In this article we will guide you on how to best prepare for your Oxford Modern Languages interview. There are guides on past Oxford Modern Languages questions, interview tips and mock examples. It also includes real experiences from students who have sat the Oxford Modern Languages interview.
This article is from a collection of accounts from Oxbridge applicants.
What is the Oxford Modern Languages interview structure?
You’ll have at least one interview per language or course that’s part of your combination. For example, if you applied for Spanish and Russian, you’ll have one Spanish interview, and one Russian interview.
What are the Oxford Modern Languages interview dates?
You will have at least two interviews for Oxford Modern Languages, which will take place in the first week couple of weeks in December. You may then hear within the next couple of days if you’ve received any further interviews, which will take place in the second week.
Example Past Questions from Oxford Modern Languages Interview
- A poem prior to the interview without translation to identify metaphors, rhythm, structure, and other key features. Tutors may ask you to translate it afterwards.
- A short story prior to the interview to discuss themes and ideas from them.
- Which books have you read in your language?
- How did you come to learn the language?
- Can you describe this stimulus? Eg. a painting
- Section of interview conducted in the language. This could be a friendly conversation, often about your experiences of the country and culture, if you’ve visited.
- How can you apply themes from [a given poem or text] to your knowledge of the country’s culture?
Above is an example of a Oxford Modern Languages interview from this YouTube channel. It is a great video to see how an interview may be structured.
Insider Guides: Oxford Modern Languages Interview
What happens on the day of your Oxford Modern Languages interview?
Until 2020, all interviews were in person, and you’d be staying in accommodation in Oxford for a few days while your interviews took place. This year, interviews may be online, so you don’t need to worry about any of this. If this is the case, the university will send you a link to a Microsoft Teams meeting by email prior to the interview.
They may send you a resource to look at for 15 minutes or so before your interview, so make sure to be checking your emails!
Depending on the college, they may go straight into the interview. Or you may be met by student volunteers from the college. They will put you at ease and answer any questions you may have, before they leave for the actual interview to commence.
What do you have to bring to your Oxford Modern Languages interview?
They’re likely to give you some material to read or prepare prior to the interview, such as a poem or short story. So make sure to spend all the time you can preparing this to give you the best chance of answering questions well on it. They may also allow you to use a dictionary to translate words you don’t know. Keep one to hand (whether a physical one or online) if you’re able.
What is the interview setting and how long is it?
The interview took place on Microsoft Teams, with cameras and microphones on. Some of the interviewers had blurred their backgrounds, though some had a plain wall behind them. I made sure my background was clear and simple, with nothing identifiable or distracting, and was well-lit. All of my interviewers were lovely and reassuring, and eased my nerves very quickly. Some of them were more openly kind than others. Some kept quieter and were harder to read their reactions to what I said.
What are the Oxford Modern Languages interviewers like?
They’re friendly and kind. They will often ask you to let them know if they use any vocabulary in the target language that you’re unfamiliar with. They want to make sure you can understand the given task. This isn’t part of their assessment of you, so don’t worry if there’s a few words you don’t know. They don’t expect you to know every word in the language! Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification.
Don’t worry if they give little indication as to how well you’re doing, this is normal, and doesn’t at all mean you’re doing badly! You may have two interviewers asking questions, or one sat silently taking notes. Don’t let this put you off doing your best.
Are there any academic or challenging Modern Languages questions at the Oxford interview?
You may be given a test of your vocabulary, which may seem scary but they won’t expect you to be familiar with every single word.
The interviewers could also ask you about how you went about tackling the Modern Languages Admissions Test (MLAT), which you will have already sat. But they might ask about the method you used to approach the questions, and why.
From the University of Oxford’s Modern Languages Department:
‘The interview is intended primarily to assess the candidate’s potential for future development and suitability for an intensive, tutorial-based teaching system. Knowledge of the literature of the language(s) is not assessed but assessors will look for evidence of an aptitude for literary study. In some cases candidates may be given a short passage (either in the language or in English) to prepare before the interview. Successful candidates will take the opportunity to present a reading of the passage in an argued, clear, critical and articulate way. They will equally be ready to listen to ideas put to them and to assess their relevance.
There may be an oral component in the interview to test the correctness and fluency with which the candidate can speak the language.
Interviewers may ask questions about the candidate’s interests and accomplishments as a way of easing the candidate into the interview proper or in order to assess the candidate’s motivation. The candidate’s interests and accomplishments are not relevant to the selection process except in so far as they may bear upon one or more of the general admissions criteria.’
Read more about the admissions process for Modern Languages at the University of Oxford here FAQs Modern Languages.
Are there any personality, work experience or extracurricular based questions at the Oxford Modern Languages interview?
It’s common for tutors to ask questions on any books you’ve mentioned in your Personal Statement. So make sure to refamiliarise yourself with both the literature you’ve referenced, and the way you wrote about it previously. Sometimes this discussion will be conducted in your chosen language, so make sure you feel comfortable using the language from the text.
Sometimes, they’ll pick out a more obscure sentence from your Personal Statement that you might not have expected. Make sure you can justify everything you wrote. Also think about how you might explain the way you phrased some of your opinions on your Modern Language or the texts you read in it.
Top Tips for the Oxford Modern Languages Interview
1. Get comfortable conversing in your chosen language.
It’s very likely you’ll have a conversation with your interviewer in this language. It’ll be a topic you’re familiar with, such as what you like to watch on TV or your experience of visiting a country where the language is spoken. Chat to other students or teachers in your A-Level or IB class who also speak the language, so you feel comfortable speaking it naturally, not just writing or translating.
2. Familiarise yourself with grammar rules.
Obviously, learning a language is much more than learning the vocabulary, and the way a sentence is structured can often change its meaning drastically. You may be asked to translate excerpts of books or poems that are advanced beyond the level you’d be able to write. It will help you to be familiar with higher level structures, and how to identify and accurately translate them.
3. Read literature in your chosen language.
This will give you something to discuss with your interviewers, and the more you know about it, the better. Try to read from a variety of genres, even if it’s something you may not normally choose in English. This will give you some variety and awareness of different styles of writing in the language. You may be asked to discuss which genres you prefer, so being able to identify features of some key genres will help you.
4. Recap your Personal Statement and written work.
It may feel like a long time since you submitted either of these things, but the interviewers are likely to have a copy right there. It will be useful to you to have it fresh in your mind, and to be aware of how you phrased your arguments and opinions.
5. Be comfortable asking questions.
If you don’t understand something they’ve asked, don’t sit there uncertain, and risk misinterpreting a question. Ask the interviewer for a translation or clarification of what they said. But if you do misinterpret and end up going down the wrong track, the interviewer will guide you back in the right direction and help you out as much as they can.
Still need more support with preparing for your Oxford Modern Languages Interview? Check out Oxbridge Modern Languages for more information on our one-to-one tutoring service, to help secure your place at the University of Oxford!
