Starting from February the Our People Integration and Migration Foundation (MISA) has a newly redesigned website, which can still be found online at www.meis.eeMobile: +372 52 12 602 / E-mail: monika.kopti@meis.ee.

There are plans to publish more basic information in Russian and English in addition to Estonian on the new site. Some sections are still waiting for translated texts, although they should be completed in the new future. The majority of news stories will continue to be translated into Russian, as well as into English where necessary and the monthly MISA newsletter will also be translated into both languages.

The MISA website provides information about the range of integration and migration-related activities organised or run by the foundation in the fields of Estonian language teaching and learning, education, civic education, migration support, culture and youth work. Literature published by or with the support of MISA continues to be made available on the site and can be found in the section titled 'Library'.

Due to the redesign of the MISA website, links to pages on the old site will need to be changed. Should redirecting not work or should you not find the information you are looking for from the new site, please contact the Director of Communications, whom you should also inform of any other problems you have noticed with the website.

For further information please contact: Monika Kopti, Director of Communications / Telephone: +372 659 9031 /

Starting from 12 January 2010 and lasting until October, teachers from vocational education institutions will have the chance to practise and develop their professional and language skills by taking part in the 'Another School, Another Language' project.

 

The project will see teachers from vocational schools with Russian as the language of instruction working in vocational schools with Estonian as the language of instruction and vice versa.

 

The work placements will last up to 24 days and include a comprehensive cultural programme. 60 teachers of professional and general subjects who registered for the project in 2009 will be taking part. The placements will be preceded by an 80-hour training course. Special information days will also be held for representatives of the schools sending and hosting the teachers.

 

The first group of partners in the project are from Tallinn, Pärnu, Tartu and Viljandi. A computer science teacher from the Informatics and Computer Technology School will be placed in the Pärnu County Vocational Education Centre; a vocational teacher from the Tallinn Industrial Education Centre in the Tartu Vocational Education Centre; and a vocational teacher from the Tallinn Lasnamäe School of Mechanics in the Viljandi Joint Vocational Secondary School.

 

The 'Another School, Another Language' project is being organised by the Lifelong Learning Unit of the 'Our People' Integration and Migration Foundation as part of the “Language Studies Development 2007-2010” programme of the European Social Fund.

 

For more information about the work placement please contact the organising board:

Tiiu Orgvee

E-mail: tiiu.orgvee@hariduskeskus.eeMobile: +372 5566 7315 / Telephone: +372 442 2529 /

Linda Kõresaar

E-mail: linda@ehituskool.eeMobile: +372 5194 6492 / Telephone: +372 677 5835 /

 

For further information please contact: Marje Reimund, Coordinator, Lifelong Learning Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9063 / E-mail: marje.reimund@meis.ee

 

 

 

As part of the “Language Studies Development 2007-2010” programme of the European Social Fund, the Narva College of the University of Tartu will be launching two pilot courses during the 2009-2010 academic year designed for both teacher training students and working teachers.

 

February will see the launch of the “Intercultural differences: students with Russian cultural background” course in Tartu, organised by the Narva College of the University of Tartu as a partner to the Integration and Migration Foundation.

 

The course will provide an overview of Russian culture in the context of intercultural relations: recognition of Russian culture; the formation of ethnic and cultural identity; the Russian national character; Russian cultural values; Russians in intercultural contact; and more. Particular attention will be turned to Estonian Russians, the formation of their identity and conditions for cultural assimilation. The course will also provide an overview of the basis of Russian ethnopedagogy. The range of topics will help to present a comprehensive view of the idiosyncrasies of Estonian Russians.

The course is the equivalent of 3 CP, i.e. 80 hours, of which 46 are seminar-based, with 28 hours of independent work and 6 of observed lessons. The course is open to future teachers currently undergoing teacher training and/or working teachers taking part in in-service training who are looking to work or working in general or vocational schools with Russian as the language of instruction. The preferred target group for the course is those whose native language is not Russian and/or those who did not study in schools with Russian as the language of instruction.

 

The course is free of charge and designed for up to 20 students.

 

The “Intercultural differences: students with Russian cultural background” course is the second pilot course designed for both working and future teachers to be launched during the 2009-2010 academic year by the Narva College of the University of Tartu as part of the “Language Studies Development 2007-2010” programme financed by the European Social Fund.

 

The first pilot course – “Development of skills in the language of teaching in subject lessons” – was held from October to December 2009 in Narva. It provided an overview from contemporary points of view of the nature and legal aspects of mastering a second language, as well as of the methodological principles of integrated subject and language teaching.

For further information please contact: Liilika Raudhein, Coordinator, Lifelong Learning Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9030 / E-mail: liilika.raudhein@meis.ee

 

 

 

The Winter Garden of the Estonia Theatre will host the launch of the latest book in the "Nationalities in Estonia" series on 4 February. The sixth in the series showcases the Armenians living in the country.

 

The book introduces its readers to Armenia itself, the Armenian language, its national costume, its beliefs and customs, and its achievements in the fields of culture, science and sport. It also features recipes from Armenian national cuisine. The authors of the book are Armenui Kazarjan and Ita Serman.

 

"Wisdom, decorousness and equanimity in every situation – these ancient characteristics are true of every Armenian," the authors explain in their preface. "So is an ingrained respect for knowledge and books. All of this must seem very familiar to Estonians – and should encourage us to find out much more about each other!"

 

The book is published and printed by AS Kirjastus ILO. As has become traditional, it will be distributed to schools and libraries free of charge.

 

The series of books, the first of which was published in 2005, is financed by the Ministry of Education and Research. The books released as part of the series Sarja are written according to the specially produced guidelines of Ita Serman so as to ensure that all of the books in the series are similar in style and length.

 

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

 

 

From 11:00 am to 5:00 pm on 11 February, the Olümpia Hotel will host aseminar and information day for project managers working on the "Events and materials related to civic awareness and tolerance" competition and for the organisers of the Citizens Day quiz.The event is being financed by the Ministry of Education and Research.

 

The subjects and presents at the information day will be as follows:

1)                          Tanel Mätlik, director of the Integration and Migration Foundation, with his presentation titled 'The Integration and Migration Foundation today and tomorrow'

2)                          The presentation 'How can ideas be turned into projects?'

3)                          The presentation 'How have projects submitted to the "Events and materials related to civic awareness and tolerance" competition contributed to the understanding of civic awareness of tolerance among students?'

4)                          The panel 'What have the 7 Citizens Day quizzes to date taught us and what could/should the 2010 quiz be like?'

5)                          The round-table 'What can be achieved by involving projects in civic education?'

 

The seminar should provide an overview of and the results of studies into these areas by the Integration Foundation over the last 5+ years and determine what the 2010 Citizens Day quiz should be like.

 

For further information please contact: Toivo Sikk, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: +372 50 62 712 / E-mail: toivo.sikk@meis.ee

A free one-day course being held in Tallinn on 26 February will cover such topics as theories of nationality and ethnic conflict and the conceptual basis of the social integration policy of Estonia, plus a comparison with the policies of other countries.

 

The course will also provide an overview of the key results and trends in nationality and integration studies in Estonia. The second half of the day will focus briefly on the nature of modelling games, with the BaFá-BaFá game being exhibited (looking at cultural clashes and cultural shock).

 

Registration for the course in via e-mail to info@koolituskorraldus.ee.

 

For further information please contact: Maarja Mänd, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9853 / E-mail: maarja.mand@meis.ee

 

 

 

A competition for the organisation of family teaching for children who are citizens of third countries within European and children with unspecified citizenship will be launched in the coming weeks, financed by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals and the Ministry of Culture. The competition will support homestays in Estonian families in counties other than that in which the children reside.

 

Another competition, also financed by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals and the Ministry of Culture, will be launched for the organisation of Estonian language camps for children and teenagers living in Estonian whose native language or home language is a language other than Estonian. 50% of the children who attend these camps, which generally last around one week, speak Estonian, and the other 50% speak Russian.

 

Press releases will be issued when both competitions are launched, and information will also be provided on the MISA website. Both competitions will be open for 30 days.

 

As part of extracurricular learning, another competition is planned to be launched, financed by the Ministry of Culture, for the conducting of an additional Estonian language programme at youth camps. This competition will be launched in spring 2010.

 

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

 

 

The Integration and Migration Foundation will be launching a simplified public procurement titled “Language camp for young Estonians living outside of Estonia” at the end of February.

 

The procurement is designed to find partners for the organisation and running of camps designed to support the development of the communication skills in Estonian of young people with Estonian roots who are living outside of the country as well as the promotion of Estonian culture and of the country itself.

 

The foundation has been arranging such camps for almost 10 years. Whereas in the early years the target group for the camps was children and teenagers with Estonian roots living in Latvia, Lithuania and the CIS countries, since 2008 the camps have also involved children from other countries.

 

Visiting Estonia in summer 2009 were children from Sweden, Latvia, Ireland, Belgium, Finland, Switzerland, Germany, the United States, Abkhazia, Russia, Karjala and Ukraine. Children from the Estonian village of Ülem-Suetuk in Siberia also attended the camp.

 

For further information please contact: Kristina Pirgop, Coordinator, Culture and Youth Work Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9024 / E-mail: kristina.pirgop@meis.ee

 

 

 

At the end of February the Integration and Migration Foundation will be launching the "Understanding cultural differences and tolerance in youth work" project competition, as part of which it will be possible to submit applications for the organisation of youth training supporting intercultural understanding and tolerance, the conducting of partnership activities and the issuing of youth work-related informational materials.

 

The aim of the youth work competition is to support the activities of youth work associations which deal with understanding cultural differences and involve young people with different national backgrounds in cooperative activity.

 

The target group of the competition is young people with citizenship of the European Union, primarily Estonian citizens, citizens of third countries within Europe and young people with unspecified citizenship.

 

Applications can be submitted by youth associations and organisations, youth centres and youth advisory centres.

 

The project competition is being financed by the European Fund for the Integration of the Third-Country Citizens and the Ministry of Culture.

 

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

 

 

A competition for development and media grants in the field of integration was launched by the Integration and Migration Foundation in association with the Ministry of Culture at the end of February. Applications can be submitted until 19 March. The terms and conditions of the competition and application forms are available online from the foundation’s website.

