DECEMBER 2010

06.06.2018

  

 

Youth to come together at “Speak the Language of Feelings!” conference

 

MISA will organise a youth conference entitled “Speak the Language of Feelings!” on 14th December in Paide Cultural Centre.

 

Both Estonian and Russian-speaking young people aged between 14 and 19 will take part in the conference. The participants are mostly comprised of young people who have already attended similar events organised by MISA.

 

Over the last three years, MISA has organised the “City of the Future” games in a number of cities and rural municipalities and helped young people stage Luguteater (Story Theatre) plays on the subject of becoming a citizen. MISA has also organised eight youth conferences: “Kas oled valmis?” (Are You Ready), “Samm lähemale” (A Step Closer), “Käru küla juhtum” (The Case of Käru Village), “Kaks sammu lähemale” (Two steps Closer), “Keel on muusika” (Language is Music), “Geenius minus eneses” (A Genius Inside Myself), “Meelte keel” (Language of Senses), and “Minu kodanikulugu” (My Story as a Citizen).

 

At the conference in December, an overview will be given of the series of youth conferences to be organised by MISA over the next three years; movies and, if requested, also photos, will be shown. The participants will have a chance to make some of their own cool souvenirs, which represent “language of feelings”.

 

Participants are kindly asked to register by using an individual e-form by 2nd December, at the latest: http://www.eformular.com/meis/tunnetekeel.html. The first come, first served principle will be applicable to registration. Once the limit for participants is reached, registration will be closed.

 

The conference will be supported within the framework of the “Language Learning Development Programme 2007-2010“, which is funded by the European Social Fund.

 

For further information please contact: Lianne Ristikivi, Co-ordinator, Culture and Youth Work Unit, tel. 659 9028, e-mail: lianne.ristikivi@meis.ee

Sunday school teachers to get to know Estonian culture and folklore

 

Sunday school teachers of national cultural societies will have a chance to get acquainted with Estonian culture and folklore from 3rd-4th December.

 

Various Estonian holidays and cultural aspects will be introduced to teachers by historian Jüri Kuuskemaa, who will also compare and contrast other cultures. The teachers can also take part in an excursion through Tallinn, led by Mr. Kuuskemaa.

 

Ms Ene Lukka-Jegikjan, the Development and Training Manager of the Estonian National Folklore Council, and Ms Laura Liinat, Co-ordinator for Children and Youth Work.

 

The training will be funded by the Ministry of Education and Research.


Fur further information, please contact: Kristina Pirgop, Co-ordinator, Culture and Youth Work Unit, tel. 659 9024, E-mail kristina.pirgop@meis.ee

 

 

Public lecture on developing creativity in kindergartens

 

Public lectures under the title “Colourful Palms: Shaping of Aesthetic Attitudes and Development of Creativity in the Sphere of Creative Activities” will take place in Jõhvi and Tallinn on 6th and 8th December, and all interested kindergarten teachers are welcome to take part in the events.

 

The lecture will take place on 6th December at10:00 in the Russian Gymnasium, Jõhvi (register here). In Tallinn, you can participate in the lecture on 8th December at 10:00 in Tallinn Teachers’ House (register here).

 

In her lecture, Ms Irina Lõkova, a Senior Researcher of the Moscow Art Studies Institute (Институт художественного образования»- ИХО РАО), will give an overview of her personal programme, regarding the development of creativity in kindergartens.

 

Registration for the lecture is open at the MISA. 

Fur further information, please contact: Svetlana Belova, Co-ordinator, Multicultural Education Unit, tel. 659 9848, E-mail svetlana.belova@meis.ee

 

An event to close the European Social Fund’s “Language Learning Development Programme 2007-2010“

 

On 8th December, from 11.30-18.00, the official closure of the European Social Fund’s “Language Learning Development Programme 2007-2010” will take place in the Alfa 1 conference room in Hotel Olümpia.

Those wishing to attend the final event can sign up on the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) website.

The three years of the “Language Learning Development Programme 2007-2010” have been fruitful, and it is now time to reflect on the achievements. An overview of the activities launched within the framework of the programme will be given at the final event, and success stories will be told, including the practical experiences gained through implementing the activities. Mr. David Vseviov, a historian, will give a presentation on relations between language and culture at the event.

