These 10 tweets show access is a problem even once you’ve got to Oxbridge

love how oxbridge doesn’t see access as a problem once you’re through the door. can we talk about how a week before my finals, i was told to use latin – a language i never had the opportunity to learn – to help in my french translation exam? would love to hear other‘s experiences

— aaron gabriel (@philosophequeer) July 1, 2020

someone just sent me this:

i got told in first term that i would never be a good historian if i only spoke one language and that it was ridiculous i didn't know one already… having come directly from an underfunded state school that didn't even offer language a levels 😡

— aaron gabriel (@philosophequeer) July 1, 2020

Latin phrases being used in politics lectures!! not even direct quotes from political theorists, just straight up Latin fallacies and phrases dropped mid sentence and half the room laughing- same with french – thankfully was fluent but y on earth would they presume I know french

— rhiannon (@rhiannonm_s) July 1, 2020

Ohhh yeah the music undergrad tripos (Cambridge) has an entire paper in first year where you're expected to analyse plainchant, including, naturally, the setting and word painting in Latin. They provide an English translation (with different syntax ofc), but like… ok?

— Alice Rose (アリス・ローズ) (@alicetheoboist) July 1, 2020

not a personal experience but more of a structural one – in english essays you’re allowed to quote in french without providing a translation bc it’s assumed everyone knows french (might also be true for latin? but deffo not any other languages)

— LIV (@livemily18) July 2, 2020

Yep. I asked my tutor for help in 1st year because my spoken French was waaay below my peers (with their private school educations, childhood french nannies, holiday homes, gap years, academic parents etc).

Her response: have you thought about maybe spending more time in France?

— Ella Harold (@ellamharold) July 1, 2020

I'm doing a German paper where one of the 4 set texts is a medieval play where all the stage directions & some of the dialogue is in Latin…? Am I supposed to learn another new language for one paper ??

— lydia (@lydlud_) July 1, 2020

Yep and it’s also about your expectations/entitlement. Coming from a failing comp with big classes it never occurred to me that I could contact tutors for help in between tutorials! Found out before finals that I’d missed out on all that help and guidance for 3 years. Not great.

— Sally (@EssieEmm) July 2, 2020

YES. In my first year I lost count of how many academics laughed at me for not having read stuff. I'd go 'What happens in X' or 'What is Y about' & it'd be disbelieving laughter

Some academics were absolutely wonderful, kind & brilliant for their first-years – but not all

— Hope Doherty (@EHopeDoherty) July 1, 2020

In most tutorials, i've had to ask what words mean – words that aren't directly relevant, e.g. botony & fashion brand names. Tutors generally laughed, or then took the piss with other terms. Asking for word meanings didn't make me feel inferior, but the responses certainly did.

— Ebie Edwards Cole (@EbieEdwardsCole) July 1, 2020