| Integratsiooni Sihtasutus

Language Training through physical activities (Paldiski)

Practical language training through physical activity – we are going to be active, communicate, and learn!

Language training takes place twice a month starting from September. All activities are relaxed, fun, and interesting. We are going to get to know one another, make friends, and learn Estonian together. You will not even notice learning the language as we spend time together.

Yoga classes, dance lessons, hikes, parlour games – all activities are accompanied by learning Estonian through communication and expressing yourself. We are going to meet new friends and learn Estonian!

All who are interested are welcome to join the workouts of our team, regardless of age or physical form. If you are interested, then this is an easy way to polish your Estonian skills.

Language level: A1, A2
Time: 18.12 from 10.00-11.30
Location: Rae 38 (second floor), Paldiski
No of participants: 20

Organised by: Valeria Siminko, Inna Baranova, and Anu Grete Oder
Registration: (04.12 at 9.00) https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/11453?lang=en

NB! You can register for the events through the Integration Foundation's self-service, which you can enter using an ID card, Mobile-ID or Smart-ID. Please see the user guide: https://integratsioon.ee/iseteenindus

Friday in Library (Paldiski)

Friday in Library is a social club which brings together people from different cultural backgrounds who want to practice Estonian in a pleasant and welcoming setting.

The club is a place to get acquainted with one another, have conversations with the help of various forms of communication, play fun team games, and exchange information.

The Friday in Library events are meant for those who are still learning Estonian and who want to practice it in a playful manner. The events take place from September until December.

Language level: B1
Time: 16.12 from 15.00-18.00
Location: Lääne-Harju Library, conference room on the ground floor (Rae 38, Paldiski)
No of participants: 16

Organised by: Valeria Siminko and Urve Luht

Registration: (02.12 at 9.00) https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/11790?lang=en

Church Friday – Church of the Holy Spirit (Tallinn)

Church Friday is a series of events which support Estonian language learning for adults whose first language is not Estonian. In the course of the series, we will visit the churches of Tallinn with a tour guide and practice Estonian.

During the series, we will visit various churches in Tallinn (such as St. Nicholas’ Church (Tallinna Niguliste kirik) and Museum, St. Mary’s Cathedral (Tallinna toomkirik), St. John’s Church (Jaani kirik), Charles’s Church (Kaarli kirik), St Michael’s Church (Tallinna Rootsi-Mihkli kirik) once a month, including a guided tour. The tours are in Estonian. After the tour, the participants can explore the churches on their own. Church Friday takes place once a month on Fridays: on 23 September, 21 October, 18 November, and 16 December.

The Church of the Holy Spirit is the smallest mediaeval church in Tallinn. The earliest written records of a priest of the Church of the Holy Spirit date from 1316. The Church of the Holy Spirit was the church of an almshouse, and the Tallinn city government occasionally held its open services there. For this reason, the place of worship is sometimes also called the city government chapel. Estonian-language services have been held at the church since 1531, which is an important milestone in the history of Estonian culture.

One tour lasts up to 1.5 hours. The size of the group is 15–25 people.

Participants can practice listening to spoken Estonian (by listening to the tour guide) and speaking Estonian (by asking questions from the guide). Visiting various churches in the course of a tour allows adults whose first language is not Estonian practice their Estonian and raises their awareness of culture and history.

Min. language level required: B1+
Time: 16.11 from 14.00-15.30
Location: Church of the Holy Spirit (Pühavaimu 2, Tallinn)
No of participants: 25

Teacher: Inna Arno / inna.arno@integratsioon.ee
Registration: (02.12 at 9.00) https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/11913?lang=en

Learn the language with dance (Tallinn)

The language and dance classes are intended for beginner language learners.

Learn words and phrases used to describe rhythms, body parts, and dance steps with the simple steps of flamenco and rumba flamenca.

Language learners who want to learn the Estonian language through dance are welcome to join the classes.

Wear sports clothes and bring indoor shoes (closed shoes with a heel (but not a stiletto heel!). Sports shoes are not suitable. All participants must have indoor shoes with them.

Communication level: A2–B1
Time: 07.12 at 16.00-17.00
Location: Pärnu maantee 102, Tallinn
Number of participants: 20

Organiser: Claudia Shevtshenco Flamenco Dance Studio
Registration: (24.11 at 9.00) https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/11911?lang=en

Cooking club (Tallinn)

We’ll cook together, sharing skills, tips and recipes, then set the table, sit down and enjoy the food we’ve made.

At the end of each class we’ll summarise what we’ve learnt in Estonian in terms of both new words and about cooking itself. We’ll discuss what we found difficult and what exciting new discoveries we made.

The classes will be all about socialising, which will take place entirely in Estonian.

This year, the cooking classes are only open to relative beginners. Participation is on the basis of proof of vaccination. Each class will be limited to 10 participants.

Participants should bring their own aprons.

Language level: A2+
Time: 15.12 from 17.30-20.30
Location: Estonia pst 5a, Tallinn (Tallinna Rahvaülikool, entrance from the courtyard)
No of participants: 10

Contact person: Mari Taalmann and Eerika Ossaar
Registration: (01.12 at 9.00) https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/11909?lang=en

Film Club (Tallinn)

The Estonian Language House Film Club is a monthly series of film nights which introduce exciting Estonian films to the audience. All films are screened in Estonian with Estonian subtitles.