 

Development grants will be awarded in three categories: promotion of Estonian language studies; raising awareness of Estonia’s multicultural nature; and cooperation between civic associations. In addition, two media recognition grants will also be issued to journalists or media channels/publications for their reflection of intercultural understanding and tolerance in the media. One grant will be issued for efforts in Estonian-language media and the other in Russian-language media.

 

The development grants are valued at 60,000 kroons and the media recognition grants are valued at 20,000 kroons.

 

For further information please contact: Tea Tammistu, Coordinator, Civic Education and Migration Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9062 / E-mail: tea.tammistu@meis.ee

 

The deadline for the submission of offers for this simplified procurement is 4:00 pm on 15 March.

 

The procurement focuses on developing the currently inadequate skills of police officers and medical workers from Ida-Viru County in the national language. To achieve this, short courses in Estonian will be organised as well as 3 to 4-week workplace exchanges in Estonian-speaking areas.

 

The exchanges are being organised as part of the “Language Studies Development 2007-2010” programme financed by the Ministry of Education and Research and from the European Social Fund.

 

A total of 111 officials, teachers, librarians and medical workers will have completed exchanges in Estonian-speaking working environments by the end of February 2010.

 

For further information please contact: Tea Kotkas, Coordinator, Lifelong Learning Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9069 / E-mail: tea.kotkas@meis.ee

 

 

 

The Integration and Migration Foundation has launched the “Let’s do it together” project competition, applications for which can be submitted until 30 March. The information day for the competition will be held from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm on 5 March at the Foundation’s offices at Liimi 1, Tallinn (3^rd floor). Please register for the event by e-mailing kersti.peterson@meis.ee by 4 March.

 

The competition is designed to boost civic activity and understanding between citizens of the European Union and third-country nationals residing in the European Union (including Estonian residents with undetermined citizenship).

 

The competition will support cooperative activities, campaigns, debates and other civic organisation events designed for third-country nationals residing in Estonia and citizens of the European Union. Applications for support can be submitted by non-profit organisation and foundations operating in the public interest.

 

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: Kersti Peterson, Coordinator, Civic Education and Migration Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9034 / E-mail: kersti.peterson@meis.ee

 

 

 

In March the Integration and Migration Foundation will be launching a simplified public procurement for the “Language camp for young Estonians living outside of Estonia” project.

 

The procurement is designed to find partners in order to hold camps which will support the development of Estonian as an everyday language for young people with Estonian roots living in other countries and to help them get to know Estonian culture and Estonia itself better.

 

The foundation has been organising such camps for almost 10 years. While the target group in early years was children and young adults with Estonian roots living in the CSI states, Latvia and Lithuania, since 2008 the target group has also included young people living in other countries.

 

Last summer children from Sweden, Latvia, Ireland, Belgium, Finland, Switzerland, Germany, the United States, Ukraine and various parts of Russia visited Estonian. There were even children from the Estonian village of Upper-Suetek in Siberia.

 

For further information please contact: Kristina Pirgop, Coordinator, Culture and Youth Work Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9024 / E-mail: kristina.pirgop@meis.ee

 

 

 

This youth conference, to be held at Palmse manor on 12 March, will be attended by young people from Loksa, Maardu and Kuusalu, half of whom speak Estonian as their home language and the other half of whom speak Russian. With the aim of learning Estonian, they will take part in workshops dealing with the art of communication and the development of communication skills at the ‘me’ level. Social involvement will be examined at the ‘us’ level.

 

The conference is being financed by the Ministry of Education and Research and the European Social Fund.

 

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

 

 

 

On 16 and 17 March the Integration and Migration Foundation, in association with the British Council and the Tapa Union for Child Welfare, will be hosting the ‘City of the Future’ game for officials and young people in Lehtse in Tapa municipality. Half of the participants who will take part in the event speak Estonian as their home language and the other half speak Russian. Designed to help the participants improve their Estonian skills, the 10-step game sees them identifying the challenges facing their home town and coming up with exciting solutions to them. Five groups will battle it out to come up with the best ideas to improve life in Tapa municipality.

 

The event is being financed by the Ministry of Education and Research and the European Social Fund.

 

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

 

 

 

 

The Ministry of Culture distributed a total of 4.9 million kroons to 19 national culture society umbrella organisations through the Integration and Migration Foundation in March. Some of the more than 250 different national culture societies in the country will therefore obtain base financing from the state. The highest single amount of support allocated was 624,600 kroons; the lowest was 89,390 kroons.

 

Minister of Culture Laine Jänes has said: “National culture societies have an important role to play in the cultural life of Estonia, since they make both Estonians and the representatives of other cultures who live in the country emotionally richer and culturally more diverse.” The minister meets regularly with representatives of national minority umbrella organisations at meetings of the cultural council of national minorities which operates at the Ministry of Culture, and says that national culture societies are reliable partners to the ministry in the promotion of Estonia’s cultural policy.

 

National culture societies have been receiving base financing from the state since 1991. However, while this support was distributed directly to the societies until 2008, since 2009 the allocation of funding has taken place through umbrella organisations.

 

Umbrella organisations receiving base financing and the national culture societies they represent are partners to the state whose aims are to promote the unique natures of different cultures, to support national culture societies in the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage, and to develop cooperation with Estonian culture societies. It is also important to improve the exchange of information between members of umbrella organisations.

 

In 2010 base financing can only be applied for by umbrella organisations and their member associations who were attested by the Office of the Minister of Population and Ethnic Affairs in 2008 or the Ministry of Culture in 2009. The relevant list is available on the website of the Ministry of Culture at (http://www.kul.ee/webeditor/files/koda/attesteeritud_(2).doc). Umbrella organisations or their members who receive funding directly from the state budget cannot apply for base financing.

 

 

For further information please contact: Kristina Pirgop, Coordinator, Culture and Youth Work Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9024 / E-mail: kristina.pirgop@meis.ee

 

 

 

On 16 April the Integration and Migration Foundation will be presenting the ‘Ethnomosaic’ set in the Winter Garden of the Estonia Theatre. 300 copies of the set have been published in Estonian and Russian.

 

The set includes a DVD of films, the text parts presented in a book and worksheets supporting the short films. The set is to be distributed to basic schools for use as auxiliary material in social studies lessons.

 

‘Ethnomosaic’ is a series of documentaries about the different nationalities living in Estonia. The films introduce their cultural works and the historical traditions and customs they have maintained and developed while living in Estonia. The films also provide an overview of the everyday work and activities of the representatives of the nationalities depicted.

 

The series was completed between 2004 and 2008 with the support of Estonian Television, the Alliance of Nationalities of Estonia and the Integration Foundation and the funding of the Ministry of Education and Research. Registration for the presentation can be completed HERE. The presentation is free of charge. Registration is open until 13 April or until the maximum number of attendees is reached.

 

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

 

 

 

Theme-based supervision training for advisers will be held on 29 and 30 April. The themes will be trainer self-assertion; how to find time to advise people; dealing with people who talk too much/have nothing to say; and coping with resistance from the person you are giving advice to.

 

Development of the concept for advising teachers began as part of the language immersion programme in 2006; the concept for monitoring and advising secondary teachers dates back to the 2007-2008 academic year. By the end of the first quarter of 2010 a total of 78 teachers had completed either at one or two training stages of adviser training based on these concepts.

 

Advice on Estonian-language studies in schools with Russian as the language of instruction has been coordinated by regional centres in Kohtla-Järve, Narva, Tartu and Tallinn since the end of 2008. All of those who have undergone advice training now have experience advising as part of training or as part of the work of regional advisory centres.

 

The constant expansion of advisory services had led to a constant need for supervision. This is of great importance for the professional development of advisers and for the support of restoration of working ability, as well as for studying and learning from the experiences of regional advisory centres. Individual supervision, teamwork supervision and supervision of the network of advisers as an organisation all play important roles. The main aim of supervision is to restore a person’s (in this case adviser’s) working resources and to ensure their professional development overall.

 

For further information please contact: Natalja Mjalitsina, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9854 / E-mail: natalja.mjalitsina@meis.ee

 

 

From 19–23 April the Integration and Migration Foundation is organising a national ISLS week, where students will have the chance to study in another language. ISLS stands for ‘integrated subject and language studies’.

 

During this week we will take a closer look at the nature of ISLS and discuss Estonia’s experiences against an international background. We will also look at the implementation of ISLS in schools and nursery schools. (See also the website focussing on European ISLS experience).

 

A number of events will be taking part in Tallinn and elsewhere in Estonia as part of ISLS week. Registration for these events can be completed online at www.meis.ee/LAK-oppe-nadal2010, where you will also fine the complete programme of events.

 

Studying in another language is a long-standing tradition in the Estonian education system. 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 Humanities High School in the 1970s and continue to this day.

 

Language immersion was launched in Estonia in 1992. Language immersion 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.

 

For further information please contact: Natalja Mjalitsina, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9854 / E-mail: natalja.mjalitsina@meis.ee

 

 

For the full programme see www.meis.ee/LAK-oppe-nadal2010.

 

Registration is open to anyone interested to attend this event at Reval Hotel Central (Narva mnt 7c, Tallinn) where Irene Käosaar and other coordinators will be showcasing the Estonian language immersion programme and Peeter Mehisto will be leading a discussion on the nature of ISLS. There will also be an exhibition on education institutions and ISLS.

 

15–16.04 A training event will be held in Tallinn for language immersion programme trainers, methodologists, advisers and teachers, language immersion programme coordinators and teaching directors titled ‘The context and nature of ISLS’, which will include a discussion led by Peeter Mehisto on such topics as terms related to bilingualism and the results of brain studies.

 

19–20.04 ISLS training for directors of secondary schools with Russian as the language of instruction titled ‘Integrated subject and language studies and why it is needed today’.

22–23.04 Spring school for language immersion programme school directors titled ‘The updated language immersion programme – the national curriculum, research and self-analysis’ led by Peeter Mehisto, Maie Solli and Urve Rannaääre.

 

19–23.04 Exhibition titled‘ISLS in Estonia’.

 

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

 

Natalja Mjalitsina – Telephone: +372 659 9854 / E-mail: natalja@meis.ee

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

 

 

A project competition titled ‘Open-mindedly’ and designed to support the education of new immigrants is to be launched by the Integration and Migration Foundation in association with the Ministry of Culture in April. Applications can be submitted until the end of May.

The general aim of the competition is to support the teaching of new immigrant pupils in Estonian educational institutions.