For further information, please contact: Kristiina Esop, ESF and EIF Programme Manager, GSM 5665 8505, E-post kristiina.esop@meis.ee

 

 

Representatives of cultural societies and youth council of minorities learn to expand development plan

 

A training course for the expansion of development plans will be organised for the representatives of the umbrella organisation of cultural societies of minority nations and members of the youth council of minorities on 9th-10th December.

 

The training will be organised by the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

 

One of the goals of the training is to enhance the capacities of the umbrella organisations for defining their goals and including them in their development plans. By the end of the training, each umbrella organisation will have completed a three-year development programme.

 

The training will be funded by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

Fur further information, please contact: Kristina Pirgop, Co-ordinator, Culture and Youth Work Unit, tel. 659 9024, E-mail kristina.pirgop@meis.ee

 

 

OÜ Keelepisik to conduct adaptation trainings for new immigrants in Harjumaa

 

At the end of November, the winner of the project competition entitled “Adaptation Training for New Immigrants” was announced. The company will organise adaptation trainings for 30 new immigrants living in Harjumaa. The grant, which amounts to 390,460 Estonian kroons, was allocated to a project by the language training company OÜ Keelepisik entitled “Language and Culture – Basic Truths on Integration“.

               

The adaptation training is directed towards third country citizens who have recently moved to Estonia, have lived in Estonia for less than three years, and have legal grounds to stay in Estonia. Foreign students who have a permanent place of residence outside of Estonia are not included in this group.

 

The training will take place in two stages from December 2010 to November 2011.

The adaptation programme, developed in 2009, will be used. The programme consists of language training, citizenship studies, and socio-economic integration issues (see http://kohanemisprogramm.tlu.ee).

 

The project will be funded from the state budget through the Ministry of Cultural Affairs (25%) and the European Fund for the Integration of Third Country Citizens (75%), based on the implementation plan for the “Estonian Integration Strategy 2008–2013“ development programme.

 

The training of 12 immigrants from third countries, residing in Narva, was launched by the Narva College of Tartu University in August of this year, within a framework of a similar programme.

 

Fur further information, please contact: Ruslan Prohhorenko, Co-ordinator, Civic Education and Migration Unit, tel. 659 9035, E-mail: ruslan.prohhorenko@meis.ee

 

 

Development of support person services for new immigrants

 

From December, the development of a support person system for new immigrants from third countries, who have recently arrived in Estonia, will be launched. The project, called “Development of Support Services for New Immigrants and Training of Support Persons”, will be conducted by BDA Consulting OÜ.

 

A support person system will be developed within the framework of the project and 20 support persons will be trained to work with third country citizens who have recently arrived to the country. Support persons will act in various regions throughout Estonia. Support person services will be piloted during the projects; the services are intended to direct and guide new immigrants in the spheres of employment, health care, education, and social services.

 

The project will be funded from the state budget through the Ministry of Cultural Affairs (25%) and the European Fund for the Integration of Third Country Citizens (75%), based on the implementation plan for “Estonian Integration Strategy 2008–2013“ development programme. 497,656 Estonian kroons was allocated to the project as support.

 

Fur further information, please contact: Ruslan Prohhorenko, Co-ordinator, Civic Education and Migration Unit, tel. 659 9035, E-mail: ruslan.prohhorenko@meis.ee

 

 

Methodological movie on language immersion programme to be completed

 

As an additional aid to the teacher-training course of the language immersion programme, a training movie to be used at the basic course of language immersion methods will be made.

 

A movie, available on DVD, will follow the language immersion method and will introduce a range of different methods practiced by schools. The movie will be used as a training material at methodology trainings within the language immersion programme and also to introduce the language immersion classes in general.

 

The development of methodological guidelines to support the movie is planned.

Fur further information, please contact: Maire Kebbinau, Co-ordinator, Multicultural Education Unit, tel. 659 9847, E-mail: maire.kebbinau@meis.ee

 

JANUARY 2011

06.06.2018

A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 
 
 
 
New Estonian language learning kits for special purposes in security and health care
 
Electronic Estonian language learning kits for special purposes in the areas of security and health care, which were commissioned by the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA), were recently completed.
 
