Merilyn MERISTO

Merilyn Meristo is Professor of Language Didactics at Tallinn University and Head of the Foreign Language Teacher Master’s Programme. Her research focuses on the psychology of language learning and teaching, particularly language learning strategies, metalinguistic awareness, self-regulation in language learning, motivation, and teacher development, as well as on L2/L3 acquisition and heritage languages.

She leads the LocalLing project, an international and interdisciplinary research initiative on local heritage languages.

At Tallinn University, she coordinates foreign language teacher education across ten foreign languages. In addition, she teaches research methodology at both BA and MA levels and supervises MA and PhD students. She is also involved in a national research project on Estonian as L2 and several international projects.

She collaborates with educational stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education and Research, and participates in international research networks focusing on language education and multilingualism. She is a board member of the International Association for the Psychology of Language Learning (IAPLL) and Vice-Head of the Estonian Language Council.

Maris SAAGPAKK

Maris Saagpakk is an Associate Professor of German Cultural History and Literature. Her research focuses on Baltic German literature and culture, Estonian translation history, autobiographical writing, cultural transfer, postcolonial studies, and the use of Linguistic landscape for teaching foreign languages and researching local heritage languages.

She has published over 70 academic publications, including journal articles, book chapters, and edited volumes with international publishers. She has received scholarships and fellowships from the Robert Bosch Foundation, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), and the Fulbright Program. 

Saagpakk is currently involved in two European Commission–funded projects: Revitalisation of Linguistic Diversity and Cultural Heritage and Literary Multilingualism and Social Transformations in Superdiverse Societies.

Aleksandra LJALIKOVA

Aleksandra Ljalikova is an Associate Professor of Language Teacher Education (French as a Foreign Language) at the School of Humanities, Tallinn University.

Her research focuses on language teaching and learning, with particular attention to ethical and responsible use of AI in language education, language-sensitive education, student engagement, teacher identity, and multilingual education. Her work is grounded in interdisciplinary and multilingual perspectives, examining language practices from the viewpoints of learners, teachers, communities, and language policy.

Within the LocalLing project, she contributes expertise in language pedagogy, learner engagement, and research-informed innovation to support the teaching, learning, and sustainable development of local minority and heritage languages.

Guillem
CASTAÑAR RUBIO

Guillem Castañar Rubio (MA, PhD) is a Lecturer of Hispanic Studies at Tallinn University and a humour scholar.

His current research focuses on the multimedia analysis of digital humour and the intersection of comedy and conflict within the public sphere. He is currently a researcher in a MSCA Staff Exchanges programme centred on humour literacy.

With extensive experience teaching Spanish—a major global tongue—alongside Catalan, classified as ‘vulnerable’ by the UNESCO World Atlas of Languages, Guillem hopes to bring a nuanced perspective to the LocalLing project. He aims to leverage this globalised vision to drive the project’s mission: promoting the use, maintenance, and instruction of local minority heritage languages.

Tanya ESCUDERO

Tanya Escudero is a Research Fellow in Translation Studies and Senior Adviser of Doctoral Studies at Tallinn University. Her research focuses on translation, multilingual communication, and access to information in multilingual societies.

She teaches in the MA programme in Translation Studies, the PhD programme in Studies of Cultures, and coordinates the transferable skills module for doctoral researchers at Tallinn University. She supervises research at BA, MA and PhD levels.

Escudero has acted as Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator in projects such as Ideology in Translation (Estonian Research Council), Translation, Migration and Democracy (Kone Foundation), and Improving Communication with Migrants for Crisis Preparedness (Council of the Baltic Sea States).She has been involved in 10 additional national and European projects, mostly focused on research and educational capacity building, such as C-Accelerate+, and UNITeD, and is currently working in WIRE – Widening + Innovation & Research Excellence (Horizon Europe).