There are four areas within the competition for which applications are awaited:

Projects are awaited which support the Estonian language studies of new immigrant children in preschool institutions. The target group of the projects should be young people with citizenship of the European Union and third-country nationals within Europe (including young people without citizenship).

Projects are awaited which support the studies in general education schools in Estonia of children with a home language or native language other than Estonian. The aim of the projects should be to produce and publish three sets of teaching and methodology materials: a description of the language skills of basic school pupils; a best practice handbook for the organisation of language studies in general education schools; and a practical collection of language learning games used in teaching work.

Projects are awaited in order to chart, as part of a survey lasting several years, the ability of new immigrant children and pupils who are third country citizens studying in Estonia’s general education schools to cope both academic and socially and the conditions created and required to achieve this, and to analyse the results and present proposals in order to make the organisation of learning more effective.

Projects are awaited which provide in-service training for teachers of new immigrant pupils (including study trips) so as to boost their ability to teach in a multicultural classroom.

For further information please contact: Ave Härsing, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: 659 9037 / E-mail: ave.harsing@meis.ee

 

 

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  

 

 

 

 

Estonia is set to become one of the pilot countries in the European Union’s 7th framework programme project ‘Participatory Immigration Policy Making and Harmonisation based on Collaborative Web2.0 Technologies’ alongside Germany, Italy and Greece. The project will be coordinated by Spain. In Estonia the project will be led by the Integration and Migration Foundation.

 

The three-year pilot project is designed to give European Union (EU) citizens the chance to participate in shaping migration policy and related decision-making processes through Web2.0 solutions. Web2.0 is a second-generation web design that enables exchange of information and cooperation via social networks, wikis, blogs, RSS feeds, shared bookmarks and software, web programme interfaces, online services and more.

 

The project is aimed at improving results in policy-shaping and decision-making and boosting people’s involvement in the determination of migration policy and related matters both at the local and EU levels through broad-ranging cooperation within the union.

As part of the pilot project Estonia will primarily be focussing on the development of participatory policy at the local level, but also on the harmonisation of migration policy at the EU level. To this end, at least 120 citizens and 15 officials and politicians will be drafted into the project in Estonia. Those contributing to and the technical platform employed for the project will be used to shape and harmonise European migration policies. The first joint meeting of the project, at which a more detailed working plan will be put in place, is due to be held in Madrid in June.

 

For further information please contact: Martin Eber, Coordinator, Civic Education and Migration Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9067 / E-mail: martin.eber@meis.ee

 

A public project competition entitled “Adaptation training for new immigrants” has been launched for which applications may be submitted until 4:00 pm on 16 June 2010.

The objective of the competition is to provide third country nationals who have recently arrived in Estonia with special training so that they can acquire the skills and knowledge they need to adapt to life in the country and so as to help them integrate into Estonian society and become active members of it.

 

‘Adaptation training’ will be organised as part of the competition for citizens of third countries who have recently migrated to Estonia. The training will make use of the adaptation programme developed in 2009, which includes language training, civic studies and social and economic integration (www.kohanemisprogramm.com).

 

Applications for the competition can be submitted by private and public legal entities registered in Estonia (local governments, training companies, universities and non-profit organisations).

 

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: Ruslan Prohhorenko, Coordinator, Civic Education and Migration Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9035 / E-mail: ruslan.prohhorenko@meis.ee

 

 

The next language forum for teachers taking part in the individual language learning programme being carried out with the support of mentors is scheduled to take place on 12 June. It will be the third forum of its kind: the first two were held in November 2009 and March 2010.

 

Language forums are the joint events of mentors and mentees and promote Estonian practice and cultural navigation. They discuss issues related to mastering the language, teaching in Estonian and education more broadly, share their experiences and exchange information about their achievements.

 

Teachers from schools with Estonian or Russian as the language of instruction who have been involved in the programme through mentoring and who have taken part in discussions organised by mentors and mentees on topics related to overcoming barriers and positive experiences with language are invited to the forums. The 3^rd forum will also happily welcome teachers involved in implementing the individual language learning programmes for mentees and anyone from the community of mentees who has been involved in activities to develop and implement their language skills in some way.

 

Mentor-supported individual studies of Estonian were launched during the 2009-2010 academic year for 50 teachers from schools with Russian as the language of instruction. Over the 13-month cycle, the aim of the mentors is to support the development of the Estonian skills of those taking part, while the goal of the mentees is to boost their skills in a more in-depth way based on the subjects they teach at school. This format is being used for the first time in teaching Estonian as a second language.

 

The mentor-based language-learning project is being implemented by the Integration and Migration Foundation in association with the Open Estonia Foundation and the British Council. It is being financed through the Language Studies Development 2007-2010 programme of the European Social Fund.

 

 

For further information please contact:Natalia Reppo, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9855 / E-mail: natalia.reppo@meis.ee  

 

 

 

The winner of the “Estonian and Russian in-service training courses for youth workers” procurement has been announced. The offer submitted by the Narva College of the University of Tartu was accepted as the most suitable according to the evaluation criteria set out in the procurement documents.

 

The aim of the procurement is to provide youth workers whose native language is a language other than Estonian with the chance to improve the Estonian skills they need for youth work, and youth workers whose native language is a language other than Russian with the chance to improve the Russian skills they need for youth work.

 

A total of 10 Estonian-speaking and 10 Russian-speaking youth workers will take part in the in-service training courses. Procurement activities will last until 28 February 2011.

 

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

 

 

 

The now tradition summer school for nursery school teachers taking part in the language immersion programme will be held at Nelijärve from 10–12 June. This year’s event is going by the title “Quality or quantity?”.

 

60 teachers will be meeting at the event to share their experiences, take part in workshops and training events and experience the role of mentee. The trainers at this year’s summer school will be Urve Rannaääre, Eve Noormets, Kadri Toomeste, Agnes Liiv, Tiina Kull and Piret Päär. Representing Piccolingo at the event will be Maria Saarela, the Estonian coordinator of the campaign, who resides in Barcelona.

 

For further information please contact: Svetlana Belova, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9848 / E-mail: svetlana.belova@meis.ee 

 

 

 

The initial activities of the projects which received funding as part of the “Understanding and tolerance of cultural differences in youth work” competition will begin on 1 June.

 

The applicants, who were from Harju, Tartu and the Viru Counties, submitted projects for the organisation of training activities, the conducting of joint activities involving young people and the publication of the informational materials of organisations.

The planned activities include a youth forum, concert discussions, the launch of a Russian-language youth radio station, events showcasing youth street culture and a range of smaller events forming series.

 

Around 20 to 30 young people will be involved in each training-related project, with a total of between 80 and 160 taking part in joint activities. 20% will be young people with citizenship of third countries as defined by the European Union. The projects will begin on 1 June 2010 and last until 31 August 2011.

 

Those receiving funding are listed on the Integration and Migration Foundation website at www.meis.ee/tulemused .

 

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

 

 

 

An information day will be held in Pärnu on 2 June for nursery school directors and deputy directors from Lääne County. The day will look at the subject of teaching work. The information day is designed to provide attendees with information on integration-related activities, in particular support for teaching Estonian as a second language in preschool educational institutions.

 

As such, all nursery schools in Lääne County with pupils who speak languages other than Estonian are being invited to attend the event.  

 

Other subjects covered on the day will be the updated basic education programme and its implementation; counselling as an excellent way of obtaining support and assistance from specialists; and the options open to the foundation in supporting teaching Estonian as a second language. A range of methodology-related materials and interactive resources will also be promoted.

 

To register for the information day please e-mail marje.sarapuu@meis.ee.

 

For further information please contact: Marje Sarapuu, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9852 / E-mail: marje.sarapuu@meis.ee

 

 

 

2008 saw AS Kuma complete a series of methodology resource folders ordered by the Integration and Migration Foundation. The folders were distributed in order to support teachers at schools with Russian as the main language of instruction in more effectively teaching certain subjects in Estonian.

 

The folders were distributed to all schools with Russian as the language of instruction in 2008 and received feedback that they more or less met the schools’ needs for such materials. As such, anyone who is interested now has the opportunity to obtain the folders for themselves free of charge. For example, the social studies teaching materials can easily be used in adult studies of Estonian.

 

To obtain the materials, please contact Integration and Migration Foundation assistant Maie Jürgens by calling +372 659 9845 or e-mailing maie.jyrgens@meis.ee.

The materials are also available on the AS Kuma website (www.ristsona.ee/meis/) in a format which enablesthe information to be copied and, if required, updated, comined and so on. The music materials can also be found in the LeMill interactive learning environment at www.emill.net (http://lemill.net/content/tags?tag=muusikaajalugu).

 

 

The authors of the music folder materials are Tartu Secondary School of Commerce teacher Sille Tiks and Tartu Annelinna Secondary School teacher Julia Trubatšova. The folder contains resources on the following topics:

 

 

The folder contains 17 sample lesson plans, including some for double lessons, and 66 worksheets, amongst which you will find songs and creative tasks.

 

Three Estonian textbooks currently in use formed the basis for the development of the resources: Toomas Siitan’s Õhtumaade muusikalugu I, Igor Garšnek’s Õhtumaade muusikalugu III. 20 sajand and Aime Kaarlep’s Eesti Muusikalugu. Kunstmuusika. The tasks included on the worksheets also make use of other sources, including articles published online and in the media. The materials were improved and updated by Tallinn University music teaching Doctoral candidate Maia Muldma.

The authors of the geography folder materials are Tartu Annelinna Secondary School teacher Jelena Bitova, Tartu Kivilinna Secondary School teacher Katrin Ennok and Hugo Treffner Secondary School teacher Ülle Seevri. The Estonian textbook currently in use formed the basis for the development of the resources: Maailma ühiskonnageograafia gümnaasiumile by M. Ainsaar et al. The folder includes 25 lesson plans with worksheets. The lesson plans and worksheets cover the first four subjects of the textbook:

 

 

The lessons plans and worksheets are based largely on the textbook, but also include other material and references to a variety of sources. Of great support to the authors in producing the folder was Ülle Liiber, a lecturer in geography teaching from the Science Education Centre of the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of Tartu.

The authors of the social studies folder materials are Tartu Mart Reinik Secondary School teacher Sirje Allik and Tartu Annelinna Secondary School teacher Veronika Kim. The Estonian textbook currently in use formed the basis for the development of the resources: Ühiskonnaõpetus. Gümnaasiumiõpik by K. Olenko & A. Toots. The folder includes 15 lesson plans with worksheets.

