Ben Tavener

Grammar school, Kent

Fourth-year student, reading
MML, Russian and French

See here during his year abroad in Moscow

(taken on top of St Isaac's Cathedral, looking across St Petersburg)

In retrospect, the first thing I should say is that if you're applying to Clare, forget about all the stereotypes and horrendous tales of interviews that you have heard of. Cambridge is not all about pomp and pageantry; it's a really modern, forward-thinking place. Cambridge is whatever you make of it – the more you put in, the more you get out… Clearly, there are some parts of Cambridge life which are quite traditional, some might even say out-dated, but everyone takes them in their stride.

Clearly, everyone gets nervous before the interviews. Once you're inside, there are no trick questions; it's just your chance to show yourself to be Clare material!  For MML there's a short passage in the language, of which you'll have to read a section aloud, and then a few broad questions – but aside from that, the interview is yours. It's your chance to talk about both your interests within MML and your other hobbies and interests.

‘Modern & Medieval Languages' (see the department website at http://www.mml.cam.ac.uk for the different languages you can study and the different ‘specialisms' you can do) is designed so that much of the course is flexible enough to be tailored to the individual. Within all languages, the chance to discuss literature from the last decades to the last millennium (often with people who wrote the best-known material on the subject!) is available in all languages, and many of the languages offer the chance to delve into the fascinating world of linguistics.

I had studied both Russian and French to A-level before coming to Clare. For my Part IA, I studied Early Russian Literature, Culture & History and therefore, I thought I'd have a go at French Linguistics (Paper Fr1). One thing is assured at Cambridge , you will be given the opportunity to delve into areas of language that you never knew existed, and also to see those you took for granted in a new light. You can equally start a new language ab initio (from scratch – (not French)). Again, this demonstrates the sheer breadth of choice within the Tripos.

Of course, the most exciting part of studying MML is that you get to spend a year of your life in a different country! I'm currently on my Year Abroad in Moscow – slowly turning into a Muscovite! You can either work, study or teach; for the past seven months, I have been working as an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Teacher in Central Moscow . However, from April, I will be working with the BBC as an intern for the remaining months of my Year Abroad; (you have to complete a minimum of eight months). This should include a certain amount of interviewing and general slavery for BBC World and BBC Russian Service. I have been lucky enough to be able to travel to St Petersburg and Yaroslavl ' too. Later on in the year, I am hopefully also going to be travelling to Kiev , Ukraine , and across the Trans-Siberian railway to Vladivostok .

During your Year Abroad, you also have to get thinking about your dissertation. I'm doing mine about the effects of modern technology of the structure of Modern Russian, as I have found that people's language is being altered by mobile phones and the Internet.

Although the workload can be quite high at times, Cambridge is definitely not only about work! When I got to Clare, it suddenly struck me how widespread and varied the opportunities at Cambridge were. In Freshers' Week, there is the chance to join loads of different clubs, from rowing (which you should definitely try!) to playing in orchestras; from playing squash to strutting your stuff on stage; from representing your country at tiddly-winks to joining the Winnie the Pooh society. It's totally up to you. For all you musicians out there, Clare is the place to be; with excellent practice facilities and chances to play in either Clare or in other University-wide orchestras.

You will have a social life in Clare whether you like it or not!! The people here are so friendly – the students, fellows and staff alike; for my first year, on my particular staircase in the Memorial Court complex (where all freshers are put together), I was lucky enough to be part of a really close-knit, family-like environment; so if problems arose, there was help both within the members of my own staircase. The college also arranges many different student ‘officers' to deal with anything that may arise.

Clare's first-year accommodation is well-known to be among the best in the University, and after that it is still well above average – which, having been to quite a few universities' open days, are like rooms for royalty in comparison, and normally at a lower price! It's all very central and nothing is more than a few minutes' bike ride away.

Cambridge is about individual opportunities – your course revolves around you. I was unsure about whether I would fit in to the Cambridge way of life, but in truth, the Cambridge way of life in its broadest sense is simply a million doors just waiting to be opened, which for me have included learning to row, punting, singing in the Royal Albert Hall with the University Chorus, co-directing and conducting my very own musical, presenting my own show on the CUR1350 (the student-run Radio Station), and more, and this is nothing special! You can do as much or as little as you want, but I've always been one for seizing every opportunity I can get.

With excellent learning and social facilities, the friendliest people and inspiring grounds, buildings and gardens, Clare is definitely the best place to start enjoying everything Cambridge has to offer.

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