English masters mother tongue at national university

Photo: Sille Annuk

In Latvia and Lithuania, only 20 per cent of Doctoral theses are defended in English. Meanwhile University of Tartu recently arrived at crossroads causing numerous teachers wonder what national university or mother tongued education really mean. In Tartu, 80 per cent of Doctoral theses are defended in English – dissertations in native tongue mainly the domain of Estonian philologists.

While majority of Master’s theses still happen in Estonian, even here in some specialties the English ones have come to dominate.

For many a professor, the red line was finally crossed with UofT senate last Friday deciding to launch English language curriculum in philosophy: in other words,  the subject no longer to be taught, at Master’s level, in Estonian. 

According to UofT communications professor and Senator Marju Lauristin, they cannot, pursuant to Education and Research Ministry new higher education standards, continue in Estonian any more. Firstly, the standard bans bilingualism in a curriculum – only one main language is allowed. The other option would be to open two Master’s level curricula in philosophy – in English and in Estonian – but currently they are lacking students for even one.  

Bilingualism banned

According to Ms Lauristin, the senate now decided to have recourse to ministry, proposing to alter the bilingual curriculum ban. «For the national university mission, this is an altogether harmful requirement,» said Ms Lauristin.

Ms Lauristin does indeed recognise the benefits of English language curricula to make the university a more international one; even so, these should not rule out Estonian. Philosophy Master’s turning English is a dangerous precedent. The curriculum in question being free of charge, current regulation allows for fees to be asked from English language study, while in Estonian it must be free. Meaning: universities may end up making all other Master’s programmes English for the sake of the money.

According to Ms Lauristin, the banning of bilingual curricula was meant to keep universities, after the declaration of free higher education, from shifting their curricula into English. In reality, the opposite may be the case. «We may have an avalanche,» she added.

According to Ms Lauristin, Doctoral theses may of necessity be in English as the opponent professors often come from abroad. Unlike Bachelor’s and Master’s levels, Doctoral study also allows for bilingualism.

As Estonian philosophy Master’s goes, Ms Lauristin fears danger of death to high level art of debate in Estonian. «Then, the students may not develop ability to debate in Estonian, leading to inability to teach the subject, in Estonian, in a gymnasium or university,» explained Ms Lauristin. «As a result, the Estonian used in the field will not develop, Estonian relegated to home and kitchen language status.»

According to UofT philosophy faculty dean Margit Sutrop, the English language Master’s curriculum will contain an Estonian language module for studying for philosophy teacher. According to her, there are too few Estonian students applying for Master’s; meanwhile, there is an abundance of English language based teachers and courses. «We want to widen the circle of student candidates and maintain the philosophy Master’s option at UofT,» said Ms Sutrop.

According to Laura Kalda of UofT Student Council, she got her Master’s in philosophy some years ago and, according to her estimation, about 90 per cent of materials and a half of the lectures were in English even then, already. Neither, thinks she, does it make sense to translate all these study materials into Estonian. «The world of science is an English speaking world and there’s nothing can be done about it,» said she, adding that she wrote her Master’s thesis in Estonian, being rather an exception.

Estonian hinders spread

Maaja Vadi, dean of economy faculty at UofT, is the first and the last person, during Estonia’s regained independence, who defended an Estonian language Doctoral thesis in economy at the faculty. «In hindsight, I don’t think it was too wise,» she says now. «In Estonia, there are five-six people who read it. Regrettably, international spread and feedback will then be overly localised.»

Officially, UofT only became an Estonian language university in 1919. «When it was established, in 1632, all philosophical tractates were written in Latin here; in the 19^th century philosophy happened in German,» added Ms Sutrop. «Being a national university does not mean we should only teach Estonians or in Estonian only. Such a university we have never had neither do we need it.»

According to UofT Estonian language professor and Senator Birute Klaas-Lang, it is time to be open and honest about how English we will let out higher education and science become. «On the one hand, we want to do international science; we want to have foreign students and teachers,» said she. «On the other hand, science also is a part of Estonian culture. We must think how to guarantee Estonian language scientific debate over 50 or 100 years.» According to Ms Klaas-Lang, even Finland is having lively discussions about how to protect Finnish as a language of the science.

According to Ms Klaas-Lang, it is yet to be clearly defined what an Estonian language curriculum really means. How big a percentage of study materials, lectures and seminars ought to be in Estonian? Should Master’s theses, in most specialties, be mane mandatorily in Estonian?

Language-of-science status strong

According to education and research minister Jaak Aaviksoo, however, Estonian as a language of science has never done better. «Never before has Estonian language higher education been offered in so many areas,» said he. «Of course, it is almost impossible nowadays to acquire higher education without knowing some foreign language, mainly English. With most curricula, knowledge of English goes without saying.»

Estonian language curricula, says Mr Aaviksoo, requires high level language skills and is therefore not for foreign students. «English language curricula are first and foremost for the foreign student, though not forbidden for Estonians,» specified the minister. «When a university offers an English curriculum, it must also provide for the same study in Estonian. Exceptions, if substantiated, shall be agreed in form of contracts with the ministry.»

Thus, in his reply to Postimees, Mr Aaviksoo seemed to hint that the UofT decision to make philosophy Master’s English may not be according to rule book.

According to Hanna Haavapuu, senior higher education expert at the ministry, it is not specifically prescribed by law to which degree Estonian higher education ought to contain the mother tongue. «Language Act, however, states that with 60 per cent of studies conducted in Estonian, the education is considered to have been provided in mother tongue.» In practice, said she, this is not minutely monitored.

According to Olaf Mertelsmann, history teacher at UofT, a German and a long time dweller in Estonia, students acquire knowledge better doing it in their mother tongue. «English may be the language of the science, but even I do my lectures, at the university, in Estonian,» said Mr Mertelsmann.

According to Mr Mertelsmann, at humanities and social studies, students are unable to study and write properly in English. «Some English language Doctor’s thesis... the English is depressingly bad,» said the teacher. «I do teach English based programmes here in Estonia and, as far as I can tall, it is not too easy for people to study in a foreign language.»

Jaak Aaviksoo

Never before has Estonian language higher education been offered in so many areas. Of course, it is almost impossible nowadays to acquire higher education without knowing some foreign language, mainly English.

Marju Lauristin

As Estonian philosophy Master’s goes, the students may not develop ability to debate in Estonian, leading to inability to teach the subject, in Estonian, in a gymnasium or university. As a result, philosophical aspects of the tongue will not develop, Estonian relegated to home and kitchen language status.

Margit Sutrop

Being a national university does not mean we should only teach Estonians or in Estonian only. Such a university we have never had neither do we need it.

Birute Klaas-Lang

On the one hand, we want to do international science; we want to have foreign students and teachers. On the other hand, science also is a part of Estonian culture. We must think how to guarantee Estonian language scientific debate over 50 or 100 years.