 

The subjects covered are:

 

These lessons plans guide students towards independent work with their textbook, but also include additional materials and references to different links. The content of the folder was reviewed and approved by Hugo Treffner Secondary School teacher Aare Ristikivi.

 

All of the lessons plans in all of the folders include parts focussing on setting up the topics, the students actually studying them and finally ensuring that they have grasped what they have studied. At the end of each plan there is a glossary of terms with translations in Russian. The worksheets designed for students often use grouping and gap-fill exercises so as to avoid grammar mistakes and their repetition. There are also, of course, other types of exercises. Although the lesson plans and worksheets are connected, they can also be used separately or in part – whatever best suits the teacher. The lesson plans and worksheets contained in the folder were trialled at Tartu Annelinna Secondary School.

 

 

For further information about the folders please contact: Maie Jürgens, Assistant / Telephone: 659 9845 / E-mail: maie.jyrgens@meis.ee

 

Company sought to provide training on integrated studies methodology

 

 

The foundation is launching a simplified public procurement entitled “In-service training on integrated subject and language studies (ISLS) methodology: learning strategies” in order to find a company to organise a training course.The deadline for submission of applications is 11:00 am on 8 July 2010.

 

The procurement is designed to provide at least 55 upper secondary school teachers from educational institutions with Russian as the language of instruction with 78 hours of in-service training. The course is designed to support the participants in obtaining the knowledge of integrated subject and language studies methodology and the language skills they need for their professional work.

 

The course will examine the principles of the ISLS methodology, ways it can be implemented, learning strategies and methods, setting goals, ways of supporting and developing language studies in subject lessons and other issues related to the field.

 

Applications should be submitted in Estonian and meet the requirements set out in the procurement documents, which can be obtained from the offices of the Integration and Migration Foundation at Liimi 1, 10621 Tallinn. The procurement documents can be issued in person, by post or via e-mail (contact maarja.mand@meis.ee).

 

For further information please contact: Maarja Mänd, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9853 / E-mail: maarja.mand@meis.ee

 

 

 

The latest public report on the language immersion programme is currently being compiled. The report will again present the historical background to the programme before setting out its latest achievements, new goals and recently joined partners.

 

The report will also introduce the language immersion programme strategy for 2009–2014 and provide an overview of activities and achievements involving teachers: the advisory system for language immersion teachers, the development of e-learning resources and more.

 

Although the report is still being compiled, there is little doubt that the language immersion programme team and its partners can look back on recent academic years with satisfaction.

 

Previous language immersion reports are available on the foundation’s website at www.meis.ee/kymblus_aastaraamatud.

 

For further information please contact: Karin Piirsalu, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9854 / E-mail: karin.piirsalu@meis.ee

 

 

 

The first projects which received funding as part of the “Let’s Do It Together” competition were launched in June. A total of 3.3 million kroons was allocated to the 21 projects. The activities being supported as part of the project are to be launched within the next 15 months.

 

The competition is designed to boost civic activity and understanding between citizens of the European Union – including Estonian citizens and third-country nationals and those with undetermined citizenship residing in Estonia – through cooperation among civic associations. Communication between people with different legal statuses is also being promoted as part of the project through joint activities, and the membership numbers of civic associations is being boosted.

 

The competition is being financed by the the European Fund of the Integration of Third-Country Nationals on the basis of the implementation plan of the Estonian Integration Programme 2008–2013.

 

For further information please contact: Kersti Peterson, Coordinator, Civic Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9034 / E-mail: kersti.peterson@meis.ee

 

 

 

The companies which are to receive support for “Promoting ways in which to obtain citizenship”, Part 3 of the “One Media” project competition, were announced at the end of June. They are BDA Consulting OÜ and OÜ Kersti Võlu Koolituskeskus.

 

The aim of the activities being financed is to inform the parents of those below the age of 15 with undetermined citizenship of the simplified ways in which they can apply for Estonian citizenship for their children and of the conditions for obtaining citizenship.

 

Family seminars, radio and television advertising, radio programmes and more will be launched in Ida-Viru and Harju Counties this August. Those residing in Ida-Viru County will be informed of the options as part of the competition until next May, while those in Harju County will continue to be informed until the end of this year.

 

The projects are being financed by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals and from the budgetary resources of the Ministry of Culture.

 

For further information please contact: Tea Tammistu, Coordinator, Civic Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9062 / E-mail: tea.tammistu@meis.ee

 

 

 

The Integration and Migration Foundation is supporting the extracurricular Estonian language studies of young Russian speakers residing in the country at language camps and staying with Estonian families though two project competitions.

 

As part of the programme of integration of third-country nationals in Europe, 104 youngsters up to the age of 18 who permanently reside in Estonia and who are classified as being third-country nationals or of undetermined citizenship according to European Union terms are being given the chance to take part in home stays with Estonian-speaking families. The non-profit organisation Veeda Vaheaeg Võrumaal is organising 14-day home stays with families primarily in Võru County. UNICEF Eesti Fond SA also organises home stays for young people with families all over the country.

 

Project camps will give 547 young people – half of whom will be acting as mentors – the chance to take part in activities lasting at least 6 days in which the focus of attention will be on learning Estonian through non-formal studies and games. 16 camps will be held in nine counties.

 

Both the language camps and home stays are designed to develop not only the language skills of the young third-country nationals and young people with undetermined citizenship, but also the skills, knowledge, values and attitudes they need to use Estonian and cope in the Estonian-language environment.

 

Nine organisations are conducting Estonian language study programmes for young Russian speakers as part of existing camps, financed by the Ministry of Culture. 524 young people, slightly fewer than half of whom will act as mentors, are attending summer camp language programmes at 11 camps. Amongst others, the Russian-speaking youngsters attending the 11–16 July, 26 July–3 August and 16–21 August camps at Remniku will get the chance to take part in the Estonian language programmes in addition to the normal camp programme.

 

The names of the organisations to which funding has been allocated can be found on the Integration and Migration Foundation website (www.meis.ee/tulemused) by clicking first on “Estonian language studies at youth summer camps” and then on “Estonian language studies at project camps and home stays 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.ee

An in-service training course for teachers of Estonian as a second language will commence on 14 September as part of the “Language Studies Development 2007–2010” programme. The course is designed for teachers of Estonian as a second language from general education and vocational education schools. 160 teachers have already completed the course. The group of teachers beginning the course in September will be the fifth to undergo training within the framework of the programme.

 

The course consists of four training modules. The first module takes place from 14–16 September just outside of Tartu. The following three modules will be held from October to December this year.

 

The aim of the course is to introduce the changes arising from the European language learning framework document to the teachers. Attending the course will give teachers of Estonian as a second language the chance to enrich their teaching strategies with active teaching methods and to find out more about best practice in the teaching of Estonian as a second language and in integrated language and subject teaching. A key topic is the creation of the language environment in classes. Also under discussion will be options for integrating Estonian and other subject studies during lessons; and the role of teachers of Estonian and the support the provide to other teachers in the planning and implementation of Estonian-language subject studies and in motivating students. The teachers will be trained by recognised language experts and teachers, including Maie Soll, Leelo Kingisepp, Piret Kärtner, Hiie Asser, Mare Kitsnik and Tõnu Tender.

 

The courses and materials used are free of charge for participants. Attendees are also provided with free accommodation, catering and transport to and from the training centre. The in-service training is being organised by the Our People Integration and Migration Foundation (MISA) and financed by the Ministry of Education and Research and the European Social Fund.

 

Thos interested in attending the course should contact Multicultural Education Unit coordinator Maarja Mänd by e-mailing maarja.mand@meis.ee. Registration is open until 6 September 2010 or until the maximum number of attendees is reached.

 

For further information please contact: Maarja Mänd, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9853 / E-mail: maarja.mand@meis.ee

 

A training course for teachers from upper secondary schools with Russian as the language of instruction entitled “In-service training on ILSL methodology: Learning strategies” is due to begin in September.

 

The volume of the course is 78 hours (3 CPs). The course is designed to provide the participants with the knowledge of integrated subject and language studies methodology and Estonian language skills they need for their professional work.

 

The following topics will be covered as part of the course:

and others.

 

There will also be a focus on updating the participants’ skills in Estonian, developing their competence in vocabulary, their writing skills and their skills in self-expression.

 

Those wishing to register for the course can do so by e-mailing e-mail address tartu@ami.ee.

 

For further information please contact: Maarja Mänd, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9853 / E-mail: maarja.mand@meis.ee

 

More than thirty police officers, rescue workers, librarians, medical staff and education workers from Ida-Viru County spent three weeks in Pärnu in June and July working with colleagues their to polish their skills in Estonian. A further two groups – this time of public servants from the county – will be following their example in autumn.

 

The workplace exchange programme led by the Integration and Migration Foundation (MISA) fulfils a number of objectives: it empowers people to practise and communicate in Estonian in their professional environment and share their experience with their colleagues, thus encouraging the promotion, understanding and acceptance of different cultures, customs and backgrounds.

 

MISA’s partner in organising the workplace exchanges in 2010 is Sola Integra OÜ. As part of the programme, the participants have been sent on 21-day exchanges to work with colleagues in Pärnu and have also been given the opportunity to attend 60 hours of Estonian language classes, both before and during the exchanges. The participants then later themselves host colleagues from Estonian living and working environments.

 

MISA has been organising workplace exchanges as part of the “Language Studies Development 2007-2010” programme with the support of the European Social Fund since 2008. By the end of 2010 a total of around 170 people will have developed their language skills as part of the programme.

 

For further information please contact: Tea Kotkas, Coordinator, Lifelong Learning Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9061 / E-mail: tea.kotkas@meis.ee

 

The company which is to receive support for “Raising awareness of the Equal Treatment Act”, Part 3 of the “One Media” project competition, was announced at the end of June: OÜ Alfa-Omega Communications.

 

The aim of the activities to which support is allocated is to raise awareness among members and workers of civic associations and among directors and personnel specialists in companies of human rights and the Equal Treatment Act.

 

As part of the project, the associations and companies will be sent circulating letters, informative materials will be produced and a multicultural organisation competition and themed conference will be organised. The project will run until June 2011.

 

The project is being financed by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals and from the budgetary resources of the Ministry of Culture.

