Everyone who is fluent in Estonian can support Estonian language learners in practising their language skills by joining the Estonian Language Friends Program Keelesõber as a volunteer Estonian language mentor. The Integration Foundation, which has launched the fifth season of the Program, invites all those interested to register on its website by 7 February at the latest.

‘The Language Friends programme offers Estonian language learners a much-needed opportunity to chat in Estonian with people who speak it every day. As we have more and more learners, we also need more and more mentors. This year, we would like to involve at least 1,000 volunteers,’ said Dmitri Moskovtsev, Director of the Integration Foundation.

The Estonian language mentor should talk to the learner on everyday topics at least once a week over a three-month period – from 14 February to 14 May. The mentor should communicate via mutually convenient channels, such as on Messenger or by phone. The mentor will be supported by the team of the Program, who will bring learners and mentors together and also share best practice and materials.

‘From the feedback of the previous four seasons, it is clear that the Estonian language learners gain greater courage to communicate from these conversations and start to speak Estonian more,’ said Ave Landrat, head of the Estonian Language Friends Program Keelesõber.

Over the past four seasons, the Program has attracted almost 3,800 Estonian language learners. Volunteers of all ages, from all walks of life, and from many countries have contributed as mentors.

Estonian language learners can join the Estonian Language Friends Program from 9 February by registering online. The team of the Program will bring language friends together from Valentine’s Day, 14 February. Mentors and learners can chat until 14 May.

Everyone who is ready to enrol in the Estonian Language Friends Program Keelesõber as a mentor is welcome to register on the website of the Integration Foundation www.integratsioon.ee/keelesober by 7 February at the latest. Detailed information on the Program is also available on the same website.

Which language learning opportunities does the Integration Foundation offer? 

We offer Estonian language courses for adults (starting from the age of 18) at levels A1, A2, and B1. The Estonian language courses are provided by the Estonian Language Houses and the partners of the Integration Foundation, i.e. language schools. 

Starting from January 2024, the total volume of Estonian language courses from level A1 to level B1 will be 500 academic hours. The supervised course loads per language levels are as follows: level A1 – 100 academic hours, level A2 – 150 academic hours, level B1 is divided into two levels – level B1.1 is 120 academic hours and level B1.2 is 130 academic hours. Registering for a language course implies an obligation to attend the lessons and study. Independent work by the learner, be it homework or additional language learning through Keeleklikk or Keeletee, helps to improve the language learning outcome. 

The increase in the number of language courses is in line with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, including with the statutes of the adaptation programme. The need for changes to the courses stems from the desire of the foundation to ensure that the best possible language learning is available to learners, in terms of content, volume, as well as results. 

Namely, the inclusion of an Estonian language course at level B1.2 has been important for successful graduates of courses at levels B1 and B1.1, as it offers the opportunity to acquire knowledge at level B1 in depth. An additional Estonian language course at level B1.2 will enable learners to further improve their language skills. It is therefore an important step for successful learners on their language learning journey, which, in turn, enhances their coping in society and is an important support for their active participation in society and integration in general. Changes in the volumes of language courses are also linked to ensuring that learners can move from one language course to another more easily, regardless of their status, if it changes. 

Who can register for an Estonian language course?

The free Estonian language courses are intended for adults living in Estonia who have an Estonian personal identification code. Priority will be given to those wishing to continue, i.e. to those who have successfully completed the previous course, followed by those who have completed the counselling in general order, and whose data is available and correct in the self-service. The customer service representatives of the foundation will make offers based on the conditions described above. Each language learner must independently confirm their acceptance of the offer for the course in the self-service after receiving the offer. If an offer for a course is not confirmed within the required time frame, it will expire and the next applicant will be offered a place. 

When and how can I register for a language course?

You can generally register for free Estonian language courses at levels A1, A2, and B1.1–B1.2 as well as special courses twice a year (in January and August) in the self-service of the Integration Foundation. There is no fixed date and time, as new services for learning are being designed on an ongoing basis and the range of services available in the self-service portal is constantly increasing. Any places left unfilled by the offers (the so-called ‘free student places’ in the group) will be made public at the latest one week before the start of the language course via the self-service environment of the foundation and the language learner will need to register for a suitable course themselves. We therefore recommend that you check out the new opportunities at the self-service environment from time to time or get information from the consulting centre and follow our social media posts on Facebook, where we occasionally share information about various language learning opportunities. To register, please log in to the self-service environment of the Integration Foundation. We do not normally open new services for registration in July. 

What should I do if I cannot attend a course I signed up for? 

A language learner can withdraw from and cancel a course up to one day before the course starts. This way, someone else can still register for the vacant place – either independently or with the help of a customer service representative. 

Where can I find information about courses that are starting soon?

This information is available via the services search under the ‘My Services’ tab in the self-service. When you click on a course, the schedule of the course, a short description along with the name of the teacher and the language school, and the email address of the teacher will be displayed. Ask for detailed information about the contents of a course from the teacher of the course, whose contact details are provided by the content description of the specific course in the self-service portal. 

