposed to a stimulating range of approaches and opinions, on the basis of which to formulate your own responses. At its best, and most exciting, studying Modern and Medieval Languages in Cambridge is a fertile exchange of ideas between teacher and student.

We want you to develop multiple skills. You should seek to acquire the same grammatical accuracy, expressive range, and fluency as a native speaker in speaking, writing, and understanding your languages. The rigorous training in linguistic structure which you acquire should give you the ability rapidly to pick up new varieties of your languages (for example, specialist business uses), and also to acquire new languages. Above all, you should relish the prospect of exploring in detail, and from primary sources, the literature, history, philosophy, and art of which your languages are the vehicle.

As linguists you will also want to deepen your understanding of language as a phenomenon in its own right: what is language? You will learn about the structure and origins of individual languages: what is a language? How can one describe its structure and varieties? How, historically, did the language acquire its current form? But mere knowledge of facts and techniques is not enough; you will be encouraged to interpret and criticise what you have learned, to formulate and discuss your own ideas about what you have studied.

Obviously, to undertake a course of this kind, you need to be intellectually curious, resourceful, well organised and self-disciplined, and able to work on your own. You will need to attend regularly the relevant classes and lectures, and to complete all assignments on time. You will be encouraged to make use of some of the vacations to continue and consolidate your reading, and to visit the countries whose languages you are learning. Funds are available to help those who wish to travel abroad for academic purposes.

For general information on the MML course please see the online prospectus or use the links in the left hand bar for more specific information.