 

For further information please contact: Kati Tamm, Coordinator, Civic Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9027 / E-mail: kati.tamm@meis.ee

 

 

 

The companies which are to receive support for “Promoting civic activity and integration in the media”, Part 1 of the “One Media” project competition, were announced in July. These companies will produce television and radio programmes and update news portals. A total of 3.8 millions kroons was allocated in support of these activities.

 

Three projects were supported in the television category: all of the programmes will be broadcast on ETV2, with one series of programmes also broadcast on ETV1. A 16-part series to be shown in autumn 2011 is to be produced as part of Osakond OÜ’s “Tralli-Valli” project. In the series, 10 Estonian residents from different backgrounds will showcase a part of Estonia the way they see it. The Estonian National Broadcasting project “Kolmnurk” /Triangle/ will comprise 36 weekly discussion programmes to be broadcast between September 2010 and May 2011. The non-profit organisation Filmiklubi MP DOC will be producing a 16-episode series as part of the “Köök – rahvaste paabel” /The kitchen – the Babylon of nations/ project in which series host and editor Priit Kuusk will work in various Tallinn restaurants promoting the temperament, philosophy of preparation and team behind a wide range of national cuisines. This series will be broadcast in autumn 2011 on both ETV1 and ETV2.

 

In the radio category, the Estonian National Broadcasting project “Ühiskondlik leping” /Social Pact/ received support. 12 discussion programmes will be broadcast on Raadio 4 from October 2010 to April 2011.

 

The news portals supported were the Estonian National Broadcasting project “Launch of the kodanik.err.ee portal” and the non-profit organisation PX Band project “PLUG in KesKus!”. The latter will see the Estonian-language cultural newspaper KesKus community and Russian-language cultural magazine PLUG community brought together on Facebook, with articles translated into both languages and pop-up campaigns being organised.

 

The projects are being financed by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals and from the budgetary resources of the Ministry of Culture.

 

For further information please contact: Kati Tamm, Coordinator, Civic Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9027 / E-mail: kati.tamm@meis.ee

The next summer school being organised by the Parents Association of the Language Immersion Programme is to be held from 6–8 August 2010. Before the start of the next academic year the parents will be discussing how to communicate with their children even more effectively, working together to debate the role and tasks of parents in the language immersion programme and drafting the association’s working plan for the forthcoming period.

 

The basis for the drafting of the working plan is the programme’s strategic plan for 2009–2013 and the internal evaluation criteria of institutions that have joined the programme. There will also be time for the parents to become better acquainted with Saaremaa and enjoy time with their children.

 

For further information please contact: Svetlana Belova, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9848 / E-mail: svetlana.belova@meis.ee

A reading conference entitled “Linguistic skills area in learning” is to be held in Finland on 11 & 12 August 2010. At the conference, Estonian nursery school workers and representatives of the Integration and Migration Foundation, which is responsible for the language immersion programme in the country, will be showcasing the experiences of the nation’s nursery schools in implementing the programme.

 

Giving presentations at the conference will be programme trainers and nursery school workers Hedi Minlibajeva and Nonna Meltsas and MISA coordinator Svetlana Belova.

 

For further information please contact: Svetlana Belova, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9848 / E-mail: svetlana.belova@meis.ee

 

 

On 12 & 13 August 2010, advisers from Lääne-Viru County who are supporting teachers in the transition to Estonian-language teaching and its implementation in nursery schools and schools will be coming together with colleagues at the Pariisi Holiday Village. The summer school will focus on topics related to the new curriculum (with presentations by Irene Käosaar and Maie Soll from the Ministry of Education and Research) and the advisory experiences of Finnish colleagues (with a presentation by Tiiu-Kai Kotka from the Espoo School Board).

 

The activities of the advisory centres in the Kohtla-Järve, Narva, Tallinn and Tartu regions in the coming academic year will also be discussed.

 

For further information please contact: Karin Piirsalu, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9854 / E-mail: karin.piirsalu@meis.ee

 

 

 

Around 50 language immersion teachers will be attending the first session of the “Seven days of cooperative immersion” training course at Nelijärve from 16–18 August. Alongside the principles of the programme, the course will also examine teamwork, the stages of group work, newspapers as teaching materials, tableaux as a form of drama, outdoor learning and work in activity centres, preparation of teaching materials and study maps. Existing language immersion materials will also be showcased.

 

With the support of methods of work based on learning from experience, the participants should obtain the ideas, skills and knowledge they need in order to cope with Estonian-language teaching in different subjects and at different levels of school.

 

The trainers will be Maire Kebbinau, Anne Kloren, Liina Norit, Anu Parts and Anna Sele. The following session will take place in two separate groups in Narva and Tallinn in November.

 

For further information please contact: Maire Kebbinau, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: 659 9847 / E-mail: maire.kebbinau@meis.ee

 

 

 

School directors, directors of studies, language immersion coordinators and teachers just starting out in the programme or who have not previously attended language immersion training will be taking part in the first part of the two-session “Language immersion ABC” course on 24 & 25 August 2010.

 

The second session of the course will be held in late October.

 

For further information please contact: Maire Kebbinau, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: 659 9847 / E-mail: maire.kebbinau@meis.ee

 

 

 

Language immersion teachers from nursery schools will be attending the 2^nd session of the basic training course for the programme in Toila from 22–24 August. The topics studied will be connected to children’s development and the assessment of this and the implementation of language immersion working methods at the start of the academic year. A number of individual subjects will also be examined in greater depth.

 

The trainers on the course will be Ene Kurme, Angelika Lall, Nonna Meltsas and Hedi Minlibajeva.

 

For further information please contact: Svetlana Belova, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9848 / E-mail: svetlana.belova@meis.ee

 

 

 

Educational institutions have until 1 January 2011 to submit their initial internal assessment report to the Ministry of Education and Research. The report is required to gain a better understanding of the conditions, institutional management decisions and future activities that are important to children’s development.

 

Nursery schools and schools that have joined the programme have already arrived at their ‘language immersion panorama’ in previous reports, mostly as random tangents – hence the need to provide them with comprehensive and systematic support material.

 

In its development strategy, the language immersion programme emphasises quality as a key word, to which internal assessment recommendations help to give meaning. The recommendations and experiences shared at the internal assessment workshops at last year’s language immersion conference (entitled “Advice and assessment – the roads signs for the quality of the language immersion programme”) have formed an effective basis for the development of assessment criteria in the implementation of the language immersion programme.

 

The working group led by Kehra Upper Secondary School director Urve Rannaääre has worded the recommendations, based on the general framework of internal assessment, for the description of key areas and fields in the language immersion panorama.

 

The working group was very productive in generating ideas, as the immersion internal assessment advisers (Mare Lihtsa and Nonna Meltsas) and internal assessment experts (Marika Pettai and Kadri Peterson) highlighted issues based on experience to date and kept the group on track. Their aim was to produce a sample description of the criteria which a) would not make an educational institution’s evaluation system significantly more involved or time-consuming; b) would be clearly worded; c) would fit in with the existing internal assessment procedure; and d) would include the key factors in the implementation of language immersion.

 

In discussions with target groups (teachers and directors from nursery schools and schools) we came to the realisation that in introducing the language immersion panorama we will gain a better view of the programme as a part of a whole, understand the role it plays in the overall development of an institution and grasp the true meaning of the principle of cooperation and reciprocal enrichment.

 

From the descriptions of the assessment criteria of the five key areas – leadership and management; personnel management; working with interest groups; resource management; and the teaching and shaping process – we can move on in the development of the programme’s quality system to the drafting of a recognition procedure.

 

Following the discussions at the August summer school of the Parents Association of the Language Immersion Programme, final recommendations will be issued to the educational institutions and local governments who join the programme at the start of the new academic year for approval.

 

During the workshops at the 2010 language immersion conference we will be presenting recommendations taking into account the feedback we have already received and discussing how following these recommendations is affected by the differences arising from the length of language immersion experience of institutions, local government priorities and needs, opportunities and so on. This will form one of the bases for our future activities – drawing up auxiliary materials which will make it easier for institutions which have joined the programme in carrying out internal assessment. Both the internal assessment process and the development of the language immersion panorama as part of it are ongoing processes.

 

For further information please contact: Karin Piirsalu, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9854 / E-mail: karin.piirsalu@meis.ee

 

The ‘Adaptation training for new immigrants’ project was launched by the Narva College of the University of Tartu in August, commissioned by the Our People Integration and Migration Foundation. The project will provide training for 12 citizens of third countries residing in Narva.

 

The course comprises basic training – covering Estonian history and society and life in the country – and Estonian language training to the A2 level. The adaptation programme developed in 2009 for the integration of third country nationals in Estonia is being used on the course (http://kohanemisprogramm.tlu.ee/). 

 

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 total amount of support being allocated to the project is 190,652 kroons.

 

For further information please contact: Ruslan Prohhorenko, Coordinator, Civic Education and Migration Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9035 / E-mail: ruslan.prohhorenko@meis.ee

 

 

 

On 23 & 24 August the Integration and Migration Foundation and the Ministry of Education and Research organised a study trip to Lääne-Viru County for teachers and directors from national culture association Sunday schools.

 

Such trips have been held every year since 2004. They are designed to showcase the natural and cultural values of different regions of Estonia for representatives of Sunday schools so that the teachers can use what they see and hear to make their lessons even more interesting and useful for their students. The teachers also have the chance on these trips to share their experiences with one another and thus promote cooperation.

 

As part of the trip the group visited the Viru-Nigula local history museum, Rakvere castle, Rakvere’s museum of home life in centuries past, Metsaantsu farm and Toolse fortress. The training session held as part of the trip saw discussion of future plans and development potential for Sunday schools. Irene Käosaar, the director of the General Education Department of the Ministry of Education and Research, also presented the terms and conditions for the round of applications for base financing of national culture association Sunday schools.

 

The study trip was financed by the Ministry of Education and Research.

 

For further information please contact: Kristina Pirgop, Coordinator, Culture and Youth Work Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9024 / E-mail: kristina.pirgop@meis.ee

 

 

An in-service training course for teachers of Estonian as a second language will commence on 14 September as part of the ‘Language Studies Development 2007–2010’ programme of the European Social Fund. The course is designed for teachers of Estonian as a second language from general education and vocational education schools. Five training sessions are being held as part of the course. The first four sessions have already been completed and were attended by 160 teachers. The fifth and final group will begin their studies in September. 