The learning kits are available for all instructors, students, and other interested parties in the web portal www.kutsekeel.ee, which is administered by MISA.
 
The learning kits for both areas include learning materials, audio materials, and an instructor’s manual. “The Power of Justice” (“Õiguse jõud”), the Estonian language learning kit for special purposes, which is intended for people employed in the area of security, was developed by InterAct & Projektid and the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences (Sisekaitseakadeemia), and the health care language kit was prepared by Tallinn Health Care College (Tallinna Tervishoiu Kõrgkool). The creators of the health care textbook were Ene Kotkas, Margit Tamberg, Siret Piirsalu, and Anne Illopmägi, and the creators of the security textbook were Mare Kitsnik and Signe Abel.
 
The learning kits were prepared within the framework of the procurement “Learning materials of the Estonian language for special purposes for the employees of security and health care areas and the training of instructors”. As a result of the procurement, in addition to preparing the learning kits, trainings on how to use the kits were also conducted with instructors and teachers of the Estonian language as a second language as the main participants.
 
The preparation of the learning kits and the training of the instructors were financed by the Ministry of Education and Research.
 
For further information, please contact: Kristina Johannes, Coordinator, Lifelong Learning Unit, tel 659 9065, e-mail kristina.johannes@meis.ee
 
 
The application round for the base-line funding of culture societies of national minorities is open
 
In January, the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People in co-operation with the Ministry of Culture announced an application round for base-line funding of culture societies of national minorities in the framework of which the activities of culture societies of national minorities will be supported through umbrella organisations. Applications for the competition are expected to be filed by 2nd February. The conditions of the competition are available on the foundation’s homepage.
 
Only umbrella organisations and their member societies that have passed the evaluation conducted by the Office of the Minister of Population and Ethnic Affairs (Rahvastikuministri Büroo) in 2008 or by the Ministry of Culture in 2009 may apply for base-line funding. The relevant list is published on the Ministry of Culture web page.
 
The goal of the application round is to find co-operation partners of various nationalities united under umbrella organisations to partner the state. The goal of the co-operation partners is to introduce the uniqueness of different cultures, support the activities of national culture societies in preserving, promoting, and introducing their national cultural heritage, acknowledge and inform Estonian society of multiculturalism in Estonia, and for further co-operation with each other and between Estonian culture societies.
 
For further information, please contact: Kristina Pirgop, Coordinator, Culture and Youth Work Unit, tel 659 9024, E-mail kristina.pirgop@meis.ee  
 
 
MISA will continue to grant migration support
 
The Governing Board of the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) approved the renewed principles for granting migration support at their December meeting. The renewed rules will become effective on 1st January 2011.
 
The need to renew these principles was primarily due to the changeover to the euro. The support amounts were calculated into euro; for the beneficiaries, the support amounts increased slightly compared to the previous amounts.
 
From 1st January 2011, the maximum amount of return support is 2,000 euro, which is slightly higher than the previous 30,000 kroons. The aim of the support is to help Estonians or nationals of Estonia who have lived abroad for at least 10 years to compensate the expenditures related to their return and to facilitate their adjustment back to life in Estonia.
 
The maximum amount of remigration support is 1,000 euro from 1st January. This sum is also a little higher compared to the previous 15,000 kroons. The remigration support is meant for European third-country nationals who have lived in Estonia for at least 10 years and plan to leave Estonia and need financial support. The European third-country nationals are persons who are not nationals of the European Union, the member countries of the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein), or the Swiss Confederation.
 
According to Martin Eber, the Head of Civil Education and Migration Unit, the applicants of remigration support should bear in mind that the processing of applications takes time. For example, the applications filed at the offices of the Police and Boarder Guard Board outside Tallinn may be delayed up to two weeks before they arrive at MISA. “In order to ensure support for the applicant before they leave Estonia, it is advisable to file the documents as soon as they are collected together. Besides, it must be taken into account that all payments are made through the State Treasury system, which also lengthens the procedure. The application form with the supportive documents should arrive at MISA at least two weeks before the applicant actually leaves Estonia,“ Martin Eber explained.
 
