Why English Studies?
Could you tell me little about yourself and what you did before studying in the English Studies programme?
My name is Victoria, or Vika. I finished my BA in 2013 and started working as an English teacher straight away, so I have been teaching and tutoring English as a second language for the past 10 years. I also did a Fulbright scholarship in the FLTA Program, which inspired me to return to academia and do a master’s degree.
Why did you decide to study in the English Studies programme at the University of Helsinki?
I realised I really missed doing research, exploring different topics and connecting with like-minded people and I was also looking to deepen my knowledge of English. I did my BA in linguistics and wanted to broaden my perspectives, which would help me find new career opportunities as well.
The Master’s Programme in English Studies at the University of Helsinki seemed like the perfect match for what I wanted, and it was the only university I applied to so I was very excited to be accepted. The university and the Finnish education system have a great reputation, and it seemed like a better fit for me than the American system, for example. But I wasn’t really driven by rankings, I was looking for programmes, people and professors, and this one seemed like it could be very fruitful for me.
What topics have you been focusing on during your MA studies? Have there been any standout courses?
I was really impressed that we had we can choose whatever we want. This freedom is both lovely and a little scary. Initially I was taking courses in linguistics, applied linguistics and literature, just shopping around a bit, and I felt really drawn towards literary studies.
The first course that really made me think about digging deeper and doing research was Cognitive Literary Studies. It was difficult, because it’s interdisciplinary so you’re combining cognitive studies with literary studies, but extremely rewarding. Recently I’ve been doing more studies related to corpus-based methods, which can also be quite interdisciplinary.
The intersection of literary studies and corpus linguistics is really fascinating to me. It’s starting to gain popularity, we have at least one PhD student working on that, and I’m writing my thesis on a related topic, but I really hope to explore it more in the future.
What have been the best parts of the MA programme for you?
It's very personal, but the best aspect of this programme has been the community. My peers and professors have been very supportive. I came here to find like-minded people who are eager to learn and research, but I’m still constantly amazed at the topics people here are researching – very modern and contemporary, important things related to current events.
The teachers have also been nothing but supportive of students’ interests. Nobody has been pushing us to any other approaches than the ones we want to pursue, which has been very important to me.
Student life in Helsinki
What does a typical weekday look like for you?
I usually have one, maybe two classes, but I don’t have lectures every day of the week. I start my day with some work – I still work part-time as an English teacher and volunteer as a teacher for people in crisis due to military conflicts. I’ll often have lunch in one of the cafeterias on campus, and then go to the library to study or work. It’s a really comfortable place, they have these workspaces where you can take Zoom calls in peace.
I also make time for some extracurricular activities like swimming, travelling, and going to museums on free entry days. When it’s warmer outside I go on walks quite often. I recently started attending a fencing class because there was a student discount for it, and it has been really fun to start a new hobby.
Have you found anything challenging during your studies?
The education system is very different from what I’m used to, so it was a little overwhelming at first. I had to relearn how to write academic English because the standards are a little different here, and group work hasn’t always been easy either.
The borders between Finland and Russia closing right after I started my studies has made it a lot more difficult to see my family. I just have to keep going forward, and people at the university been very supportive and understanding, but it is still difficult being so isolated from them.
What are the city and university like for you as a student?
It’s very comfortable. A lot of daily tasks are convenient, commuting is easy, and most people speak English which makes life as an international student easier. I am taking Finnish courses as well, but it’s not an easy language to pick up quickly.
Helsinki isn’t the most dynamic European city, which I think is a good thing because I can focus more on my studies. If I want to have fun there are things going on and I can go seek them out, but the city isn’t distracting me. Prices for everything have also been going up recently so it’s quite expensive, even compared to other cities in Europe. It’s manageable, but it took me some time to find more affordable places to eat.
Future prospects
What would you say to those considering applying to the English Studies programme?
My advice is to do it. We don't know the future holds, it can be very uncertain, so if you are thinking about it, just try applying. Start the process of writing and submitting the application, and if you finish that the without even knowing for sure what that will mean for your future then it’s clear that you want to do this, so go for it. It has been an amazing opportunity for me, the people here are wonderful and have given me so much support and inspiration.
What do your future plans look like?
Short-term, I want to finish my studies. I’m currently writing my thesis, and I really want to be proud of the final product. Just recently I started thinking about applying for a PhD programme, I think it could be really enriching, but no promises on that yet.
I would also love to go back to working full time. I would really appreciate being able to work in Finland, the working culture here seems so different from Russia, so I think it could be a very enriching experience.
Long term, I hope to travel, love and for peace everywhere. I definitely see myself continuing to teach at least a little, but I hope my future work is connected to researching innovative topics surrounding English in some way.