 

The course consists of four training modules. The first module takes place from 14–16 September just outside of Tartu. The following three modules will be held from October to December this year.

 

The following topics will be covered as part of the course:

·        the European language learning framework document and the changes it has brought about in teaching, learning and assessment;

·        determining language skill levels;

·        setting study goals and planning lessons;

·        teaching materials: selection, creation and adaptation;

·        active learning and communicative language learning methods and activities;

·        opportunities for integrated language and subject studies;

·        the supporting role Estonian language teachers play for subject teachers in the implementation of subject studies;

·        ways of activating and motivating students; and

·        teaching grammar.

 

The teachers will be trained by renowned language experts and teachers including Leelo Kingisepp, Piret Kärtner, Hiie Asser, Mare Kitsnik and Tõnu Tender.

 

The courses and materials used are free of charge for participants. Attendees are also provided with free accommodation and catering. The course is being organised by the Integration and Migration Foundation and financed by the Ministry of Education and Research and the European Social Fund.

 

Places are still available on the course. Those interested in attending should contact Multicultural Education Unit coordinator Maarja Mänd by e-mailing maarja.mand@meis.ee or calling +372 659 9853.

 

For further information please contact: Maarja Mänd, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9853 / E-mail: maarja.mand@meis.ee

 

A training course for teachers from upper secondary schools with Russian as the language of instruction entitled “In-service training on ILSL methodology: Learning strategies” is due to begin in September. The volume of the course is 78 hours (3 CPs). The course is designed to provide the participants with the knowledge of integrated subject and language studies methodology and Estonian language skills they need for their professional work. The course will focus on subjects related to learning strategies.

 

The following topics will be covered as part of the course:

·         the principles of integrated language and subject learning and ways of implementing them;

·         supporting language learning in subject lessons;

·         learning strategies and teaching methods (learning strategies, learning styles, methods of cooperation between students in learning, writing strategy and repeated text reading strategy); and

·         setting goals (teaching in a way that is designed to achieve goals; setting goals and wording them; how to measure the achievement of goals; and managing the learning process in a way that is designed to achieve goals).

 

There will also be a focus on updating the participants’ skills in Estonian, developing their competence in vocabulary, their writing skills and their skills in self-expression.

 

Those wishing to register for the course can do so by e-mailing tartu@ami.ee.

 

For further information please contact: Maarja Mänd, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9853 / E-mail: maarja.mand@meis.ee

 

Language immersion programme training in autumn 2010 will focus primarily on developments in training study programmes: updating basic programmes, creating new ones and implementing them on courses.

 

Language immersion programme training courses showcase the following:

·    the learning and testing of new methods of working and new methodologies;

·    generating a sense of security in setting goals and selecting activities for individual lessons or longer periods of teaching;

·    getting to know more about teaching materials and options for self-development;

·    the chance to revive what has already been learnt and discuss how it has been implemented;

·    talking to colleagues within the language immersion network; and

·    grasping the importance of feedback and self-analysis in ensuring quality.

 

The study programmes for the language immersion programme in autumn 2010 were launched in August and will continue through to December. An overview of the programmes can be found below. The courses listed are already full.

 

 

Target group: School directors, directors of studies, language immersion coordinators and teachers just starting out in the programme or who have not previously attended language immersion training

Volume: 28 contact hours + 1 home assignment

Dates: 24 & 25 August / 26 & 27 October

Place: Tallinn

 

 

 

Basic training on the methodology of the language immersion programme, in two groups: one in Tallinn and the other in Narva.

Target group: Teachers working in language immersion classes who wish to experience cooperation at different levels of schooling and with teachers of different subjects

Volume: 49 contact hours

Dates: 16–18 August / 5–6 November / 2–3 December

Place:  1^st session – 2 groups together at Nelijärve

2^nd and 3^rd sessions – 1 group in Tallinn and 1 group in Narva (in Estonia, with support available in Russian)

 

 

 

Target group: Subject teachers working in language immersion classes who are seeking support as developers of learning and language skills

Volume: 28 contact hours + 1 home assignment

Dates: 8 & 9 October / 12 & 13 November

Place: Tallinn

 

 

 

Target group: Teachers working in language immersion classes who are looking to diversify their teaching methods

Volume: 21 contact hours + 1 home assignment

Dates: 8 & 9 October / 12 & 13 November

Place: Tallinn

 

 

 

For further information please contact: Maire Kebbinau, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9847 / E-mail: maire.kebbinau@meis.ee

 

 

 

The children and families who took part in the family studies programme this summer have been invited to a special event to be held in Rakvere on Sunday 26 September at which Minister of Culture Laine Jänes will present them with letters of thanks for their participation. Every child who took part will also be presented with a book by UNICEF, marking International Year of the Book, and the children and families together will attend workshops to better understand elements of family studies.

 

The non-profit organisation Veeda Vaheaeg Võrumaal (‘Spend your holidays in Võru County’) and UNICEF’s Estonian foundation organised for children who, in European Union terms, are third country nationals or citizens with undetermined citizenship to study Estonian whilst staying with Estonian-speaking families over the summer. The children got involved in the everyday activities of the families and in the social life of their new neighbourhoods for two weeks.

 

The family studies were organised as part of a competition launched by the Integration and Migration Foundation and financed by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals and the Ministry of Culture from state resources.

 

The special event in Rakvere is being arranged by UNICEF Eesti AS, the Ministry of Culture and the Integration and Migration Foundation.

 

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

 

The www.kutsekeel.ee website is an e-learning environment that is designed to act as a shortcut to professional language teaching and learning materials. In addition to collecting such materials and making them available to the public, the website has also begun publishing articles related to professional language. The authors of the latest articles are University of Tartu doctoral candidate Helena Metslang and freelance author and trainer Mare Kitsnik.

 

In her article “The methodology of teaching professional language – is it the same as the methodology for general language teaching?” ("Erialakeele õpetamise metoodika - kas sama kui üldkeele oma?"), Metslang examines international experience in the teaching of professional language, with an emphasis on vocational school courses. She says that teachers of professional language need to adapt themselves more specifically to the needs of their students than teachers of general language, which tends to involve much more in-depth preparation of courses. The methodology of teaching professional language is largely similar to that of teaching general language. However, in order to mould students into more capable communicators in their fields, the choice of teaching and learning materials is of primary importance – the vocabulary, communication functions and situations they present must match those the students themselves will encounter. Metslang highlights a variety of needs of teachers: the need for training in the professional field they are dealing with; the need for computer resources; and the need for methodology training.)

 

Mare Kitsnik’s article "Experiences producing teaching materials for professional Estonian as a second language" ("Erialase eesti keele kui teise keele õppematerjalide koostamise kogemustest") addresses a broader readership. Parts of it are directed more towards teachers, for whom the logic of the structure of teaching materials and the phases in the teaching of skills, vocabulary and grammar in the professional language studies system are explained using a wide variety of examples, and to whom recommendations are given for the use of different parts of different textbooks in lessons. Authors (of future textbooks) are given an overview of the process of creating a language textbook as well as recommendations and tips in terms of producing better textbooks and avoiding less effective solutions. Publishers and clients too will gain something from the article, because Kitsnik explains how to recognise a good textbook and the factors involved in creating a textbook for professional language.)

 

The articles are available online (in Estonian) at www.kutsekeel.ee/artiklid.

 

 

The Estonian Integration Programme 2008–2013 is being put into practice via implementation plans, which set out the measures, activities and budget of and parties responsible for achieving the programme’s goals. The current implementation plan comes to an end in 2010, which is why a new plan is being developed for the period 2011–2013.

 

Implementation of the integration programme is being coordinated by the Ministry of Culture, while the development of the implementation plan for 2011–2013 is being led by PRAXIS, an independent centre for policy studies.

 

In developing the implementation plan for the new period, experience to date in putting the integration programme into practice is being analysed, and a number of different parties are contributing to the process so that the implementation plan for the coming years enables the objectives set out in the programme to be achieved in the best possible way.

 

In August, PRAXIS conducted an online survey among project managers who took part in the application rounds for the integration programme. Almost 450 organisations were included in the survey, all of whom had taken part in the application rounds organised by the Integration and Migration Foundation and Ministry of Culture in 2008 and 2009 related to putting the activities of the integration programme for 2008–2013 into practice. The project managers behind projects to which funding was allocated as well as those whose applications were rejected were surveyed. The questionnaire will highlight the experiences these organisations had in implementing the activities of the integration programme, what the effect of these activities on different target groups was considered to be and the kind of activities and target groups that will need to be focussed on more in the near future. The results of the survey will be made public in September.

 

Also in August, PRAXIS launched consultations with ministries connected to the field in order to obtain feedback and an assessment of the way in which the implementation plan was put into practice in 2008 and 2009 and proposals for the future. A series of discussion seminars looking at different areas within the integration programme – educational integration, social integration and so on – is to begin in September. Six seminars in total are to be held, which representatives of the target group for each area, experts in the field and those implementing the activities are invited to attend.

 

An analysis of the implementation of the activities of the integration programme by the consultation and auditing bureau Ernst & Young Baltic AS, and the results of monitoring of the integration programme by the Institute of International and Social Studies of Tallinn University, both commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, are also due in September.

 

For further information please contact:Silver Pramann, Adviser, Cultural Diversity Department, Ministry of Culture / Telephone: +372 628 2266 / E-mail: silver.pramann@kul.ee

 

 

This year, led by the Ministry of Culture, National Minorities Day will be celebrated at the Russian Theatre in Tallinn at 17:00 on 22 September; at the Vanemuine Concert Hall in Tartu at 17:00 on 24 September; and at Jõhvi Concert Hall in Jõhvi at 11:30 on 26 September.

 

For further details see: www.etnoweb.ee, www.kul.ee and www.johvi.ee starting from 10 September

 

 

On 7 September 2010 the Ministry of Culture introduced the new information portal www.etnoweb.ee to the advisory committee on national minority culture in the Estonian parliament.

 

Project Etnoweb was created for improving communications between various culture organizations and minority communities, and everyone who could be interested in this information - Mass media, the goverment, fonds or people interested in national cultures due to professional or self-intrest.

