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English and Modern Languages

We look for students who are passionate about literature, curious about other cultures, who will relish the challenges of becoming fluent in another language, and who enjoy cross-cultural comparison.

Students in their first year typically take courses on the modern languages side designed to consolidate their language skills and to introduce them to the study of literature in that language. They take two papers for English: an introduction to literary criticism and theory, and a choice between Old English, Middle English, Victorian, or Modern Literature. After the first-year exams (Prelims), students choose options for the rest of their degree from among a wide variety of papers in English and the modern language, ranging from the medieval to the contemporary.

The third year is usually spent abroad in a country where that language is spoken; students undertake a variety of projects on this year, some studying at university, some teaching English as a foreign language, and some working on a placement. This year can be tremendously rewarding both personally and academically: students typically come back fluent in the language, wider in their reading and perspectives, and excited by their new experiences. In their final year, students complete papers on each side of the course, and can also write a comparative dissertation which unites themes from the literature of both languages. Equal weight may be placed on each side of the degree throughout, although it is also possible to study one of the two subjects in greater depth; in either case, students are encouraged at every stage to bring what they have learnt in English to bear on their modern language, and vice versa.

Oriel has a strong tradition in English and Modern Languages. We have Fellows in French (Cécile Bishop), German (Annette Volfing), and English (Kathryn Murphy), and lecturers in Italian, Spanish, and Russian.

Admission Criteria

Please refer to the University of Oxford English and Modern Languages course page for full details on entry requirements.

Departments

Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages

Faculty of English

Teaching Staff

Dr Bethany Dubow

College Lecturer in English

Organising Tutor
Professor Annette Volfing

Knight Fellow & Tutor in Modern Languages

Dr Katherine New

College Lecturer in Russian Literature & Language

Dr Ayoush Lazikani

College Lecturer in English

Professor Katrin Kohl

College Lecturer in German

Dr Amanda Holton

College Lecturer in English Literature

Dr Ole Hinz

German Lektor

Dr Nicholas Gaskill

Fellow & Tutor in American Literature

Dr Marie Kawthar Daouda

College Lecturer in French | Visiting Students Coordinator

Mrs Stefanie Burkert-Burrows

College Lecturer in German

Dr Cécile Bishop

Kelleher Fellow in French | Associate Professor of Post-Colonial Francophone Literatures & Cultures| Organising Tutor in French

Dr Alessandra Aloisi

Lecturer in French

Dr Víctor Acedo-Matellán

Fellow & Tutor in Linguistics & Spanish

Organising Tutor
Dr Kathryn Murphy

Fellow & Tutor in English Literature

OTHER COURSES YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN

Classics and English

Admission Criteria Please refer to the University of Oxford Classics and English course page for full details on entry requirements.

Classics and Modern Languages

Admission Criteria Please refer to the University of Oxford Classics and Modern Languages course page for full details on entry requirements.

English Language and Literature

Admission Criteria Please refer to the University of Oxford English Language and Literature course page for full details on entry requirements.

Modern Languages (and Linguistics)

Admission Criteria Please refer to the University of Oxford Modern Languages course page for full details on entry requirements.

Philosophy and Modern Languages

Admission Criteria Please refer to the University of Oxford Philosophy and Modern Languages course page for full details on entry requirements.

What next?

Applying to Oriel

Fees and funding

Open days