For further information, please contact: Martin Eber, Head of Civil Education and Migration Unit, tel 659 9067, e-mail martin.eber@meis.ee
 
 
MISA supports integration-related radio series and news portals
 
In the framework of the project competition “Common media field” („Ühine meediaväli“), support is granted to two radio series of Raadio 4 and the etnoweb.ee and sekundomer.ee news portals. Support was allocated in the total amount of around 436,000 kroons. The activities will be implemented in 2011.
 
The project “Common home” („Ühine kodu“) of the Estonian Public Broadcasting was supported in the radio category. Raadio 4 will broadcast a five-part talk radio series “Social Contract” („Ühiskondlik leping“, “Общественный договор”) from April to June 2011. A 10-part series “Let’s All Have a Picnic!” („Kõik piknikule“, „Все на пикник!“), which will introduce listeners to manorial culture: Estonian manors and historic people related to them, will be aired from June to September 2011.
 
MTÜ Etnoweb’s project “Multimedia and interactive development of the national minorities portal” („Vähemusrahvuste portaali multimeedia ja interaktiivne areng“) and MTÜ Sekundomer’s project “Common media field” were the projects supported from the news portals. During the project, MTÜ Etnoweb will update the portal www.etnoweb.ee and add an online-glossary, surveys, feedback form, video gallery, photo bank, archive, and more. MTÜ Sekundomer will supplement the Estonian language version of the sports portal www.sekundomer.ee and add a feature to the portal that would allow for the transmission of video clips and interviews from sports competitions.
The projects are financed by the European Fund for the Integration fo Thrd-Country Nationals and the Ministry of Culture.

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

FEBRUARY 2011

06.06.2018
 
 
 
Free preparatory courses for constitution and Citizenship Act examination to recommence in May
 
Persons with undefined citizenship and third country nationals are once again being offered the opportunity to participate free of charge in the preparatory courses for the constitution and Citizenship Act examination starting from May 2011. The persons to organise the courses will be selected through a competition to be announced in March.
 
In 2009, more than 1,000 target group members took similar courses. The courses are designed for persons with undefined citizenship and third-country nationals (including Russia). A third-country national is a person residing in Estonia who is not a national of a Member State of the European Union and the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), or the Swiss Confederation.
 
Prior to May, all interested persons can prepare for the examination and use materials distributed by the National Examinations and Qualifications Centre (Riiklik Eksami- ja Kvalifikatsioonikeskus) without charge and take part in the free pre-examination consultations. The consultations will be held in Tallinn, Narva, Jõhvi, and Tartu, with the scheduled times available on the web page of the National Examinations and Qualifications Centre www.ekk.edu.ee.
 
Further information: Tea Tammistu, Education and Migration Unit Coordinator, tel 659 9062, E-mail tea.tammistu@meis.ee
 
 
Language Immersion Programme 2011 first training to begin in February
 
The first training course to open the training calendar of the Language Immersion Programme 2011 will be a methodology course entitled “Direct supportive feedback, 5 minutes observation method” in Narva Vanalinna Riigikool (from 9 February) and Tallinna Humanitaargümnaasium (from 11 February).
 
The training course is designed for directors of educational institutions, head teachers, programme coordinators, advisors, trainers, and education officials of local governments.
 
The course will explain the key principles of the Language Immersion Programme. The learners will be introduced to the collegial management method as an important instrument of organisational culture. The trainers will explain various uses of observation checklists and reflective questions to show the importance of a follow-up interview in supporting teacher development.
 
Krista Juhkov and Riina Vohta will conduct the courses in Narva and Anne Pipar and Ruth Kaur in Tallinn.
 
Further information: Maire Kebbinau, Multicultural Education Unit, Language Immersion Programme Coordinator, tel 659 9847, maire.kebbinau@meis.ee
 
 
Sunday school teachers learn how to use CLIL programme in their schools
 
The III module of the Content and Language Integrated Learning training for the teachers of Sunday schools of national minorities will begin on 18 February. The training, which consists of three modules, will take seven days with 18 participating teachers.
 