Etnoweb allows you to quickly see the picture, who is doing what in any cultural minority group. To read fresh news from communities and government institutions. To see, what is happening right now and what will be happening in the future. Here you can find information about current competitions. Here you can quickly find a partner for your project, and also contact info of the consultants and officials that are responsible for working with national societies.

The website is open for newcomers. Contact the administrator, and after a short wait your organisation will be added to the list, and you will gain access to your own web page, where you can place all the important information about yourself, your members and your activities. The news you publish will not only show up on the website's main page, but also will be sent to newspapers, radio and television.

The goal of project Etnoweb – to make the activities in cultural societies and societies of national minorities an integral part of the overall information and cultural space of Estonia.

 

For further information please contact: Jevgeni Žurjari-Ossipov, Adviser to the Minister of Culture / Telephone: +372 628 2259 / E-mail: jevgeni.zurjari-ossipov@kul.ee; or Natalja Kitam, Project Manager, Etnoweb / Mobile: +372 5665 8222 / E-mail: natalja.kitam@gmail.com

 

The conference centre of the Swissôtel Tallinn (Tornimäe 3) will host the 10^th annual language immersion conference on 26 & 27 October 2010. Educational institutions who have joined the programme, its partners, representatives of other institutions operating in the field of education and anyone else who is interested are welcome to attend the conference.

 

The programme can be viewed on the website of the Integration and Migration Foundation at www.meis.ee/konverents-2010. The conference will provide an overview of the progress in and results of the creation of the quality system for the language immersion programme, showcasing success stories in this area. The results of surveys from recent years related to the language immersion programme will also be discussed.

 

The conference will not only provide attendees with plenty to see and hear, but also the chance to get actively involved – there will be a plenary session as well as five workshops.

 

The organisation of the conference is being financed by the Ministry of Education and Research. The conference is being run by the Our People Integration and Migration Foundation.

 

For further information please contact: Karin Piirsalu, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9854 / E-mail: karin.piirsalu@meis.ee

 

A four-part training course will be held from September to December for 25 authors of teaching materials and employees of the publishing houses releasing them.

 

Those taking part in the course will learn about changes to the national curriculums for basic and upper secondary schools and the resulting requirements in terms of new teaching materials; common requirements in the devising of teaching materials; and the principles of the development of language skills. The authors and publishers will take part in both lectures and workshops.

 

The guest speaker at the first part of the course, which was held in September, was international publishing consultant and lecturer James McCall, who spoke about the writing, editing and publishing of teaching materials for schools.

 

In October, Koidu Tani-Jürisoo and Anneli Loodus from the Open Mind Institute will be speaking to the participants about ways of getting students to learn.

 

During the third part of the course, which will be held at the end of October, lecturers from the University of Tartu will be speaking to and guiding the participants. Margit Sutrop, from the university’s Ethics Centre, will talk about the importance of the topic of values; Veronika Kalmus, from the Literature and Communication Institute, will provide an overview of ways in which implicitly represented values can be woven into teaching materials; specialists from the Educational Studies and Curriculum Development Centre will be looking at the fostering of values as a running theme and how it should be taken into account when writing textbooks; Nelli Jung, also from the Ethics Centre, will be talking about the objectives of fostering values in different subjects; and Ana Kontor and Karl Karlep, from the Educational Support Services Centre and the University of Tartu respectively, will be giving a presentation on teaching materials being within the abilities of students with learning difficulties.

 

The course will be concluded in November by teaching materials author and methodology specialist Leelo Kingisepp and Piret Kärtner from the University of Tartu, who will talk about the starting points in the development of teaching materials for the national curriculum as a guiding hand in the learning process.

 

The course is being financed by the Ministry of Education and Research.

 

For further information please contact: Reet Kallo, Coordinator, Lifelong Learning Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9841 / E-mail: reet.kallo @meis.ee

 

 

 

Over three days in October the Integration and Migration Foundation, in association with Estonian vocational education institutions, will be holding three information days on professional language teaching materials for language and professional subject teachers.

 

The information days are designed to provide an overview of the ways in which professional language teaching materials can be developed, used and distributed. The keynote speaker at the event will be author and trainer Mare Kitsnik, who will be showcasing her own professional Estonian language teaching kit for the service industry. She will also be showing the attendees how to analyse teaching materials and bring them to life in lessons, as well as giving advice on creating materials. Throughout the day the participants will also find out more about the e-learning materials website www.kutsekeel.ee.

 

The information days will be held in the following institutions on the following dates: 15 October at Tartu Vocational Education Centre; 21 October at Narva Vocational Education Centre; and 29 October at Tallinn School of Service.

 

You can register for the information days online at www.kutsekeel.ee. The organisation of the information days is being financed by the European Social Fund and the Ministry of Education and Research.

For further information please contact: Merlin Mägi, Coordinator, Lifelong Learning Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9068 / E-mail: merlin.magi@meis.ee; or Maria Ratassepp / E-mail: maria.ratassepp@meis.ee

 

 

The Nõiariik nursery school in Urvaste municipality in Võru County will play host to this year’s autumn school for Estonian language teachers from nursery schools from 22–24 October. This is the fifth time the autumn school is being held.

A total of 50 Estonian language teachers from nursery schools all over the country will be coming together to build on their knowledge of how to support children with native languages or home languages other than Estonian learning the national language in nursery school.

2010 is the International Year of Reading. As such, the autumn school will primarily focus on topics which will help children prepare for reading.

For further information please contact: Marje Sarapuu, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9852 / E-mail: marje.sarapuu@meis.ee

Upper secondary schools with Russian as the primary language of instruction now have worksheets at their disposal to accompany ‘Turning Points in Estonian History: Documents and Materials for Upper Secondary Schools with Russian as the Primary Language of Instruction’, published in 2008. The worksheets and the original material they go with enable both history and literature teachers to make lessons related to Estonia more detailed and interesting.

Estonian history is taught in schools with Russian as the primary language of instruction in Estonian. ‘Turning Points…’ and its worksheets were produced with this in mind. The writing and publishing of a collection of materials focussing on the twists and turns of Estonian history specifically for Russian-speaking students represents an important step in educating the younger generation on the nation’s past and forming a shared view of events.

 

“The publication of ‘Turning Points…’ is a great way of making learning history more interesting, and as such more popular,” said Kai Võlli, an expert on integrated subject and language learning who played a part in the development of the worksheets. “What’s so notable about it is that its sources cast a critical eye over events and look at them from very different angles. The worksheets will certainly help teachers make better use of the original material in future.”

 

Võlli says that the tasks contained in the worksheets enable students to delve into the sources of information and teach them how to draw conclusions from them, how pictures of the past are formed, how historians work and what kind of problems they encounter. “The students are guided to work with a variety of sources, to examine and discuss different interpretations and to form their own views. Tasks like this help them understand historical events and phenomena better, but also get them reading and interpreting Estonian-language texts and images in greater depth.”

 

The team behind the worksheets comprised Anneli Loodus, Tiina Kilumets, Anželika Valdre, Maaja Nagel and Maia Jelissejeva. The worksheets were edited by renowned Doctor of History Toomas Karjahärm (one of the authors of the original materials) and teacher and methodology specialist Anatoli Grigorjev.

 

The ‘Turning Points…’ teaching materials and worksheets, and recommendations on how to make the most effective use of them, are available from the international teaching materials website http://lemill.net/community/groups/eesti-ajaloo-toolehed.

 

For further information please contact: Karin Piirsalu, Coordinator, Multicultural Education Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9854 / E-mail: karin.piirsalu@meis.ee

 

 

 

In October the Integration and Migration Foundation will be launching the ‘One Media’ project competition, which will support radio programmes and news portal projects.

 

The aims of the competition are to contribute to the development of a unified information space for all of the people living in Estonia and to boost the consumption of Estonian media among third country nationals. Applications can be submitted by private and public legal entities registered in Estonia.

 

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.

 

For further information please contact: Kati Tamm, Coordinator, Civic Education and Migration Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9027 / E-mail: kati.tamm@meis.ee

 

 

 

The public project competition entitled ‘Adaptation training for new immigrants’ is open for submissions until 25 October 2010.

 

The aim of the competition is to provide third country nationals who have recently arrived in Estonia with special training so that they can acquire the skills and knowledge they need to adapt to life in the country and to help them integrate into Estonian society and become active members of it.

 

Adaptation training will be organised as part of the competition for third country nationals residing in Harju County. The training will make use of the adaptation programme developed in 2009, which includes language training, civic studies and social and economic integration (http://kohanemisprogramm.tlu.ee).

 

Applications for the competition can be submitted by private and public legal entities registered in Estonia (local governments, training companies, universities and non-profit organisations).

 

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 training was launched by the Narva College of the University of Tartu in August, providing training for 12 newly arrived third country nationals residing in Narva.

 

For further information please contact: Ruslan Prohhorenko, Coordinator, Civic Education and Migration Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9035 / E-mail: ruslan.prohhorenko@meis.ee.

 

 

 

The public project competition entitled ‘Development of Mentor Services for New Immigrants’ is now open and applications may be submitted until 21 October 2010.

 

The competition is designed to create and develop a mentor service for new immigrants in Estonia. A mentor service system will need to be developed to this end.

 

A mentor service will be piloted as part of the project which will incorporate guidance of new immigrants in the fields of employment, health care, education and social services. 20 mentors from different parts of Estonia will be trained to work with third country nationals who have recently arrived in the country.

 

Applications for the competition can be submitted by private and public legal entities registered in Estonia (local governments, training companies, universities and non-profit organisations).

 

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: Ruslan Prohhorenko, Coordinator, Civic Education and Migration Unit / Telephone: +372 659 9035 / E-mail: ruslan.prohhorenko@meis.ee

 

 

 

 

 

Led by the Estonian Ministry of Culture, National Minorities Day was celebrated in three cities around the country during the third week of September. The events were held in the capital, Tallinn, as well as Jõhvi and Pärnu.

 

The first event held under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture was the National Minority Youth Council conference ‘National minorities in Estonia yesterday, today and tomorrow’ at the National Library in Tallinn on 22 September.

 

The conference was followed by a theatre and music programme at the Russian Theatre, including a performance by the Russian Puppet Theatre of children’s classic The Silver Hoof. The adults in the audience, meanwhile, enjoyed the Russian Theatre School’s performance of smraH and the Tuuleveski Theatre’s version of Let The Wind Blow. Music was provided by the Chuvash ensemble Taraj Kun and the Estonian-Ukrainian folk group Svjata Vatra.