How do I search for a language course in the self-service? Language courses and special courses can be selected in the self-service by the month that they start (e.g. from 1 January or 1 August), their language level, and their location. 

What should I do if I cannot attend a course I signed up for? 

A language learner can withdraw from and cancel a course up to one day before the course starts. This way, someone else can still register for the vacant place – either independently or with the help of a customer service representative. 

What kinds of other Estonian language learning opportunities does the Integration Foundation offer?

In addition to language courses, we offer a variety of activities to support language learning, such as special courses, language practice, language clubs and cafés, educational programmes, and field trips to learn and practise Estonian. 

The special courses support language learning at levels A1–B1 and more information on them can be found in the short course descriptions in the self-service. 

Language cafés are designed for Estonian language learners at level A2 and up. The cafés offer support for learning and practising Estonian before starting a language course or for consolidating your knowledge after you have completed it. The meetings give you the chance to communicate with your peers on everyday topics in a more relaxed environment. We plan to open new cafés in the second half of the year at the latest. 

Language and culture clubs are open to learners of Estonian who speak it at level B1, B2, or C1. The club encourages people to speak Estonian freely and to continue learning, as the meetings offer not only language learning, but also practice in a language environment, including through joint activities such as workshops or field trips. We plan to open new clubs in the second half of the year. 

Educational programmes are also suitable for language learning, as they provide opportunities to practise listening, speaking, and reading in depth, and to acquire knowledge about Estonia’s cultural diversity (e.g. art, architecture, nature, society, history, language, culture). You can register for educational programmes via the self-service starting from February. 

Independent study materials are available for language learners on the website of the foundation, including, for example, the e-course of Estonian at https://www.keeleklikk.ee/. 

Where can I find more information on activities that support language learning?

Information is available on the calendar on the website of the foundation and registration you can register for activities via the self-service environment. 

We also organise and direct people to Estonian language courses meant specifically for people who are applying for Estonian citizenship (the duration of the courses differs from regular courses (total volume 500 academic hours)), newly arrived immigrants (temporary protection beneficiaries in Estonia, people who have been granted international protection and foreigners residing in Estonia based on regular migration). 

Why does the Integration Foundation no longer have public registration? 

We want to offer every language learner the learning opportunities that suit their needs, and direct them to the language course that is right for them. To do this, we ask learners to undergo a free consultation, as our consultants are best equipped to assess each person’s language learning needs and recommend the most suitable language learning solution for each individual. If there are places available, people who have completed the counselling will be directed to the registration environment in the self-service or at settleinestonia.ee, where they can independently choose the time and place that suits them and register for the language course. The language learner then communicates with the teacher, who supports them on their language learning journey. 

To register for a consultation, please contact us by email at info@integratsiooniinfo.ee or via the free phone line 800 9999. The consultation is free of charge. 

The self-service portal is accessible for everyone around the clock. There, you can explore various options for learning Estonian independently, at a relaxed pace, and at a fitting time for you, register for a suitable service (such as a course, language practice, a study trip, a café, a club, etc.) and study group, or add your name to a waiting list of a service and keep track of your studies. 

Why have these changes been made? With the consultations and the self-service portal, we want to ensure the better availability of services to various target groups, including to simplify learning the language for our clients, and increase the quality of language training. Through these changes, we are offering a suitable study format on the necessary level based on the needs and proficiency of the learners. 

If you have not attended a consultation yet, we highly recommend you do that. To register for a consultation, please contact us by email at info@integratsiooniinfo.ee or via the free phone line 800 9999. The consultation is free of charge. 

As part of the adaptation programme, we will continue organising Estonian language courses for regular migrants. This year, we offer the opportunity to enroll in courses at levels A1, A2, and B1 to about 2,000 persons. You can register for the courses from January 16, 2024. 

This year, we are tripling the capacity of Estonian language courses for regular migrants compared to last year, when approximately 600 individuals were able to enrol – we will organise courses for about 2,000 people in 2024. Depending on the mapped interest, we will focus on the possibility of starting Estonian language studies: we plan to organise a total of 36 courses at level A1, 25 courses at level A2, and ten courses at level B1. 

As part of the adaptation programme, we will organise Estonian language courses for regular migrants in cooperation with language schools selected through a public procurement – Folkuniversitetet Estonia MTÜ in Tallinn, Kersti Võlu Koolituskeskus OÜ and Algus OÜ in other cities across Estonia. Those schools offer training both online and in classrooms. The courses are free for all participants. 

Our new compatriots can register to Estonian language courses at levels A1, A2, and B1 from January 16. At first, we will open 17 courses for registration, which will take place online and in the cities of Tallinn, Tartu, Narva, and Jõhvi from January and February this year. We will increase the number of courses over time. 

You can register for the Estonian language courses on the website of the adaptation programme: registration link. If you are interested in the offer, you can choose the appropriate course according to the level, study format, date, and location. Registration is open until the study groups are full. More information is available by email: info@settleinestonia.ee. 

