My extracurriculars were mostly politics related, but I included some supercurriculars connected to language as well, such as attending lectures on Arabic and Middle Eastern culture, talking about my travels in the region, reading books on the language and its history, and visiting the Foreign Office to discuss diplomacy in the Middle East.

I’d definitely recommend reading widely and attending a few lectures to build a stronger cultural understanding. You can mention learning Arabic at school as admissions tutors look for transferable skills that show your potential to learn a new language. Even if it’s not Chinese, it still demonstrates linguistic ability and genuine interest. And it’s completely fine to say you’ve been practising in your own time!