"Learning Russian unites us"

Saltuk, tell us about yourself, what inspired you to start studying Russian? 

Greetings to everyone who wants to study in Russia! I am an international student from Türkiye. I have graduated from a high school of science and a special programme called Bilsem which is an establishment for gifted students in Türkiye. I’m currently a student in St Petersburg University Preparatory Department. My ultimate obsession is chess, so even if I was not going to study in Russia, it is obvious that I would learn Russian because there are countless chess sources and chess grandmasters from Russia. Last year I got an urge to study in Russia after I read about its education system, culture and interesting facts about Russian language. 

What are some of the most important factors you considered when choosing a country and a university to study? 

In my case, I did not want to study abroad; I wanted to study exactly in Russia! But if I have to answer the question I would say, first of all, of course you need to choose country and consider several things to make a right decision, such as: education system, rankings of universities and, last but not least, attitude towards foreign students. 

How did you find out about St Petersburg University and its Preparatory Course? 

After I decided to study here I checked information about universities and it was nearly impossible to find a source that was not mentioning St Petersburg University. It is understandable considering its famous alumni, high educational vision, opportunities, high ranking and globally recognised reputation. 

What do you value the most about Preparatory Courses? 

I value the ability to understand Russian, the opportunity to speak fluently at the end of the year and meeting new friends literally all across the world. During Russian language classes we focus not only on grammar, but also on speaking skills in order to know each other better while learning a new language. 

Do you find the Russian language hard to learn? In your opinion, what knowledge do you need to have to become fluent in Russian? 

No, I didn’t find it hard because our teachers are always helping us whether we are in class or not. They are teaching and explaining every single detail until everybody understands. In my opinion, the most crucial part of learning language is to be exposed to it. So you need to create new fields for yourself to not just learning it but "getting" it and practicing. I also want to mention about one cliché — every day practice. It could be conversation with someone, listening Russian songs or watching Russian movies, it is really up to your imagination. 

How do you practice Russian outside of the class? 

I am practicing Russian outside of the class by trying to translate my chess notes and by communicating with my friends who are native Russian speakers. They always help me with the grammatical constructions, proverbs and vocabulary. Some of them also interested in learning Turkish, so we exchange our languages. I should also give credit to practice outside of classes, to speaking in stores and restaurants because these are the places where you can test your fluency and see your progress in language. Speaking about my chess notes, I think it’s important to read some kind of written material which related to your hobbies. Because when you read material in foreign language it helps you to figure out how to use this language correctly, shows some new words while you just spend time on activity you love. 

What are your academic interests? 

For now it is to be able to understand and speak Russian as much as possible. For upcoming years I will follow the curriculum, see as much patients as possible in order to become a well-educated doctor candidate and specialist in cardiovascular surgery. So the goal is to gain knowledge from curriculum then apply it in practice. 

Why have you chosen to study abroad rather than in your home country? 

I have chosen to study abroad, rather than in my home country because, as I mentioned earlier in interview, I have a huge urge to learn Russian. It became a win-win situation for me. I will study my dream specialty with a language that I am really interested in. Also I need to mention Russian medical faculties which provide truly modern and convenient equipment. Taking into account all the factors, I decided to study in Russia. 

What do you think about the common statement that studying a foreign language helps break barriers and connect people of different cultures? 

I think that this common statement is true. It is an interesting and charming thing not only to learn about different cultures, but also to experience it. There are numerous people with the same goal as me, who came from different countries and now study at SPbU. It is fascinating that day by day we learn more each other, in result of sharing cultures and improving our skills in Russian. So I strongly agree with this common statement. Learning Russian unites us as we share our own cultures and traditions in this language. 

You have been living and studying in St Petersburg for half a year, what do you get to know about Russian culture? Were there any stereotypes about Russia you had before coming here? 

I learned that the very most important thing in Russian culture is showing respect. Within this culture you may feel that Russians have a certain mindset: showing respect leads to receiving respect. We can see it even in small details of communication between two people, e.g. if you’re wearing gloves, you should take them off before a handshake no matter how cold it is outside. And yes, I had a prejudice before coming here not about Russia but Russian people. I thought they are going to behave cold towards you, but as far as I can say for now this famous stereotype is nothing but false. 

Do you like St Petersburg? How do you get on with the locals? 

St Petersburg is a magical city that draws you in. I fell in love with the city. When I came here the very first thing I thought, that St Petersburg is an open-air museum waiting for me to explore it. There are countless interesting museums and authentic places here, so it’s almost impossible to get bored. The locals are all kind and respectful people, according to me. They are showing understanding towards me since my Russian is limited right now. Only issue I can name is that most older people don’t speak English, so the first couple of weeks were a little bit challenging, but I realise it is not a problem because it forces me to speak Russian. 

Do you have plans to continue your studies at St Petersburg University? 

Yes, I am planning to continue my studies at St Petersburg University because I want to become a highly educated doctor. As I mentioned earlier, our university is one of the best choices for studying medicine not just in Russia but all across Europe. It is one of the best options for those who want to study medicine with its academic staff, equipment and high quality of education.