I decided to study German at university because I had studied it at GCSE but unfortunately couldn't do an A-level in the subject. I'd really enjoyed studying German (because I liked its logical nature) and desperately wanted the chance to study it at a higher level. I would thoroughly recommend studying German ab initio because it's very different to learning a language at school - you acquire language skills and grammar through studying the culture and history of Germany (and Austria), rather than through repetitive exercises.

I chose to study ab initio German at York because the course is delivered in the target language, which I knew would give me the best opportunity to develop my speaking skills right from the start. The German department is impeccably organised; the lecturers are amazing and have created modules which complement each other so well (especially in second year). They’re constantly trying to not only develop your foreign language skills but to also be more critically minded.