Please consider when registering for the Estonian language courses: 

• Many people may be interested in the courses, so the website may be temporarily unavailable. Should this happen, please be patient and return to the website an hour or two later. 

• Levels of Estonian language learning: 

  • A1 (100 academic hours) is intended for those who wish to start at the beginner level and take the first steps in learning a new language. The course will focus on the basic rules of Estonian and the most essential communication skills, such as using everyday expressions and asking and answering simple questions. 

  • A2 (150 academic hours) further develops your language skills, enabling you to understand simpler texts, communicate in everyday situations, and expand your vocabulary. 

  • B1 (250 academic hours) is intended for those who have acquired the A level proficiency in Estonian. By the end of the course, you will be able to understand everything important about topics familiar to you, such as work, school, and leisure time. You will be able to handle communication with state institutions and use services in Estonian as well as write simple texts on familiar subjects or topics that pique your interest, describe your experiences, events, dreams, and goals and briefly justify and explain your views and plans. 

• Independent learning is an integral part of the course at every study level. The teachers recommend and use the Keeleklikk online environment to increase the effectiveness of learning. 

• Important notes, additional information, and a registration link are available on the website of the adaptation programme. 

 What else you should consider as a regular migrant: 

• Regular migrants are people from other countries who have lived in Estonia for less than five years and have acquired a temporary residence permit or right of residence due to their work, studies, moving in with a family member, starting a business, etc. 

• The Settle in Estonia adaptation programme is a free study programme whereby the Estonian state helps recently arrived foreigners to adapt to local life faster and integrate into Estonian society. The programme also enables you to complete other courses supporting adaptation free of charge. Detailed information can be found on the website of the Integration Foundation: https://www.integratsioon.ee/en/kohanemine. 

• In addition to Estonian language courses, we offer opportunities for regular migrants to participate in activities that support the learning of Estonian. Detailed information on these opportunities can be found on the website of the Integration Foundation: https://integratsioon.ee/en/estonian-language-studies. 

Information for recipients of international or temporary protection: 

• Recipients of temporary protection are welcome to register for language courses at level A1: additional information and registration. 

• We plan to open language courses for recipients of international protection this spring. More information is available on the website of the Integration Foundation and on the Facebook page of the adaptation programme. 

Last Saturday, a new theme year – the Cultural Diversity Year – got underway across Estonia. The theme year, dedicated to the diversity of the cultures of Estonian communities and people, opened with joint events being held in every county and in the capital.

’The Cultural Diversity Year opens the door to the world of different cultures living in our common land. I thank everyone who has already contributed, and will continue to contribute, to the organisation of this theme year. Your dedication brings us one step closer to understanding our cultural diversity and thus one step closer to each other,’ said Minister of Culture Heidy Purga at the opening of the Cultural Diversity Year at the Tallinn College of Music and Ballet.

The aim of the Cultural Diversity Year is to encourage every Estonian to better notice, appreciate and cherish our diversity of cultures – to see Estonia as the common home of many cultures and to cooperate more actively with each other. With this goal in mind, the Integration Foundation, which organises the theme year, involved different communities and people from all over Estonia in the opening of the Cultural Diversity Year.  

Communities and people came together in every county to begin the theme year. The first event was held on January 6 at the Haapsalu fair by craftspeople, singers and dancers from different parts of Estonia. On January 12, representatives of different cultures in Põlva County and Hiiu County took up the baton. On January 13, wonderful opening events were staged by the communities and people of Võru County, Viljandi County, Valga County, Tartu County, Saare County, Rapla County, Pärnu County, Lääne-Viru County, Järva County, Jõgeva County, Ida-Viru County and Harju County.

The events that took place in each county culminated in the opening of the theme year in the capital. At the festive gathering held at the Tallinn College of Music and Ballet, Minister of Culture Heidy Purga declared the new theme year open, and the team of the Be Active Year handed over the corresponding title to the leaders of the Cultural Diversity Year. After that, all participants had the opportunity to get acquainted with different cultures through communication, songs, dances, dishes and crafts.

The opening events of the Cultural Diversity Year were organised by the Competence Center for Physical Activity, which led the Be Active Year, the Estonian Folk Culture Centre, which unites Estonian cultural societies, and the Estonian Union of National Minorities, which historically brings together national minority groups. Support was provided by the Ministry of Culture, the Cultural Endowment and local authorities.

The Cultural Diversity Year will continue with events led by the Integration Foundation as well as the communities and people of Estonia. To give the broadest possible overview of them, the foundation has opened a calendar on the theme year website — www.kultuuririkkus.ee — where it is possible to add thematic events free of charge. On the same website, you can find recommendations from experts on how everyone can notice, value and preserve cultural wealth in everyday life.

Photos:

• January 13, 2024 Opening of the Cultural Diversity Year at the Tallinn College of Music and Ballet (Kristi Sits, Egert Kamenik): https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZsJ26VaVjzgyrXSV9  
• January 6, 2024 First event of The Cultural Diversity Year in Haapsalu (Vendo Jugapuu): https://photos.app.goo.gl/ucEkTeaCRAy1nCRQA