INFORMATION EVENING FOR PARENTS WHO SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ESTONIAN AT HOME

From 17:30-19:30 on Thursday 7 February 2019 the Estonian Language Centre in Tallinn (Rävala pst 5, 6th floor) will be hosting an

INFORMATION EVENING FOR PARENTS WHO SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ESTONIAN AT HOME

who are interested in enrolling their children in a school with Estonian as the language of instruction or in a language immersion class in a school with Russian as the language of instruction.

The aims of language immersion are for the student to understand Estonian and to speak, read and write in the language, to continue studies in Estonian, to also be fluent in their home language at an age-appropriate level, to continue studies in their home language, to maintain their national identity and to have a respectful attitude towards other cultures.

The Estonian language immersion programme involves two models: in one the target language is Estonian alone; in the other both Estonian and Russian are the target languages.

Come and hear what people have to say!

Speaking about their own experiences will be Andrei Gudim, whose child is attending a school with Estonian as the language of instruction, and highly experienced language immersion teacher and methodology specialist Tatjana Baum-Valgma.

Tatjana Baum-Valgma – “I’m a teacher of Estonian as a second language by profession, which is something I’ve been doing for 24 years now. I’ve been actively involved in language immersion methodology since 2005, at first as a teacher, then as a trainer and adviser. Right now I work with the Innove Foundation, where I deal with language-learning issues. I’m convinced that what the teacher is there for is to be a partner to the student as they learn and to create the kind of conditions that make learning enjoyable and encouraging for the student, but also requiring them to put in an effort.”

Andrei Gudim is an entrepreneur, worker, father and son. He and his entire family took part in Mariana Kaat’s ‘14 Cases’ project. Between the ages of 3 and 6 his child attended a kindergarten with Russian as the language of instruction, then between the ages of 6 and 8 an Estonian-language kindergarten. The family hoped to enrol the child in a school with Estonian as the language of instruction, or a language immersion class in a Russian-language school. They even attended a language immersion class pre-school at Haabersti Russian Gymnasium.

You can register for the information evening here:

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