问：What is language(什么是语言)？

Subject科目：现代语言Modern languages

面试老师：Helen Swift, St Hilda’s学院

面试官解释：

Although I would never launch this question at a candidate on its own, it might grow out of a discussion. Students sometimes say they like studying Spanish, for example, because they 'love the language'. In order to get a student thinking critically and analytically, the question would get them to consider what constitutes the language they enjoy – is it defined by particular features or by function (what it does)？ How does form relate to meaning? And so on。

尽管我决不会单独把这个问题拿出来问考生，但它可能会出现在某些讨论之中。比如，学生们有的时候会表示他们“喜欢学西班牙语”，因为他们“热爱这种语言”。为了让学生们能更具批判性和判断力地思考，这个问题能帮助他们思考“究竟是什么组成了这个他们喜欢的语言”？是因为某些独有的特征、还是因为它的功能性(它能做什么)？形式是如何与内容联系起来的？等等。

问： Why might it be useful for an English student to read the Twilight series

(为什么英文专业的学生有必要阅读Twilight(暮光之城)系列)？

Subject科目：英语English面试老师： Lucinda Rumsey, Mansfield College

面试官解释：

There'sseveral reasons I might ask this one. It's useful in an interview tofind some texts the candidate has read recently and the Twilight booksare easily accessible and popular. Also, candidates tend to concentrateon texts they have been taught in school or college and I want to getthem to talk about whatever they have read independently, so I can seehow they think rather than what they have been taught. A good Englishstudent engages in literary analysis of every book they read. Thequestion has led to some interesting discussions about narrative voice,genre, and audience in the past。

我问这个问题有很多原因。在面试过程中如果能找到一些考生最近正在读的东西是很有用的。而《慕光之城》很多人都读、最近正流行。同时，考生倾向于把焦点都放在他们从学校和大学读来的东西，而我希望能激发他们谈论他们自己选择的读物，进而了解他们的想法、而不是老师灌输给他们的东西。一名优秀的英语系学生会乐于分析他们读的每一本书。这个问题就曾把讨论引向过“狭隘的想法”、“流派”和“过去的观众”等等有趣的话题上。

尽管我决不会单独把这个问题拿出来问考生，但它可能会出现在某些讨论之中。比如，学生们有的时候会表示他们“喜欢学西班牙语”，因为他们“热爱这种语言”。为了让学生们能更具批判性和判断力地思考，这个问题能帮助他们思考“究竟是什么组成了这个他们喜欢的语言”？是因为某些独有的特征、还是因为它的功能性(它能做什么)？形式是如何与内容联系起来的？等等。

问： Why might it be useful for an English student to read the Twilight series

(为什么英文专业的学生有必要阅读Twilight(暮光之城)系列)？

Subject科目：英语English

面试老师： Lucinda Rumsey, Mansfield College

面试官解释：

There's several reasons I might ask this one. It's useful in an interview to find some texts the candidate has read recently and the Twilight books are easily accessible and popular. Also, candidates tend to concentrate on texts they have been taught in school or college and I want to get them to talk about whatever they have read independently, so I can see how they think rather than what they have been taught. A good English student engages in literary analysis of every book they read. The question has led to some interesting discussions about narrative voice, genre, and audience in the past。

我问这个问题有很多原因。在面试过程中如果能找到一些考生最近正在读的东西是很有用的。而《慕光之城》很多人都读、最近正流行。同时，考生倾向于把焦点都放在他们从学校和大学读来的东西，而我希望能激发他们谈论他们自己选择的读物，进而了解他们的想法、而不是老师灌输给他们的东西。一名优秀的英语系学生会乐于分析他们读的每一本书。这个问题就曾把讨论引向过“狭隘的想法”、 “流派”和“过去的观众”等等有趣的话题上。