MAY 2010

 

Today, 26 April 2010, the Integration and Migration Foundation launched a project competition entitled ‘Promoting a shared cultural space through partnership’. A total of 1.2 million kroons will be distributed among the successful applicants. The project is being financed by the Ministry of Culture.

 

Laine Jänes, Estonian Minister of Culture and the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Integration and Migration Foundation, says that the competition will foster cooperation between theatres and other performance institutes involving Estonians and representatives of the other nationalities residing in the country alike.

 

“Compared to the similar project competition organised last year, this year theatres have a greater opportunity to showcase their performances to audiences who speak other languages, since we will be supporting the simultaneous interpretation of Estonian-language productions into Russian as part of the competition,” she explained.

 

Applications will be accepted in two categories:‘Partnerships within the performing arts’ and ‘Simultaneous interpretation of Estonian-language productions into Russian’. Applications may be submitted by any legal entities and institutions registered in the Republic of Estonia which are operating in a non-profit manner within the framework of this competition and which comply with its terms and conditions (www.meis.ee/konkursi).

 

The deadline for submission of applications is 3:00 pm on 28 May 2010. Applications should be addressed to the Our People Integration and Migration Foundation, Liimi 1, 10621 Tallinn. The information day for the competition will be held at 3:00 pm on 6 May at the Integration and Migration Foundation’s offices at the aforementioned address.

 

For further information please contact: Kaie Kullik, Coordinator, Culture and Youth Work Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9025 / E-mail: kaie.kullik@meis.e  

 

 

 

The Integration and Migration Foundation has launched a public project competition which is designed to enable studies of Estonian not only at specialist language camps but also at regular summer camps.

 

The Integration and Migration Foundation has been supporting the extracurricular language studies of children and teenagers who speak Russian as their home language since 1998. Youth conferences, the City of the Future games, specialist Estonian language camps and more have all been held. This competition will also give ordinary summer camps the opportunity to provide their Russian-speaking children and teenagers with Estonian lessons.

 

The competition, entitled ‘Estonian language studies at youth summer camps’, is open to the organisers of summer camps for children and teenagers who manage youth camps licensed to operate by the Ministry of Education and Research and the organisers of project camps who already have permission from their local government to run the camps when they apply. Applications can also be submitted by organisations carrying out their own camps at youth camps, by presenting a copy of the operating licence for the youth camp at the same time as their application with confirmation of the camp taking place from the youth camp.

The deadline for submission of applications is 4:00 pm on 14 May 2010.

 

The project may be aimed at organising Estonian language studies for Russian-speaking children and teenagers between the ages of 7 and 18 who attend summer camps. Estonian-speaking ‘helpers’ can also be included in language studies, who together can form up to half of the total number of participants. In this case, these young people help to conduct Estonian language learning activities. Studies have shown that the involvement of both Estonian and Russian-speaking youth at the same camp is very effective not only in terms of language-learning, but also from the points of view of cultural and social communication.

 

A survey into the effectiveness of Estonian-language camps and family studies which was carried out by AFM Consult in 2009 revealed that language camps are based on the shared interests of the young people taking part and that they promote communication between young people of different national backgrounds, primarily in Estonian. The survey recommended that in order to ensure the success of such camps, those organising them be fluent in both Estonian and Russian and engage the young people attending the camps in activities which they are happy to take part in and which they have an emotional connection with.

 

The budget for the competition is 1,489,400 kroons. It is being financed from the state budget through the Ministry of Culture on the basis of the implementation plan of the Estonian Integration Programme 2008-2013.

 

In addition to summer camps, young people will also be studying Estonian this summer with the support of the Integration and Migration Foundation at language camps designed for ethnic Estonians and project camps and while staying with Estonian families.

 

For further information please contact: Lianne Ristikivi, Coordinator, Culture and Youth Work Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9028 / E-mail: lianne.ristikivi@meis.e  

 

 

 

The Integration and Migration Foundation has launched a public project competition entitled ‘One media’, applications for which can be submitted until 31 May.

 

The overall aims of the competition are to contribute to the development of a unified information space for all of the people living in Estonia, to foster the equal treatment of people from different national backgrounds and to promote the ongoing naturalisation process in the country.

 

Laine Jänes, Estonian Minister of Culture and the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Integration and Migration Foundation, says that the competition will help in the move towards a single, shared field of media irrespective of people’s native languages. It will also enable events in the integration field to be promoted more broadly.

 

“The distribution and availability of information is important to everyone, and this competition will significantly broaden the options for obtaining information in many target groups who need more information than they are currently getting,” she said.

