I had researched linguistics programs at universities throughout Europe and, when I read about the ETHEL program (Empirical and Theoretical Linguistics) at the University of Wrocław, I knew that I had found a program that would provide the balance of linguistic theory and experimental innovation for which I had been searching. I started the ETHEL program with only superficial theoretical and practical background knowledge of linguistics. The program is designed, however, to provide participants with a comprehensive foundation in all the core sub-disciplines within the field of linguistics. The modular structure scaffolded knowledge and skills in such a way as to allow me to begin to refine the direction of my personal research goals as early as the second semester, with full specialization by the third semester. The professors in the ETHEL program are extremely knowledgeable and highly supportive. They are responsive to the needs and interests of the students and often designed learning experiences based on topics that we were researching or planning to investigate. As part of the modular structure, I was able to study under leading linguists from around the world, some of whom visited the university to offer exclusive seminars and courses as part of the ETHEL program. I was also able to participate in the regular seminars and research discussions coordinated by the Center for Experimental Research on Natural Language at the University of Wrocław. Putting theory into hands-on practice is a core component of the ETHEL program. To that end, I was engaged in creating and implementing psycholinguistic experiments, including in the EEG and eye-tracking laboratories, and also assisted in the publication of an issue of Generative Linguistics in Wrocław (GLiW). The university itself is situated in the heart of picturesque Wrocław, a destination in its own right. This vibrant city boasts a unique melding of historic charm, extensive green spaces, culinary culture, theater, music festivals, arts, and technological innovation. Wrocław is an easy city to navigate on foot, bike, or with the extensive mass transit options and it is well-connected to numerous other European destinations via plane, train, or bus. I’ll leave the ETHEL program and the city of Wrocław deeply enriched in both knowledge and experience. I’d highly recommend the ETHEL program to any student with an interest in linguistics and science who is seeking a challenge in a nurturing and inspiring environment.

There are at least a few reasons why I would recommend anyone considering ETHEL to give it a good chance. First, however obvious it may seem, the programme really is a great opportunity to further your knowledge about linguistics. Personally, I started knowing only the basics (and there were even areas, like computational linguistics or typology, I had barely heard about before that time) but, as the range of courses offered here is really wide, one can easily choose an area which interests them most (in my case, psycholinguistics). Then, and this is the second reason why I am really glad I have decided to participate in the programme, it is a perfect place to conduct your own scientific research, for instance, in order to write the MA thesis but sometimes also as part of other projects. This is primarily thanks to the extraordinary helpfulness of the instructors with whom one has contact all the time. Although (let us not kid ourselves) studying in a small group may occasionally have its drawbacks, I think this kind of individual approach is something rarely met and thus precious. Moreover, the programme is a great chance to meet people (both students and instructors) from all over the world, and learning something about languages whose existence one has not even expected. For instance, last term, we had visiting instructors who dealt with such exotic languages as Kwa or Daakie which was particularly interesting because one could find out more about the specificity of the field work the researches had done. What I enjoyed most, however, were the classes devoted to reading about (and finally designing ones’ own) experimental research, mostly focused on speech production and processing. I find fascinating how, with the aid of various psycholinguistic methods, from the relatively simple (e.g. priming) to the more advanced ones (e.g. ERP), it is possible to investigate the factors which affect language processing and find out about the, sometimes very surprising, differences between, for instance, kids and adults, or first and second language users.

The name of this Master’s program speaks for itself, as it uniquely covers theory and practice in equal proportion. To my knowledge, this is the only such program in Poland, definitely the only one offered in English, and the quality is unparalleled. Students have both theoretical subjects (such as formal syntax, formal semantics, and historical linguistics) and more empirical subjects (such as psycho- and neurolinguistics and phonetics) together with lab courses teaching them how to design, conduct, and statistically analyze their own experiments. The labs are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and software applications, including an eye-tracker and an EEG apparatus, which are extremely exciting to work with. By the end of the first year, you will already know which area—theoretical or empirical—appeals to you more and in which you would like to specialize. The cohort is small enough to allow for continual feedback from teachers, all of whom are very helpful and knowledgeable, and students. This free exchange of ideas is very inspiring and gives you a lot of material for future research. The program also offers courses from esteemed guest professors. We had lectures on numerous language families, such as Mayan, Japanese, and Kwa, courses with researchers doing field work, and workshops on different experimental methods, such as the visual world paradigm or self-paced reading. Personally, I find psycho- and neurolinguistics to be the most fascinating areas of linguistics and they are very well covered in this program. ETHEL is also a great start if you would like to continue in academia and pursue a career in science. An extra advantage to this program is Wrocław itself, which, so far, is the greenest and the most attractive city I have ever lived in.

Language is the key to the knowledge of the world. The most valuable and important information transfers happen every day through the most usual and effortless conversations. This complex process of exchanging ideas lets people express their opinions, feelings and emotions. It connects people on many levels and builds up interpersonal relations. Thanks to language we can observe and keep the record of intensive growth and progress in all areas of life, not to mention the scientific field. Choosing to understand people is to deliberately choose to understand language. This leads to getting acquainted with the mechanisms of all communicational systems that give us the very special insight into the mechanisms that govern the world around us. The ETHEL program provides the opportunity to dig into mysterious and gripping topics of the origin and change, diversity and common properties of languages, as well as it introduces detailed structures of language systems. Students not only obtain a broad theoretical knowledge but also have access to modern psycholinguistic laboratories where they can conduct their own experiments. They are well informed about the most crucial studies in linguistics and they get a chance to contribute to them. Students actively take part in lectures by putting forward new ideas, suggesting solutions to problems and creating their own analyses. After every influential lecture they seek for more. Apart from regular classes, ETHEL students participate in special lectures given by professors from reputable universities and they can travel to other universities/places to learn from specialists. This is one and only program in English that offers Master’s Degree in linguistics, which is an advantage for foreigners but above all for Polish native speakers wanting to kill two birds with one stone – develop their knowledge of language and at the same time specialize in the scientific field with a huge potential. Specialists in linguistics have great job prospects and can choose from many different occupations. The ETHEL program teaches you to see the world in a different way; it arouses the curiosity, creativity and interest in everything around. Hence you are on the right track to profit from strong foundations built with passion and commitment. ETHEL is the place where the humanistic and logical mind merge together.