The training will be conducted by Õie Vahar, an advisor of CLIL and the Language Immersion Programme, methodologist and teacher-practitioner, and Helgi Org, a methodologist and textbook author.
 
By the end of the training, the Sunday school teachers will have learned various forms of study and identify ways for stimulating the active involvement of students in the learning process. At the same time, the teachers’ Estonian language skills are improved.
 
The training, which began in November, is being funded by the Ministry of Education and Research.
 
 
Further information: Kristiina Pirgop, Culture and Youth Work Unit Coordinator, tel 659 9024, E-mail kristina.pirgop@meis.ee
 
 
Estonian Non-formal Adult Education Association offers free Estonian language courses
 
In the first half-year of 2011, the Estonian Non-formal Adult Education Association (Eesti Vabaharidusliit) will offer free Estonian language courses to 223 people under the programme “Adult education at informal training centres” with the support of the European Social Fund.
 
The target group of the courses is adults who have had compulsory schooling, i.e. have acquired basic education, or are 17 years of age and older. People who have not been able to study due to economic or other reasons are especially welcome to these free courses.
 
Anyone interested can register for the courses at the training centres that organise the courses. The course schedules and contact details of the training centres are available on the home page of the Estonian Non-formal Adult Education Association at www.vabaharidus.ee. 
 
The Estonian Non-formal Adult Education Association offers several other free courses in addition to the Estonian language courses. In the first half-year of 2011, a total number of 3,409 people can learn on various free courses, and 223 people can attend the Estonian language courses.
 
The Estonian language courses will be held at the training centre “Osilia” at Kuressaare Gümnaasium, Pärnu Sütevaka Training Centre, Pärnu Folk High School, Haapsalu Folk High School, Tartu Folk High School, Tartu AHL Training Centre, Johannes Mihkelson Training Centre in Tartu, Folk Culture Development and Training Centre in Tallinn, and Viru Training Centre in Kohtla-Järve.
 
More information on the courses is available at www.vabaharidus.ee and www.rajaleidja.ee. 
 
Further information: Tiina Jääger, Programme Head of Estonian Non-formal Adult Education Association, tel 677 6299, E-mail tiina.jaager@vabaharidus.ee

MARCH 2011

06.06.2018

 

                    - Language immersion programme training for management
 
 
The project competition “Estonian language learning in a youth summer camp” awaits applicants
 
The aim of the competition is to develop the skills, knowledge, proficiency, values and attitudes of 7-18 year olds who live in Estonia and do not speak Estonian as their home language, so they may be able to use Estonian and manage in the Estonian language environment.
 
Within the framework of the competition, organising Estonian language programmes at youth summer camps is supported. The managers of youth camps and projects who have been issued an appropriate licence in accordance with the Youth Work Act are eligible apply for the grant.
 
The application submission due date is 16 March at 16:00. The documents and materials required for applying are available on the MISA webpage www.meis.ee. 
 
The competition is funded from the state budget through the Ministry of Culture.
 
For further information, please contact: Lianne Ristikivi, Coordinator, Culture and Youth Work Unit, telephone 659 9028, E-mail lianne.ristikivi@meis.ee.
 
 
Competition opened for integration development grants and media acknowledgement
 
At the end of February, the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People together with the Ministry of Culture announced a competition for the 2010 integration development and media grants. The applications are expected to be submitted before 14 March. The eligibility criteria for applying and application forms are available on the Foundation’s homepage.
 
Development grants are awarded in four categories:
·         Activities that value the Estonian language as the common official language
·         Activities that support a cultural dialogue and cooperation between citizens’ associations
·         Making people aware that Estonia is culturally varied
·         Joint activities supporting integration that are organised by or for young people.
 
In addition, two media acknowledgements will be given to a journalist, media channel or publication for covering the topic of inter-cultural and mutual understanding and for valuing tolerance in the media. One grant will be given for Estonian language media coverage and the other for Russian language media coverage.
 
The development grant fund is 4,000 euro, and the media acknowledgement fund is 1,100 euro.
 