 

The information day for the competition will be held from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm on 17 May at the Integration and Migration Foundation’s offices at Liimi 1, Tallinn (3^rd floor). You should register for the event by e-mailing kati.tamm@meis.e by 14 May.

 

The competition focuses on three areas: ‘Promoting civic activity and integration in the media’ (Part 1); ‘Raising awareness of the Equal Treatment Act’ (Part 2); and ‘Promoting ways in which to obtain citizenship’ (Part 3).

 

The competition will support television and radio programmes, the activities of Internet portals and activities informing the members and employees of citizens’ associations (and their representative organisations) and company directors about the Equal Treatment Act. Activities will also be supported which inform the parents of children with undefined citizenship up to the age of 15 of ways in which to obtain citizenship for themselves and their children.

 

The competition is being financed from the state budget through the Ministry of Culture (25%) and the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals (75%) on the basis of the implementation plan of the Estonian Integration Programme 2008–2013.

 

The Integration and Migration Foundation also supported the development of a unified media in 2009. Support was granted to projects which resulted in the production of television and radio programmes and a series of articles published in national and regional newspapers. The foundation has also worked previously to promoteequal treatment and to distribute information about ways in which to obtain Estonian citizenship.

 

For further information please contact:

 

Parts 1 and 2: Kati Tamm, Coordinator, Civic Education and Migration Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9027 / E-mail: kati.tamm@meis.e

 

Part 3: Tea Tammistu, Coordinator, Civic Education and Migration Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9062 / E-mail: tea.tammistu@meis.e  

 

 

A project competition entitled ‘Estonian language courses in Ida-Viru and Harju Counties’ was launched by the Integration and Migration Foundation at the end of April. All language companies are invited to submit applications. The deadline for submission of applications is 4.00 pm on 27 May 2010.

 

The information day for the competition will be held at 2.00 pm on 11 May 2010 at the Integration Foundation’s offices at Liimi 1, Tallinn.

 

The language courses must be primarily designed to support the development of the conversational abilities of the participants and their overcoming language barriers and other communication problems. The skills that should mainly be developed are speaking and listening. The aim of the course is for graduates to achieve the B1 language level.

 

The competition will support the organisation of 120-hour Estonian language courses to take students in Ida-Viru and Harju Counties from level 0 to level A2 and from level A2 to B1.

Applications for support can be submitted by any legal entities that meet the terms and conditions of the competition.

 

The competition is being financed from the budgetary resources of the Ministry of Culture (25%) and the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals (75%) on the basis of the implementation plan of the Estonian Integration Programme 2008-2013.

For further information please contact: Kristina Johannes, Coordinator, Lifelong Learning Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9065 / E-mail: kristina.johannes@meis.e

 

 

 

Four important handbooks related to integrated language and subject teaching have been distributed to vocational education institutions around Estonia so that their teachers can use them to improve their lessons and develop their own skills.

 

The handbooks are entitled Lõimitud aine- ja keeleõpe /Integrated language and subject studies/ (by Peeter Mehisto, David Marsh et al), Kuidas õpetada erialakeelt /How to teach professional language/ (by Kristi Saarso & Elle Sõrmus), Erialaõppe ja keeleõppe lõimumisest /Integrating specialist studies and language studies/ (by Tiina Kikerpill & Elle Sõrmus) and Об интегрировании обучения языку и специальности /Integrating language and specialty subject studies/ (by Tiina Kikerpill & Elle Sõrmus).

 

The new print-run of the handbooks was published by the Integration and Migration Foundation as part of the “Language Studies Development 2007-2010” programme of the European Social Fund. The books were sent to the schools for use by as many teachers, directors and other interested parties as possible. The schools are obliged to keep and use the materials for their intended purpose.

 

Vocational education institutions are gradually making the transition to Estonian-language studies, which requires improved training of teachers and school directors. The integrated studies method is suitable for the teaching of different subjects in another language and for taking people from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds into account.

 

Integrated studies continue to grow in popularity in Estonia. Training courses are being held to promote the method, with the aforementioned publications representing useful resources therein. The handbooks are not available for purchase, but they are available on the Integration and Migration Foundation’s website at www.meis.ee/raamatukogu.

 

The ‘Integrated language and subject studies’ handbook has also been recognised internationally. It has won two Duke of Edinburgh ESU English Language Book Awards: Highly Commended Book 2008 and Best Entry for Teachers 2008.

 

For further information please contact: Edydt Johanson, Coordinator, Lifelong Learning Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9842 / E-mail: edydt.johanson@meis.e

 

 

 

During the second half of April the Integration and Migration Foundation organised a national Integrated Subject and Language Studies (ISLS) week in Estonia, pioneered by its language immersion programme.More than 100 different events took place during the week, including training courses, seminars and open days at schools and nursery schools.

