Starting in May, entrepreneurs and key company employees from Ida-Viru County whose mother tongue is a language other than Estonian will have the chance to improve their skills in Estonian and English for business purposes. Free courses in both languages are being organised by the Kersti Võlu Training Centre and financed by the Integration Foundation.
The initiative stems from the need mapped in a number of studies and development plans to improve the language skills of entrepreneurs from Estonia’s north-easternmost county by one level so as to help them find new work-based contacts and generate interest in becoming involved in national measures.
The language studies are being organised by the Kersti Võlu Training Centre, which the Integration Foundation selected as its partner through a public procurement. “We’ll be offering 40 business operators and senior company figures from Ida-Viru County who don’t speak Estonian as their first language the chance to brush up their business Estonian and business English by practising direct communication,” explained Jana Tondi, the Head of Language and Cultural Immersion with the Integration Foundation. “They’ll have the opportunity to speak to people face-to-face not only as part of their lessons, but also on visits to companies and county development centres and at joint events.”
The group courses will be taking place in Narva, Sillamäe, Kohtla-Järve and Jõhvi. “Anyone interested in taking part should contact the organiser directly by e-mailing [email protected] or calling +372 555 83 410 and +372 505 5063,” Tondi added.
The Estonian and English studies will take place in separate groups. Those wishing to brush up their skills in both languages can register for both courses. Each course will last for 200 academic hours.
Studies are planned since 14 May but will commence as soon as all of the places in each group are filled. Activities related to the courses may continue through to 30 March 2020.
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Infomaterials about language studies.
