Reading Spanish at Cambridge

The magical letter containing an offer to study Spanish at Cambridge University will have just dropped onto the doormat of the chosen few hopefuls that I interviewed before Christmas. There will be an air of euphoria, mixed with a good deal of apprehension at the thought of actually being accepted to study at one of the world's greatest universities. I am often asked exactly what it takes to gain a place to read Spanish at Cambridge, and the answer is a complex one. There are, of course, the tip top A level or IB predictions, and a personal statement on the application form which exudes enthusiasm and motivation. But the interview is crucial. In the twenty or so minutes candidates have available to make that indelible impression, I need to see that their spoken Spanish is excellent, that they have read books or watched films in the language, or if they are beginners, that they have explored, investigated, found something out about the subject they plan to devote themselves to for at least forty hours a week in term time. They need to persuade me of their passion to learn, and of their passion for things Hispanic. There is much more to Spanish than its beautiful sound when spoken. Spain is unquestionably a unique country within Europe, with an unparalleled Arabic and Jewish heritage overlaid upon its native Iberian soul. To me, it is the most fascinating of all European countries, the route through which Greek and Arabic learning passed to the rest of the continent in the Middle Ages. It has forged an extraordinary and multilayered identity out of invasion, colonization and civil war, set against a backdrop of  a powerful and dramatic geographical and topographical landscape. When I meet those young people who have just opened their acceptance letters, I hope they will join me on an unequalled journey of intellectual and cultural exploration of this singular and remarkable land.