Two weeks ago, I finished my first year of my degree at The Open University. I have my first uni trip next month, which I am really looking forward to, and I will get my module results on July 23rd! However, this year has been spontaneous. I have ended up not only a valued member of the student community but also a student mentor and a potential student buddy for the intermediate German module that I did this year.

 As I mentioned in my previous article, UNI, I studied two modules this year: Intermediate German (L113) and a compulsory module about the science of languages and cultures. I had two very contrasting experiences with these modules regarding difficulty, motivation and anxiety.

 L113 was SCQF7, so it was the same level of German as my Advanced Higher, which I had accomplished the year before at Edinburgh College. Because of this previous experience, I could get through the course material at an accelerated rate. I finished the coursework in February instead of May, which allowed me to have three months of revision before my final assignment in May and look very impressive when I attended the Day School in March. My significant impact at the day school made the staff do much more to help and support me in my German studies and professional development, but it also caused me to make a lovely new friend. I don’t think I have ever had multiple friends at any educational institution I have been in before. Still, as well as Aoife, I’m also excellent friends with an American woman called Chloe, and we have even met up outside of uni! This is practically unheard of for me!

Unfortunately, I did not have such a positive experience with L161. It was also SCQF7, and I had a lovely tutor. However, the module included a lot of reading, analytical thinking and writing, none of which I am good at in English! I also feel like the books for this module tried to include too much information in too few pages, so the information was not at all streamlined, as I prefer things that I have to study. This all made it extremely difficult for me to prepare assignments. The last essay was incredibly challenging as the question did not match up with any of the information in the books, but somehow, we were expected to reference information from at least 2 of these books! This final assignment was a source of great stress and anxiety for me and therefore I am delighted that this module is over!

Next year, I will study a module called L223, which is the next level of German. I know I previously wrote that I would study French, but I got an exception from someone higher up in the uni, allowing me to continue with my German. I have already compiled 23 pages of notes for the module out of my own research so that I can have a head start with the module. Studying German instead of French next year has also freed up my summer because I no longer have to do 19 million hours of French revision! Therefore, I have signed up for the summer German course my uni is co-hosting in Jena! I have wanted to go to Germany since I started learning German in 2020, so when I saw this opportunity, I simply had to go! It is quite remarkable when you consider how terrified I was about going to the Day School, which was 6 hours in Edinburgh, and how confident I am about a 5-day course in a foreign country! This shows growth and for that, I am very proud!

In conclusion, my first year of uni has been an overall fantastic experience and I can’t wait for year 2! I will have more responsibilities next year, but I’m really looking forward to being in a slightly higher role!

Eilidh Elizabeth Molly McGrath