 

The majority of the training provided in Tallinn was led by Peeter Mehisto, an internationally recognised and awarded expert on ISLS who has Estonian roots but who was born and raised in Canada. Mehisto has been working in the field of ISLS for more than 10 years. A PhD graduate of the University of London, he is studying the factors that foster or hinder the development of language immersion programmes. A decade ago he was one of the people behind the introduction of language immersion methodology in Estonia.

 

Led by Mehisto, those attending the training courses explored the nature of ISLS, found out about brain research related to studies of languages and examined bilingualism as a factor in success. The methodological developments discussed at the event support the implementation of the principles of the updated national curriculum (in which the terms ‘integrated subject and language studies’ and ‘language immersion’ are now separately represented). The training underscored the many expectations of teachers and schools, not to mention the support that is needed in order to meet them. All those in attendance agreed that every teacher is not only a teacher of their own particular subject, but also a language teacher – whether that be in their native language or another language.

 

A small exhibition of posters and information boards showcased the activities taking place in schools and nursery schools. Alongside the other materials presented, the joint poster produced by educational institutions in northern Tallinn was a perfect example of promoting common goals. There was in fact no end of reading material: apart from the usual language immersion publications, books produced as the result of cooperation between children and parents from Kohtla-Järve were also available for browsing.

 

Schools and nursery schools throughout Estonia also showed how they are implementing ISLS. They were so keen to do so, in fact, that the week-long series of official events from 19 to 23 April was not enough to fit them all in. As such, many of the events were held in early April, and some have even spilled over into the first week of May. Information about events still to take place is available on the website of the Integration and Migration Foundation at www.meis.ee/lak-oppe-nadal2010.

 

The Pääsupesa nursery school in Tallinn, for example, put on a play to show how well their Russian-speaking pupils could cope taking part in an Estonian-language musical show entitled Spring in the forest. Meanwhile, at the Mahtra nursery school, older children performed in a play called The story of the bunny rabbit who didn’t want to go to sleep. Children from both nursery schools have learnt Estonian as part of the language immersion method to a level which allows them to take part in plays and other activities without encountering any problems. Of course, they have no problems either with everyday activities, in which they are supported by their teachers in Estonian. At the Pääsupesa nursery school it was even possible to take part in a lesson in which a teacher from Ranniku Upper Secondary School taught the Estonian children the principles of ISLS using Russian. The results were plain to hear!

 

Outside of Tallinn, a large number of events were held in Kohtla-Järve, Sillamäe and Narva. For example, the Rukkilill nursery school in Kohtla-Järve introduced the principles of integrated subject and language studies to all those interested every day through repeated activities, both routine and special interest. The parents of the pupils were also involved in the activities. Both the children and their parents improved their skills in Estonian during an art master class, in which the parents guided the pupils themselves.

 

A total of 14 schools took up the challenge to promote the studies taking place in the schools in other languages. The pilot schools for the language immersion programme – Läänemere Upper Secondary School and Mustamäe Upper Secondary School of Humanities in Tallinn – held open lessons during their open doors days which were attended by 90 visitors. They included university students, teachers, parents, colleagues from neighbouring nursery schools and schools and more. Tallinn English College, Ehte Upper Secondary School of Humanities and Ranniku Upper Secondary School highlighted English, French and Russian as target languages in addition to Estonian. Also, lecturers from Narva College of the University of Tartu gave open lessons to teachers from schools and nursery schools in Narva.

 

The ISLS week, which was the first of its kind to be held in Estonia, proved to be even more popular than expected. We would like to thank all of the local governments and educational institutions who opened their doors to everyone interested, contributed to exhibitions, helped promote ISLS (including language immersion) and supported the success of the week generally. See you next year!

 

*   *   *

 

Studying in another language is a tradition in the Estonian education system dating back decades. Foreign language subject studies were launched in Tallinn School no. 7 and Tallinn School no. 21, as they were then known, in the 1960s; various other schools joined the programme thereafter. English-language studies were introduced at Tallinn Upper Secondary School of Humanities in the 1970s and continue to this day.

 

Language immersion was launched in Estonia in 1992. It is one of the most effective methods of bilingual learning. It requires a systematic approach, uniformity of methodology and a tried and tested theoretical basis enabling comparison on an international scale – and these are also its greatest strengths. 30 schools and 31 nursery schools around Estonia have joined the language immersion programme.

