Hannah Barlow

Why did you want to study in Birmingham?

Birmingham is, as most people know, the second biggest city in the UK so anything you want, you have really! It is also home to the Balti Triangle, if you like Indian food.

I'm a Brummie, and you'll probably think I'm biased, but I genuinely think Birmingham is a brilliant city. It has lots of parks and green spaces, a canal system with more canals than Venice, is very multicultural, and... has an amazing university! The University of Birmingham's campus is beautiful at all times of year and I can't really fail to mention our icon Old Joe, the tallest free standing clock tower in the world!

What are your favourite places to visit in the Midlands?

As a Uni of Birmingham student, my top favourite place really has to be Winterbourne. I love popping down there in between classes to do some work, or just to wander around and enjoy the pretty flowers and colours, especially in autumn. And really, who could resist when its less than five minutes walk from Ashley and Strathcona, the languages buildings!

More generally in the Midlands, I always enjoy heading up a hill - so that would be Clent (in Stourbridge), Waseley (in Rubery), Lickey (Rednal), or a little further you have Malvern too - they all have their charms. The Clent Hills in particular have gorgeous bluebells, and the Malvern Hills have biannual swaths of foxgloves.

Describe an average week in your life?

My timetable is very front heavy this year, which I actually really like. Monday to Wednesday, I have 18 hours of classes, and I tend to spend my breaks either doing homework or meeting up with my friends, often at Winterbourne.

Thursday, I have one class, but spend most of this day and Friday working a part-time job at university, which I love. In the evenings,

I like to read, crochet, spin, do craft, and spend time with friends and family. I am also an inclusive, Anglo-Catholic Christian, and also love to spend lots of time at church, both at the weekends, and throughout the week, taking part in socials and more traditional worship there.

I also like to go for walks and spend time outside in the garden.

How do you think your degree and studying abroad will support your future plans?

My degree is BA Modern Languages, and I study advanced French and German, and intermediate Russian. When I chose to study three languages, everyone was telling me I was crazy, or not to do it, but I absolutely love it. I've also picked up Italian in Birmingham's 'Languages For All' programme (which allows you to study a language for free alongside your degree, even if you're not studying a Modern Languages degree) this year.

It probably won't come as a surprise, therefore, that I definitely want to work with languages after graduation. I'm not sure yet whether I will do a MA first, or go straight into work, but currently I'm interested in becoming a translator and/or interpreter.

The language skills gained in my degree, alongside learning about the cultural and historical side of the countries where my languages are spoken, will definitely help in my future career. Furthermore, the year abroad will really help to advance my languages. I am hoping to do an internship in Germany, working at a translation and interpreting agency, which would be really exciting!