Graduate Spotlight: Tania Shokor, Lebanon & Russia

Tania joined ITMO’s English Speaking Club as a first-year student and later led its sessions, helping students become more confident. In this interview, she talks about her path in robotics, building community through language, supporting international students in Russia, and why it’s important to just speak without worrying about perfection.

Let’s start from the beginning. Where are you from, and what brought you to ITMO?

I’m half Lebanese and half Russian, and I was born and raised in Lebanon. That’s where I spent all of my formative years. When I moved to Russia in 2020, I was already somewhat of an adult, or at least a fake adult!

I knew that I wanted to live in St. Petersburg and study robotics. A family friend told me that ITMO was a strong university when it came to programming, robotics, and related fields. I looked into it, applied, and came here.

When did you first become interested in robotics?

In school, I always loved mathematics and physics, so by the time I had to choose a university major, I knew I wanted to become an engineer.

I started looking into different branches of engineering: electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and others. With each one, I felt like there was something missing. Then I discovered mechatronics. At the time, it still felt like quite a new field to me because it brought together different kinds of engineering with computer science. I thought: this is it.

At ITMO, I completed my Bachelor’s in robotics with a specialization in mechatronics. When it was time to choose a Master’s program, I wanted to continue in the same direction, so I chose robotics and AI. It was at the same faculty, many of my classmates continued with me, and it simply seemed like the natural next step.

Looking back, what parts of your studies stand out to you most?

One of my favorite subjects was actually in my first year: Introduction to the Professional Field. We built our own robots using LEGO and programmed them for different tasks. Another was Theory of Automatic Control. A big part of why I loved it was the teacher –  Dr. Alexey Peregudin. The lab assignments and projects took a lot of time, but it was incredibly rewarding. It was one of those subjects where even though the work was hard, I constantly thought: “This is fascinating.”

Your academic background is very technical, but languages have also become a huge part of your life. Where did that interest come from?

Languages have been a hobby and a love of mine since I was a child. I’m constantly trying to learn a new language or keep up the ones I already know.

The funny thing is that I’m not naturally the most communicative person. I’m quite shy and I often prefer being alone. But after moving to Russia, I was speaking Russian almost all the time, both during my studies and with my classmates, and I really started to miss English. When I found out that ITMO had an English Speaking Club, I was so desperate to speak English that it helped me come out of my shell.

I don’t really see languages and engineering as separate worlds. Language is how we exchange information, read articles, understand new ideas, and explain our own work. Everything comes back to how we communicate and how we understand the information we receive. We can’t really live in this world without it.

How did you go from attending the Speaking Club to helping run it?

I joined in my first year, around 2020-2021. I went to one meeting and really enjoyed it, but I also kept thinking about all the things I would do differently. My ideas were running wild. After the meeting, I approached Daria Koval, who was an English teacher at ITMO and headed the Speaking Club at the time. I basically told her: “I want to be part of this. I have so many ideas. Can I join?”

That’s how it started. From there, my involvement just grew and grew until eventually I became responsible for the club myself. Since moving to Russia, the Speaking Club has probably become one of the most prominent parts of my life. I’m always thinking about it.

What makes the club so important to you after all these years?

It’s the people – the team has changed over the years, but I’ve met so many amazing people through it, and I still keep in touch with many former team members outside of work.

Then there are the participants. People come to the club incredibly open to meeting others, and that openness is contagious. You see regular participants gradually forming their own little communities and friendships.

Sometimes it goes even further. We’ve had participants who met through the club, and then years later we see a post saying they’re getting married. You look at it and think, “Wow, I remember seeing you two together at the Speaking Club.” Seeing those connections form is very heartwarming.

You have also worked with ITMO’s Buddy System. Did your own experience of moving abroad influence your decision to help international students?

Definitely. When I first moved to Russia, I didn’t immediately start at ITMO. I spent one semester at the Mining University during my foundation year, where I already knew two Lebanese students. One met me at the airport, and another helped me with my documents. Having people from my community who had already gone through the same experience meant that they could take me under their wing. That support stayed with me.

When I later came to ITMO and found out about the Buddy System, I immediately applied. Because I already spoke Russian and was familiar with the culture, adapting wasn't as jarring for me as it can be for other international students. I wanted to use that advantage to help somebody else.

Most of my work as a buddy was one-on-one. I would meet students when they arrived, sometimes at the airport, and help them through their first weeks, especially with the bureaucratic side of moving to Russia.

And, maybe this sounds selfish, but helping someone like that makes you feel good. You realize that you can make an overwhelming period in somebody’s life a little easier.

Do you see yourself staying in this field, or could you eventually return to engineering?

Honestly, who knows? Seventeen-year-old me would never have expected to be living in Russia. And now here I am.

So, I don’t want to say that I will always stay in this role, and I also don’t want to say that I will definitely change it. At the moment, I’m happy with what I’m doing, and we’ll see what the future holds.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working or organizing the Speaking Club?

I have an unhealthy obsession with YouTube, and I’m not planning to do anything about it!

My interests there are very diverse to what new things I like to learn. I also really enjoy crocheting. After having so much going on mentally, it’s nice to have something physical and creative to do with your hands.

Based on your experience with languages and the Speaking Club, what is the main thing you want students to take away from it?

Speaking a language doesn’t have to mean speaking it correctly. I love languages. I love learning grammar. But grammar isn't the point of communication. I can speak to you in very broken English with a tiny vocabulary, but if you understand what I’m trying to say, then I have successfully communicated my thoughts.

Is it cool when you use C2-level vocabulary? Sure. Does an American or British accent sound impressive? Of course. But your accent and the words you choose are also part of what makes you unique.That is my main goal with the Speaking Club: I want people to stop being afraid of making mistakes.

Perfection is boring. Just speak.

After seeing so many international students adapt to Russia, what advice would you give to newcomers?

One of the biggest pitfalls is remaining entirely within your own community.

Of course, finding people from your country is helpful. You need that support and that sense of home. But if you surround yourself only with that community, it can become harmful: your Russian won't develop as quickly, and your understanding of the culture won't develop either. I’ve met people who had already lived here for two years but still seemed as if they had just arrived because they had never really immersed themselves in their surroundings.

On the other hand, I remember meeting one international student at the airport. He was scared, of course. He was 17, didn’t know Russian, and was entering a completely new environment. But he took his studies seriously, spoke to people, and kept using Russian even when it was difficult. Watching the transformation in just one year was incredible. Now, several years later, I sometimes think he might even be more fluent than me!

So, my advice is to immerse yourself in the environment you live in. Keep your own community, but don’t be afraid to step outside it.