Every evening, another example of a genre in the Estonian film scene is presented – we are going to watch comedies, action films, and dramas. In addition to watching the films, we are going to discuss film plots and share our thoughts. The Film Club is going to culminate with a visit to the Estonian Film Museum together with the members of the Narva Film Club!

Min. language level required: A2+
Time: 14.12 from 17.30-20.00
Place: Tallinn Estonian Language House (Rävala 5, Tallinn)
No of participants: 30

Teachers: Margit Raias and Kadri Raigo

Registration: (05.12 at 9.00) https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/11907?lang=en

Estonians all over the world will be able to launch projects with the support of the state

18.11.2022

As a result of the application round organised in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Integration Foundation, twenty-five self-initiated projects of global Estonian communities will receive funding. These projects will strengthen the ties of Estonians living abroad with Estonia, help contribute the preservation of the identity of Estonians living abroad, and increase awareness of the diaspora’s activities in Estonia.

‘In the application round, we supported activities that would increase the sense of belonging between local and global Estonian communities, such as global Estonian cultural, business, and scientific projects or various events. In addition, it was possible to apply for grants for initiatives aimed at raising awareness among the residents of Estonia about the activities of the diaspora,’ said Kaire Cocker, Head of the Compatriot Service of Integration Foundation. ‘In assigning grants, we prioritised activities aimed at young people and activities with their participation,’ Kaire Cocker added.

The budget of the application round was 64,779 euros in total. The maximum grant per application was 5,000 euros. Thirty-three projects were evaluated and twenty-five of them received grants. The supported projects will be carried out in at least eleven countries, from Finland to Australia.

‘For example, with the help of the grant allocated from the application round, we will continue to introduce the Estonian diaspora to the world through the documentary series Homing Beyond already known in the world and Estonia. The EV105 youth art exhibition will be organised in Belgium, a concert and anniversary reception will be held in honour of the 20^th birthday of the Stockholm Estonian Mixed Choir, and the forum ‘Journey in Estonianship home and abroad’ will be held in Lithuania. Sõrve Children’s Camp will be held at Point Wolstongraft in Australia, a youth day will be organised in Finland, Estonian children’s literature will be introduced to the Estonian children of the Latokartano children’s group, and there will be a theatre day for children in Erfurt in Germany,’ commented Kaire Cocker, Head of the Compatriot Service of the Integration Foundation. ‘I also participated in one of the projects and witnessed how the performances of VAT Theatre and workshops for children at the Estonian House in New York brought the Estonian community together to enjoy Estonian culture and language and feel closer to Estonia,’ added Kaire Cocker.

The application round for self-initiated projects of global Estonian communities is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Find out more about the results og the 2022 application round on the Integration Foundation´s website.

Meet the Author - Jelena Skulskaja (Tallinn)

Over the course of the event series, we are going to meet fascinating Estonian writers and listen to them talk about their lives and creation.

We are going to meet Jelena Skulskaja, a famous author, essayist, poet, and translator. She has written about 30 books of poetry and prose (incl. the novel Marble Swan, memoires on Dovlatov, and the collection of essays Love in Russian Literature).

We will learn about her writings and her work in the Russian Theatre.

Language level: B2, C1
Time: 13.12 from 17.30-19.30
Location: Tallinn Central Library (Estonia 8, Tallinn)
No of participants: 25

Teacher: Mari Sieberk
Registration: (29.11 at 9.00) https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/11905?lang=en

Watch the recordings of the integration conference!

17.11.2022

The Integration Foundation organized a conference 'Together or Apart: Searching for the Middle Ground' in Tallinn on 10 & 11 November. The event brought together internationally recognised experts from Finland, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland and of course Estonia.

The day started with a performance by the tandem choir of the Estonian Language House in Narva. The conference was opened by Ambassador Kairat Abdrakhmanov, High Commissioner for National Minorities of the OSCE, and the opening speeches were given by Minister of Culture Piret Hartman and Dmitri Moskovtsev, the Director of the Integration Foundation.

The conference programme included presentations and panel discussions where experts in the field, researchers, policy makers, and representatives of civil society organisations analysed the processes of segregation, its possible dangers, and consequences.

The Ene Hion Foundation announced the recipient of its annual scholarship on stage – Natalja Mjalitsina, the founder of school for Ukrainians on Räägu Street, a branch of the Lilleküla High School, who was also one of the speakers at the conference. Her surprise was big and sincere. Congratulations and thank you for consistently shaping a civil society that takes multiculturalism into account!

The conference ended with a debate between Estonian politicians, where Jürgen Ligi, Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski, Viktoria Ladõnskaja-Kubits, Eduard Odinets, Aleksei Jašin, and Jaak Valge discussed segregation in Estonian education and proposed possible solutions to make the school system more unified. The lively debate was led by ERR journalist Jüri Nikolajev.

You can watch the presentations here,

the photos can be seen here.