Max Fontaine-Anderson

Time at Surrey

As I want to become a translator or interpreter, I was keen to find a university passionate about languages, linguistics and literature, providing a range of pertinent modules and learning opportunities, such as a professional training placement and various opportunities to interact in the French language.

"Finding a university that also offered inclusive neurodiversity and pastoral support was also essential for me as I have Asperger’s Syndrome."

The University of Surrey ticked all these boxes and more. Studying English Literature alongside French has offered me an opportunity to explore a rich palette of texts and insights into literary and historical periods, such as Romanticism and the Middle Ages, that I had not encountered in depth prior to my degree course.

Memories of Surrey

To name one strong memory of my time at Surrey would be difficult as I have acquired so much knowledge and skills from each module I have completed throughout my four year degree course. However, one particularly memorable moment from my degree is learning about the origins of language in the first-year ‘Skills for Language Specialists’ module. This opened my eyes to how language has not always involved ‘standard’ systems of grammar and spelling, such as in the English and French languages. Sounds and signs are equally fundamental features of early and modern languages. With neologisms and abbreviations becoming more and more integrated into many world languages, thinking beyond the binary frameworks of language opened my mind to the fluidity of language.

When I think of being here, I picture the Surrey Stag holding the ‘key to success’. During an Open Day talk, this symbol of achievement and optimism stood out to me most.

"Even now, seeing the statue of the Surrey Stag when I come onto campus inspires me to always remember that 'the world is my oyster'."

Course best bits

Aside from the course content and range of language and literature modules, the best things about my course included (but were not limited to) the following:

• The excellent support from my personal tutor as well as multiple opportunities throughout the academic year to book a personal tutor meeting to seek further advice about my overall progress if needed.
• As a neurodiverse student, being able to access additional pastoral and academic support, such as Academic Skills and Mentoring.
• The variety of assessment types - from essays, presentations and reflective reports –to develop core professional and transferrable skills, to improve any skills I found particularly challenging and to realise (bring to life) the strengths and knowledge I had acquired during modules.
• Completing a professional placement in the form of a three-month internship via the University of Surrey’s InternMatch scheme. I worked as a Marketing Assistant with a local translation bureau, during which I learned about the translation industry, marketing for translation, working within a team and developed employability skills.