In the framework of the Integration Foundation’s cultural education programme introducing the Estonian cultural space, in cooperation with the Estonian National Museum, an educational programme was carried out this spring and summer, offering communication practice in Estonian, where the language was practised through the introduction of the Estonian cultural space. The programme consisted of five study trips to the Estonian National Museum, where the participants could learn the Estonian language and get to know the Estonian culture through the exhibitions of the museum and the discussions that followed.

The course concluded with the round table event ‘The Power to Speak’ at the Estonian National Museum on 22 June. Dariia Ruda, a young Ukrainian living in Valga, was also among the participants and she kindly agreed to share her impressions and experiences with us.

Please tell readers a few words about yourself.

I am from Ukraine and came to Estonia two years ago. I finished high school in Ukraine online and now, I am trying to get into the Pallas University of Applied Sciences. Besides that, I am trying to integrate into Estonian life, to get to know Estonia more, because unfortunately, I have not had the chance to do that so far.

How did you hear about this language learning programme?

I was just looking for different language learning and practice opportunities online. My aunt recommended me some courses. I called the Integration Foundation and asked for recommendations and found the course of the Estonian National Museum. I live in Valga and going to Tartu is not difficult, so the opportunity to visit the Estonian National Museum suited me well.

Today, you will attend the fifth and also the last event of this course. Looking back, what did you like and dislike about the course?

I really liked the course where they talked about the Urals and Estonia’s connection to this culture. The course was very interesting and interactive, among other things. In general, the Estonian National Museum has very exciting exhibitions and there are opportunities to learn and practise the language. The information is also in Ukrainian, which will undoubtedly make learning easier for me. I liked the study tours and the discussions that followed them.

What I did not like is not at all specific to this course. My general language skills are not very good yet and so I sometimes had difficulties in fully understanding everything. I could not participate as actively as I would have liked in the different discussions. In the end, however, it was all to my benefit and motivated me to learn more. So my overall impression of the whole course is very positive!

What have been the biggest challenges for you in adapting to the language environment here?

In terms of language, the challenge for me has not been so much the language itself, but the fact that, firstly, you hear a lot of Russian in Valga every day and, secondly, the people who come to communicate with you immediately start doing so in Russian. So the opportunities for me to practise my Estonian have been very difficult to come upon. In other words, the biggest challenge for me was to find people with whom I could actually practise the language on a daily basis and learn through it.

Unfortunately, I have not had many opportunities to visit other parts of Estonia. Apart from Tartu, I have been to Tallinn a few times with our small Ukrainian community in Valga, but not much more. It has certainly been my own fault. Undoubtedly, a larger circle of acquaintances would have meant more language practice. Hopefully that will change soon, especially if I manage to get into Pallas. My entrance exams are coming up soon and I am working hard, especially on the language.

Would you recommend this course to others?

Yes, definitely! We had language café events in Valga in April and May. I did some advertising there, encouraging others to participate in such programmes. However, most people in Valga have jobs and are unable to go on trips like that. I am the only person in this group who is not from Tartu. It is much easier for the ones living there.

What are your future plans?

As for my future, I know that I would definitely like to continue my studies, live in an Estonian-speaking environment, and find a job. I think I have a pretty good and solid plan in place for the future.

In cooperation with the Integration Foundation and the Estonian National Museum, the next language courses of the Estonian National Museum will take place in August in Tallinn and in September in Narva.

The project receives support within project no. 2021-2027.4.07.23-0006 ‘Activities supporting Estonian language learning and civic education’, sub-activity No. 3.4.4.4 ‘Provision of various cultural and leisure activities to support Estonian language learning and practice’, financed by a grant of the European Social Fund+.

September 24 is Day of Nationalities in Estonia. The Cultural Diversity Year working group is looking forward to celebrating it this year from September 14 through 30 with various events across Estonia.

Day of Nationalities is dedicated to the national communities living in Estonia. It was created in 2005 by the Estonian Union of Nationalities with the aim of bringing together Estonian communities and the communities of other nationalities living in Estonia. Since then, Day of Nationalities has been celebrated with various events all over Estonia.