 

 

Further information about ISLS is available from the language immersion programme’s contact people at the Integration and Migration Foundation:

 

Maire Kebbinau – Telephone: +372 659 9847 / E-mail: maire.kebbinau@meis.ee

Svetlana Belova – Telephone: +372 659 9848 / E-mail: svetlana.belova@meis.ee

Kai Võlli – Telephone: +372 659 9846 / E-mail: kai.volli@meis.ee

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Peace Child Alpha Omega” is a unique concert performance staged as the culmination of culture cooperation project between the UK (Peace Child International), Estonia (Sillamäe Society for Child Welfare) and Turkey (E-genclik). The purpose of the project is to initiate intergenerational and intercultural dialogue in communities across Europe and to advance international cooperation on youth work and culture.

 

PC-AO is not an ordinary piece, it has a musical framework, but every participant country, in addition to hiring its own creative team, adjusts the work to its cultural context. Through the production we show that no-one has all the answers, but when we respect all as equal partners, we may reach new „laws“ that help us find our way in a constructive manner.

 

Composer and original production: David Gordon (UK)

Musical director: Aarne Saluveer

Stage Director: Reeda Toots

 

On stage more than 100 choir members - Georg Ots’ Tallinn Music College mixed choir, Estonian TV’s Girls Choir, Tallinn University’s Chamber Choir, the children’s choir of Tallinn’s Secondary School of Science, Musamari children’s choir, Narva’s Choir School and choir members from the UK and Turkey.

 

Orchestra: Georg Ots’ Tallinn Music College orchestra

 

 

Tickets start at 135.-

 

Before 14th of May, all tickets 15% off

 

Tickets are available from Piletilevi and Russian Theatre ticket office.

 

The project is organised by Sillamäe Society for Child Welfare in cooperation with Peace Child Estonia, and is supported by European Commission, Estonian Ministry of Culture, City of Tallinn, Tallinn Sport and Youth Department, European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals, Integration and Migration Foundation Our People, Coca-Cola Hellenic, Leibur, Aspire Studio, Russian Theater, Georg Ots’ Tallinn Music Collage and Estonian Union for Child Welfare. Media partners are Estonian Public Broadcasting, Delfi, Sky Pluss, Russkoje Radio, Den za Dnjom and Postimees.

 

The performance is followed by an International Conference with a reception called: „Estonia 2050: the future of young people in an ageing society“ Estonian National Library, great hall, 2nd of June 2010 at 15:00. Limited number of participants!

 

Registration on the website www.sscw.e or at conference@sscw.ee, open until 25th of May 2010. The conference is free!

 

 

Additional information: http://sscw.ee/pages/et/avaleht.php  

 

 

 

 

Within the framework of the project Peace Child Alpha Omega Sillamäe Society for Child Welfare is organising an International conference „ESTONIA 2050: the future of our youth in an aging society“ in Estonian National Library great hall, 2nd of June 2010 beginning at 15:00, to address the question of the future of our country from the perspective of the young people.

 

1. The role of young people with the society today and tomorrow

2. Difference as resource

3. Youth work -value or a burden?

4. Intergenerational relations now and in the future.

5. Cooperation and dialogue

6. Future of young people – in Estonia or abroad?

 

International conference will take place on the following day of „Peace Child Alpha Omega,“ a performance on the topics of intercultural and intergenerational dialogue. The project has been funded from European Commission program „Culture 2007-2013“ and is organised in cooperation between the UK, Estonia and Turkey. The general purpose of the project is to initiate intergenerational and intercultural dialogue in communities across Europe and to develop international cooperation on youth work and culture.

 

Among the invitees are representatives from European Commission and Peace Child International, academics and experts from different universities and academic institutions, local government and NGO leaders. Conference includes two panels: so-called expert panel (with academics, NGO and public sector members and foreign institution leaders) and a youth panel (formed of active young people, whose mission is to present their vision and react to questions raised by the experts). Conference is followed by a reception. Preliminary programme is available at phttp://sscw.ee/pages/en/conference-2.-june-2010/agenda.php.   

 

The working language of the conference is Estonian and English. Synchronised translation is provided in Estonian-English-Estonian and if possible in Russian.

 

The conference is organised by Sillamäe Society for Child Welfare in cooperation with Peace Child Estonia and supported by European Commission, Estonian Ministry of Culture, Estonian National Library, City of Tallinn, Coca Cola Hellenic, Leibur, Aspire Studio and Estonian Union for Child Welfare. Media partners are Estonian Public Broadcasting, Delfi, Sky Pluss, Russkoje Radio, Den za Dnjom and Postimees.

 

Registration is open until 25th of May 2010 by e-mail: conference@sscw.ee or while registering online: http://sscw.ee/pages/en/register-now.php