Polina Oskolskaia (Russia)

TELEGRAM MANAGER 

PROGRAMME: Ph.D. in Estonian and Finno-Ugric Linguistics

Why did you choose to study this programme?

Originally, I am a linguist with a theoretical background. I started to learn Estonian at the university in St. Petersburg, my home city. When I had graduated, I worked as a teacher of the Estonian language for many years. Of course, Estonian was not the first or the primary foreign language I have learned at high school. However, one of the language schools was looking for a teacher of Estonian. I decided to apply, and eventually, I got the position, which happened almost by accident. Thus, I started to teach the Estonian language in Russia and did it for more than ten years. All along, my interest in the Estonian language, culture, and region was just growing. Once I understood that I wanted to change my occupation and go to academia to study related topics to Estonian or Finno-Ugric languages. Since a selected topic was quite specific, the University of Tartu appeared to be one of the few universities that suggested the Ph.D. programme I wanted. For sure, it is one of the best places in the world to study Finno-Ugric languages.

Why Estonia?

As it could be easily understood from the previous paragraph, my professional life was closely connected with Estonia and the Estonian language many years before I came to Tartu. Actually, I really love Estonia. I like the way how this country has been developing from one of the Post-Soviet countries to a modern European republic. I also like to observe significant changes which have happened to the country during the last 20 years. I also like the language, which is very unusual and extraordinary compared to the most popular European languages. Estonia is a little country which is sometimes supposed to be a disadvantage, but I think it is quite the opposite. A little country without big crowdy cities, an enormous number of motor vehicles, districts with infinite multi-storied buildings can provide an environment where every person feels like a personality with always fresh air to breathe and time to look around. This country makes you feel real and alive.