The ongoing Cultural Diversity Year provides an opportunity to celebrate Day of Nationalities on a larger scale than ever before – in every county and with the participation of even more communities. The theme-year working group has compiled all the information about the events together in one programme.

From September 14 through 30, we invite everyone to participate in concerts, exhibitions, lectures, workshops and other events related to different national cultures. The programme can be found on the Cultural Diversity Year website www.kultuuririkkus.ee from September 7.

On Day of Nationalities in Estonia (Tuesday, September 24), the working group of the Cultural Diversity Year calls on people to hang the Estonian flag on their homes, wear folk costumes or add national elements to their clothing.

The programme for celebrating this year's Day of Nationalities is being prepared in cooperation with the Estonian Union of National Minorities, the Estonian Folk Culture Centre, The Association of Estonian Cultural Societies, Tallinn Culture & Sports Department and the cultural associations of various nationalities.

The Cultural Diversity Year is a theme year that takes place under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and the Integration Foundation with the aim of celebrating the diversity of the cultures of Estonian communities and the peoples living in Estonia. More info: www.kultuuririkkus.ee.

Starting from September, we will be inviting adults to join support groups for independent language learning, for which potential participants will need to have joined the online Estonian course platform Keeleklikk.ee. Participation is open to everyone who has successfully acquired the A1 language level. The programme will be provided by our training partner Sola Integra OÜ, who has been selected through a public procurement procedure, and participation is free of charge for everyone.

A total of eight meetings will take place between September and December, each lasting for four academic hours. The meetings will take place either face to face in Tallinn (address: 10 Toompuiestee Street) or online via Zoom. Before the first meeting, the participant must have created a user account on keeleklikk.ee. Each group consists of up to 12 people and has its own tutor.

Regular meetings are designed to provide the opportunity of learning in a group and having direct contact with the tutor, who will provide feedback, motivation, and guidance for independent learning in Keeleklikk. The meetings offer participants the opportunity to ask questions and get help in the event of difficulties. The tutor helps learners to set personal goals and observe the progress towards achieving them.

Registration:

• The Zoom group (starts on 11 September): https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/14825
• The Tallinn group (starts on 13 September): https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/14824

Keeleklikk.ee is an online language learning platform consisting of 16 chapters with a total of 200 animations and more than 100 videos explaining Estonian grammar, as well as of about 1,200 independent exercises.

Additional information and questions: Maria Ratassepp, Support Specialist for Language Learning, email:  maria.ratassepp@integratsioon.ee

The activities are funded from project No. 2021-2027.4.07.23-0006 ‘Activities supporting Estonian language learning and civic education’ of the European Social Fund+.

Starting from September, we will be inviting adults to join support groups for independent language learning, for which potential participants will need to have joined the online Estonian course platform Keeleklikk.ee. Participation is open to everyone who has successfully acquired the A1 language level. The programme will be provided by our training partner Sola Integra OÜ, who has been selected through a public procurement procedure, and participation is free of charge for everyone.

A total of eight meetings will take place between September and December, each lasting for four academic hours. The meetings will take place either face to face in Tallinn (address: 10 Toompuiestee Street) or online via Zoom. Before the first meeting, the participant must have created a user account on keeleklikk.ee. Each group consists of up to 12 people and has its own tutor.

Regular meetings are designed to provide the opportunity of learning in a group and having direct contact with the tutor, who will provide feedback, motivation, and guidance for independent learning in Keeleklikk. The meetings offer participants the opportunity to ask questions and get help in the event of difficulties. The tutor helps learners to set personal goals and observe the progress towards achieving them.

Registration:

• The Zoom group (starts on 11 September): https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/14825
• The Tallinn group (starts on 13 September): https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/14824

Keeleklikk.ee is an online language learning platform consisting of 16 chapters with a total of 200 animations and more than 100 videos explaining Estonian grammar, as well as of about 1,200 independent exercises.

Additional information and questions: Maria Ratassepp, Support Specialist for Language Learning, email:  maria.ratassepp@integratsioon.ee

The activities are funded from project No. 2021-2027.4.07.23-0006 ‘Activities supporting Estonian language learning and civic education’ of the European Social Fund+.