Sasha Jokić

Please tell us a bit about yourself and your background?

My name is Sasha and I’m half Montenegrin/English and live in London. 

What made you want to apply to your course and to Leeds?

I am passionate about languages and wanted to further my skills in Italian and German. 

What course did you study, what made you apply for that particular one?

I studied German and Italian and I chose this course because I love languages and wanted to further my knowledge of both. I took up Italian GCSE as an extra course at college, fell in love with it and decided to continue at university so I could really perfect my language skills and learn more about the culture. 

Why did you choose Leeds?

When I visited Leeds for the first time I completely fell in love with the city and the university. It has so much to offer and is great for students. The course was also extremely attractive to me with high teaching standards and the possibility for a term and year abroad for students of two languages. 

What is it that made you passionate about your area of study?

I have always enjoyed learning new languages and love the fact that it is a communicative skill which enables you to be able to get to know new people from different cultures. 

What aspects of the course did you enjoy the most?

I really enjoyed all speaking classes and also certain content modules such as Italian/German business which allowed me to learn about interesting aspects of both countries’ cultures and economies. 

What would you say about Leeds as a city?

Leeds is the perfect student city – with its vibrant nightlife, endless restaurants and bars and numerous shopping opportunities there is something for everyone. 

What would you say about the learning facilities in your School and at the University in general?

The teaching is of a very high standard and all the tutors are really friendly and helpful. Having a personal tutor is also very beneficial and helpful when you need to discuss university or personal issues.

What was your experience with the FYP (Final Year Project)? What did you do your project on and what skills did you gain during the process?

I wrote my FYP on teaching English in Italian secondary schools focusing on the role of the teacher and the teaching methods used. I really enjoyed doing research for this project and in turn I believe I gained valuable skills with regard to research and completing such an extensive project. I also improved my writing skills in academic Italian. The support and guidance from my FYP supervisor was brilliant which made my FYP experience possible as well as enjoyable. 

Did you spend any time abroad and if so how was your experience?

I completed a term abroad in Germany where I worked for a pharmaceutical company and a year abroad in Italy studying at the University of Bologna and also taking up a part time job teaching English at a local school. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in both countries. I loved exploring the cultures, getting to know new people and really improving my Italian and German language skills. 

Did you undertake any work experience or worked in a job related to your degree during your time at university? If so how did the skills gained as Leeds help you?

When I worked in Germany on my term abroad I translated many documents for the company. The skills I learned in my German translation module at Leeds really helped when completing these translations. 

What are your career plans after finishing the course?

In the future I would like to try and find work in Germany, so I can continue to use my German language skills.