The Language Friends programme brings together language buddies – an Estonian language learner and a volunteer conversation partner, or mentor, with a good command of Estonian – to facilitate conversation in Estonian and thereby support language learning. The aim is to practise communication in an informal setting.
Taking part in the programme gives language learners the opportunity to use Estonian in real-life situations. The participants agree among themselves on the time, duration, and communication channel for their meetings, and discuss topics of their choice.
The value of the Language Friends programme lies in the fact that it helps to build communication skills and self-confidence. The focus is not on learning grammar or preparing for exams, but on enabling learners to use Estonian with real people in real conversations. In this way, the Estonian language becomes not merely a subject of study for learners, but a real-life means of communication that helps them forge new connections and feel increasingly confident in everyday situations.
The Language Friends programme is suitable for adults who wish to volunteer to support learners of Estonian and promote the use of the Estonian language. Mentors do not have to be language teachers or linguists – all that is required is a good command of Estonian, an open mind, and a desire to support another person. It is through precisely these small but meaningful encounters that greater understanding, the courage to speak, and a sense of cohesion within our society are fostered.
The eighth season of the Language Friends programme will take place from 14 February to 14 May 2027.
Additional information:
This activity is carried out with the resources of the European Union’s Cohesion and Internal Security Funds for 2021–2027 and within the framework of project No. 2021-2027.4.07.23-0006 under Order No. 80 of the Minister of Culture of 15 March 2023 ‘Conditions for granting support for the implementation of activities supporting integration, including adaptation, in Estonian society’.