For further information, please contact: Tea Tammistu, Coordinator, Civic Education and Migration Unit, telephone 659 9062, E-mail: tea.tammistu@meis.ee
 
 
Content and language integrated learning month (CLIL month) to begin
 
A nationwide CLIL month entitled “Content and language integrated learning as a method of enriching school culture” will be organised from 10 March to 20 April.
 
The CLIL month is organised by the Language Immersion Unit of the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) in cooperation with the CLIL network and other partners, including many schools and kindergartens.
 
We call upon all county governments, local governments and educational institutions in March and April to introduce their experience in content and language integrated learning, i.e. all of you have the opportunity to contribute to the success of the CLIL month and introduce the experience you gained in using this diverse method. If you wish to enrich the CLIL month with your own events, please register your event on the MISA home page not later than 20 March.
 
During the month, special days for open doors, exhibitions, seminars and training will be organised. All events on a county or local government level and at educational institutions are welcome. In addition to the familiar Estonian language, the target language may also be German, English, French, Finnish, Japanese, the Võru dialect of Estonian or any other language.
 
All information on the registered events of the CLIL month will be brought together and published on the MISA home page in the CLIL month events table.
 
The CLIL month consists of three parts: CLIL month, CLIL week and CLIL day.
 
For the second year running, the focus will be on CLIL through similar events. Last spring, MISA organised a CLIL week during which more than 70 events were arranged with partners.
 
For further information, please contact: Maire Kebbinau, Coordinator, Language Immersion Unit, telephone 659 9847, e-mail maire.kebbinau@meis.ee
 
 
Language Immersion Programme trainings calendar for 2011 completed
 
The training calendar includes the introduction of training activities developed in cooperation with the Language Immersion Unit of the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) and the Ministry of Education and Research.
 
The calendar includes a series of trainings during the CLIL month that are intended for directors, deputy heads and teacher trainers in language immersion schools and other schools interested in learning in a second language; information on the summer school for teachers from Harju County and Tallinn; and introductions of trainings for five study programmes on language immersion and the CLIL method as well as a schedule.
 
In 2011, the quality in the language immersion programme is continuingly being emphasised. This primarily means the application of new study programmes with a view to supporting schools in teachers’ self-development in the context of the language immersion programme learning activities.
 
Values of language immersion programme trainings:
·         to learn new work methods and test them;
·         to develop confidence in selecting objectives and activities for a lesson or a longer period;
·         to get acquainted with learning materials and possibilities for their further development and application;
·         to enliven and revise material learned earlier and experience gained in applying this material;
·         to communicate with colleagues from other schools who belong to the language immersion network;
·         to understand the importance of feedback and self-analysis in providing quality.
 
 
Language immersion programme training for management
 
During the CLIL month, the Language Immersion Unit of MISA with the support of the Ministry of Education and Research will organise the following trainings:
 
4−5 April         For school directors. Speakers Irene Käosaar, Maie Soll, trainer David Marsh.
 
6 April            For deputy heads, methodologists, trainers, advisers, etc. educational workers on the CLIL day. Introduction will be made by Irene Käosaar from the Ministry of Education and Research and Katri Raik, the director of the University of Tartu Narva College, coordinators of the language immersion programme, trainer David Marsh .
 
7−8 April        CLIL and language immersion programme trainers and key persons of the programme who are also ready to represent their school by exchanging success stories and experience at future seminars / trainings. Trainers Oliver Meyer and Anu Virovere.
 
The trainings will be conducted at the Conference Centre of Hotel Olümpia at 33 Liivalaia Street. Anyone interested can register for the trainings via the MISA webpage. The number of places is limited.
 
For further information, please contact: Maire Kebbinau, Coordinator, Language Immersion Unit, telephone 659 9847, e-mail maire.kebbinau@meis.ee.
 
 
Study programmes and trainings of language immersion programme
 
Language immersion ABC
Target group: school directors, deputy heads, coordinators of language immersion and teachers who are about to start their work for the language immersion programme or who have not yet participated in any language immersion training.
Hours of training: 28 contact hours.
 
