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Guest lectures by Joanna Stefanowska from the University of Warsaw showcased her extensive expertise across several domains. She has an impressive portfolio that includes teaching English and Russian for law, finance, banking, and marketing, as well as training translators. Stefanowska also conducts cutting-edge research on Business English as a Lingua Franca and business discourse. Her diverse professional background provided a rich foundation for her lectures, offering students unique insights into the intersection of language, intercultural communication, and industry-specific needs.

The first session, the Legal English Workshop, invited students to explore how different legal systems shape communication in international contexts. Stefanowska emphasized the risks of misinterpretation when Legal English serves as a lingua franca between cultures operating under fundamentally different legal frameworks. Providing a comparative overview of Western legal systems, she then guided students through hands-on tasks that highlighted how even small linguistic nuances can pose significant obstacles. The workshop also delved into the psychological and societal dimensions of legal communication—an aspect that students found both unexpected and eye-opening. In doing so, Stefanowska illustrated how these linguistic and cultural variations are crucial to understanding intercultural communication in legal contexts. However, the focus was not solely on identifying challenges; Stefanowska also introduced emerging solutions within the field and pointed out the persistent issues that future legal professionals will need to navigate in an increasingly globalized world.

The second lecture shifted focus to a more urgent domain: financial crisis communication. Drawing on the events of 24 February 2022, Joanna Stefanowska explored how the geopolitical shock of that day ignited turmoil across global markets, forcing financial institutions—especially large investment funds—to communicate swiftly and responsibly with their stakeholders. Through this lens, she highlighted the critical role of clear, transparent communication during moments of economic crisis, emphasizing the challenges faced by institutions in maintaining trust and stability during such turbulent times. Additionally, Stefanowska underscored that effective communication in these high-stakes situations is crucial for intercultural understanding. Financial crises often involve a diverse range of stakeholders from different cultural backgrounds, and how messages are framed and delivered can either bridge or widen cultural divides, ultimately affecting the outcome of the crisis response.

Stefanowska’s lectures illuminated the profound ways in which communication practices are woven into the fabric of legal frameworks, financial systems, and cultural landscapes. For students, these sessions transcended the classroom and were a powerful reminder that language is not just a tool for exchange but also a force that shapes the course of global events—from courtroom negotiations to the stability of economies. By sharing these critical perspectives at Tallinn University Baltic Film, Media and Arts School, Joanna Stefanowska offered a deeper understanding of the complex networks of meaning, policy, and human judgment that underpin international communication in our interconnected world. If her sessions imparted one crucial lesson, it was this: in a globalized society, mastering crisis and intercultural communication is not merely a skill to be acquired—it is a responsibility that shapes the future of global relations.

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For additional information, please reach out to Dr. Anastassia Zabrodskaja, Professor of Intercultural Communication, Head of the MA Program in Communication Management, and Executive Director of the European Masters in Intercultural Communication, at anastassia.zabrodskaja@tlu.ee.