 

As part of National Minorities Day, a photographic exhibition entitled EtnoFotorism opened in the Solaris centre on the same day. A range of exhibitions by members of national minorities who call Estonia home can also be seen in Tallinn at the Russian Theatre. The exhibitions are open until the end of October.

 

The celebratory events moved on to Tartu on 24 September, where a concert was held in the Vanemuine Concert Hall. Staged by Valga’s Marina Jerjomina, the director of Art Studio Joy, its performers included national minority cultural association groups from Tallinn and Tartu, as well as from elsewhere in southern Estonia. People in Tartu will also enjoy an exhibition as part of EtnoFotorism, this time of the Russian Old Believers, which will be on display in the café and gallery of the Vanemuine Concert Hall until the end of October. 

 

The celebratory events moved on to Tartu on 26 September, where a concert was held in the Vanemuine Concert Hall. There were also book and national handicraft exhibitions as part of the festival, and a display of children’s drawings entitled ‘The colours of the Earth’. Anyone interested was also able to take part in puppet-making, bobbin lace and pearl embroidery workshops. There were also meetings with authors Jelena Skulskaja and Arvo Valton as part of the 2010 Year of Reading. The gala concert held in the evening saw performances by national minority cultural groups, ethnic groups and communities from different parts of Estonia. Special guests at the concert were the folk ensemble Jarytsa from Verhnedviskni in Belarus. Minister of Culture Laine Jänes handed over certificates of citizenship to new Estonia citizens in both Tartu and Jõhvi.

 

24 September was nominated as National Minority Day by then Minister for Population Affairs Paul-Eerik Rummo in 2005. Its roots date back to 1988 when the 1^st Estonian National Minorities Forum was held on 24 September. The forum unanimously declared its willingness to openly support the attempts of the Estonian population to restore their statehood and democracy. It was on this day that the Union of Estonian National Minorities was founded, whose activities are guided by the internationally recognised principles of national minorities and human rights with the aim of developing information-based and cultural cooperation among Estonia’s national minorities.

 

For further information please contact: Sirli Tooming, Chief Specialist, Cultural Diversity Department, Ministry of Culture / Telephone: +372 628 2261 / E-mail: sirli.tooming@kul.ee 

 

 

 

The 2010 Golden Mask Festival opened on 1 October with a performance of Anton Chekov’s Uncle Vanya by the Moscow-based Yevgeny Vahtangov Theatre. The festival will run until 10 October, with performances in theatres around Tallinn as well as in the Jõhvi Concert Hall (see www.goldenmask.ee). 

 

The 2005 Golden Mask Festival was the first in the series to be held in Estonia, and indeed the first to be held outside of Russia. This year the festival is being organised in Estonia for the sixth time. It will not only include performances, but also seminars, master classes and lectures. A special place in this year’s programme is held by the St Petersburg theatre.

 

The festival contributes to the strengthening of cultural ties between Estonia and Russia and to forming contacts between people working in the theatre in both countries. The festival is being organised jointly by the Ministries of Culture of Russia and Estonia and with the support of the Tallinn City Government. The embassies of both countries are also behind the festival, as is the Estonian Cultural Capital.

 

For further information please contact: Olga Burmakina, Chief Specialist, Cultural Diversity Department, Ministry of Culture / Telephone: +372 628 2238 / E-mail: olga.burmakina@kul.ee; or see www.goldenmask.ee.

Friends of the Language Immersion Programme 2010 are Katri Raik from the Narva College of the University of Tartu and Ene Kulderknupp from the National Examinations and Qualifications Centre.

 

The Friend of the Language Immersion Programme honour is annually bestowed by language immersion coordinators as a tribute and special recognition for decisively affecting the development of the language immersion programme during the year in question or during previous years. Since 2005 the title has been given to 21 people.

 

The language immersion programme is run by the Our People Integration and Migration Foundation and financed by the Ministry of Education and Research.

 

Another language immersion programme report providing an overview on meeting the programme’s strategic objectives for 2004-2008 and introducing strategic objectives for 2009-2013 has been prepared.

 

This report covers the preceding ten years of activity, and it discusses the results and proposals of research as well as highlighting new achievements, new targets, and new co-thinkers.

 

Traditionally, the report includes texts by politicians, and this time Laine Jänes, the Minister of Culture, and Paul-Erik Rummo, a member of the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament) and steering committee of the language immersion programme, express their thoughts. President Toomas Hendrik Ilves has given permission to include a quotation from his New Year Message in the report.

 

This report focuses more on consulting and training teachers. Teacher training is introduced as a university language immersion course. People who compose teaching materials for basic school level are also given an opportunity to share their thoughts in the report.

 

Janar Holm, the Secretary General of the Ministry, writes about the expectations of the Ministry of Education and Research for the further development of the language immersion programme.

 

The report, or yearbook, was given to all of the participants of a recently held language immersion conference. The yearbook is electronically available on the home page of the organisation that implements the language immersion programme - the Integration and Migration Foundation (Integratsiooni ja Migratsiooni Sihtasutus - MISA) www.meis.ee.

 

Further information: Karin Piirsalu, Multicultural Education Unit, tel 659 9854, GSM 521 4194, e-mail karin.piirsalu@meis.ee

In the 2010/2011 academic year, the co-ordinators of the language immersion programme, which is administered by MISA, will continue conducting regional meetings with the heads of educational institutions that have joined the programme. The main topic is the quality of the language immersion programme (internal assessment) and a focus on the learning environment.

 

During a regional visit, the participants will be introduced to the learning environment and work organisation at the receiving educational institution, and they will meet the teachers and children.

 

The co-ordinators of the language immersion programme will discuss the programme’s present progress. The next steps and development activities will be planned together with the heads of kindergartens and schools and representatives of local governments in the regions. The first regional meeting will be held at the beginning of November in Narva.

 

Further information: Karin Piirsalu, Multicultural Education Unit, tel 659 9854, GSM 521 4194, e-mail karin.piirsalu@meis.ee

7^th to 12^th grade students of general education schools where the language of instruction is Russian or Estonian and pupils of vocational schools giving secondary general education are all welcome to take part in the Citizen Day web quiz. The quiz can be completed on the web page of MISA at www.meis.ee.

 

The aim of the quiz is to encourage young people to acquire knowledge on constitutional institutions, human and civil rights, freedoms, and duties and issues related to the European Union. One of the topics this year is the euro.

 

According to Toivo Sikk, a long-term organiser of the Citizen Day quiz, pupils increasingly understand with every passing year that being a citizen means also acting like a citizen, which in turn requires gaining necessary knowledge.

 

A survey conducted among the pupils who took the quiz in 2008 and 2009 revealed that the Citizen Day quiz was considered very interesting and that completing it required a broad outlook on the world and a good memory of images and environment. The questions were also considered very educational.

 

The best quiz contestants will be determined in five categories: pupils of 7^th to 9^th grade of schools where the language of instruction is Estonian, pupils of 7^th to 9^th grade of schools where the language of instruction is Russian, pupils of upper secondary school and pupils of vocational schools. There are also awards for schools with the largest number of participants.

 

The best quiz contestants will be given in January 2011 tour to the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament) and the Stenbock building (seat of Government). We will also acknowledge teachers who have made an impressive contribution to citizenship education at schools throughout the years and who have introduced pupils to the Citizen Day quiz.

 

The quiz will be made accessible on MISA web page www.meis.ee on 22^nd November. Before proceeding to the questions, the participants have to fill in a registration form. Each registered person can answer the questions once and the maximum time allowed for answering is 60 minutes. Several questions are provided with links to legislative texts or other sources of information and there are also a number of multiple choice questions. 

 

As in previous year, the quiz contains 50 questions in the Estonian language and contestants are allowed up to one hour to answer the questions. The right answers and the results of all the contestants will be published on MISA home page on 13^th December at 10:00.

 

The 2010 Citizen Day quiz is being held for the eight time. About 20,000 children have taken part and answered more than 350 questions in previous quizzes. Explanatory materials accompanying the quiz are used in social education classes. Please find materials of previous quizzes here.

 

Good quizzing!

 

 

Further information: Toivo Sikk, Co-ordinator of Multicultural Education Unit, tel 659 9850 , e-mail toivo.sikk@meis.ee.

A project competition „Mõttetalgud – edukam Eesti“ (“Thinking together – a more successful Estonia”) is waiting for applications to be submitted before 15^th November. The aim of the competition is to activate a social debate addressing ethnic relations and the integration of Estonian residents of different ethical nationalities and citizenship.

 

The aim of the competition is to support public forums of third-country nationals and citizens of the European Union living in Estonia.

 

Eligible applicants are the following bodies registered in Estonia: legal persons governed by public law, legal persons governed by private law, governmental authorities, and authorities under the supervision of governmental authorities whose objectives arising from their statutes or specified in their articles of association are in compliance with the proposed activities. An applicant must be directly accountable for the preparation and management of the project.

 

The competition is funded through the Ministry of Culture from the state budget (25%) and the European Fund for the Integration of Third-country nationals (75%), taking into account the implementation plan of the development plan “Estonian Integration Strategy 2008-2013”.

 

Further information:  Kersti Peterson, Co-ordinator of Civic Education and Migration Unit. Tel 659 9034, e-mail: kersti.peterson@meis.ee

Several information events with the aim of increasing awareness among parents with undefined citizenship about the option of applying for Estonian citizenship for their children under 15 years of age using a simplified procedure will be held in Ida-Virumaa and Harjumaa until the end of May 2011. The parents are also encouraged to apply for Estonian citizenship.

 

The programme includes information and family seminars in Tallinn, Jõhvi, Narva, Kohtla-Järve, and Sillamäe. An information point and telephone line is open in Jõhvi. Radio 4 broadcasts a programme “The family council” on Mondays.

 

Further information on the events is available on MISA web page: www.meis.ee/minukodu and www.meis.ee/noustamine-ida-viru.

 

Information activities are conducted by BDA Consulting OÜ and Kersti Võlu Koolituskeskus OÜ. The European Union, the European Fund for the Integration of Third-country nationals, the Ministry of Culture, and the Integration and Migration Foundation “Our People” all support these activities.

 

Further information: Tea Tammistu, Civic Education and Migration Unit, tel 659 9062, e-mail tea.tammistu@meis.ee