Seven days of cooperative immersion
Basic training of the language immersion programme method for groups in Tallinn and Narva.
Target group: teachers working in language immersion classes who wish to experience cooperation with teachers who teach different subjects at different stages of study.
Hours of training: 49 contact hours.
 
A teacher’s three hats: subject, language and learning skills
Target group: subject teachers who work in language immersion classes and wish to get support as a trainer of learning and language skills.
Hours of training: 28 contact hours.
 
Faster, higher, further – drama as an active learning method
Target group: teachers who work in language immersion classes and wish to make learning more varied.
Hours of training: 28 contact hours.
 
Supportive direct feedback, 5 minutes observation method
Target group: managers of educational institutions, deputy heads, programme coordinators, advisers, trainers, education officials, etc. Hours of training: 24 contact hours, 16 hours of independent work.
 
The trainings are introduced on the language immersion programme homepage. 
 
For further information, please contact: Maire Kebbinau, Coordinator, Language Immersion Unit, telephone 659 9847, e-mail maire.kebbinau@meis.ee
 
 
Äripäev announces the “Multicultural company and working environment” competition. Questionnaires can be completed and submitted by 14 March 2011.
 
PRESS RELEASE OF NEWPAPER ÄRIPÄEV

For the third time, the “Multicultural company and working environment” competition will be conducted this year in cooperation between Äripäev, the European Fund for the Integration of Third-country Nationals, the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People, and the Ministry of Culture.

 
All Estonian companies where people of more than two nationalities work can take part in the competition. Rather than focusing on the number of different nationalities working together in one organisation, the evaluation principles are more concerned with the multicultural atmosphere at companies.
 
“This year, we announce the competition in two categories. One category is for companies and the other is for public sector institutions such as theatres, universities and ministries. This change was made because of the evaluation practice of previous years which showed how complicated it is to compare business companies and public sector organisations,“ commented Meelis Mandel, the chief editor of Äripäev. “We have also changed the method of selecting the winner – we will invite the three best of both categories to a spring seminar to make a short presentation on the meaning and nature of the multicultural environment in their organisation. Based on the presentations, we will determine the most multicultural company and public sector organisation,” added Mandel.
 
In an exemplary multicultural organisation, different attitudes, beliefs and customs of various cultures coexist in harmony. Moreover, such an organisation knows how to benefit from this multicultural environment. As a result of the competition, the companies that value and support a multicultural working environment and create equal opportunities for all employees regardless of their nationality will be acknowledged.
“This is an extremely big opportunity. The people who work for a company influence what the company can do. It is a certain limitation if people are of the same nationality or come from the same place and it is likely that such a company would not operate outside this region or would find it considerably harder,” remarked Sten Tamkivi, the manager of Skype Technologies, the winner of 2009 competition, on the advantages of a multicultural environment.
 
Estanc AS, a producer of containers, was the second place winner of the previous competition and the University of Tartu earned third place. A company’s manager or personnel manager and employees, depending on the size of the company, will have to complete the questionnaires made available at www.ap3.ee/mitmekultuuriline. The completed questionnaires may be submitted by 14 March 2011. The ranking of winners will be published in the 25 April issue of “Management”, Äripäev’s monthly.
 
For further information, please contact: Rivo Sarapik, Head of Äripäev Section Editorial Office, telephone 667 0181, e-mail: rivo.sarapik@aripaev.ee
 
 
Integratsiooni ja Migratsiooni Sihtasutuse Meie Inimesed nõukogu kuulutas välja avaliku konkursi SIHTASUTUSE JUHATUSE LIIKME kohale
 
Juhatuse liige vastutab Integratsiooni ja Migratsiooni Sihtasutusele Meie Inimesed pandud ülesannete täitmise ja asutuse igapäevase ning strateegilise juhtimise eest.
 
Kandideerimise eelduseks on:
  • riiklikult tunnustatud kõrgharidus;
  • majandusalased teadmised ning organisatsiooni juhtimiskogemus;
  • hea suhtlemis- ja väljendusoskus;
  • tugev algatus- ja analüüsivõime;
  • riigikeele valdamine kõrgtasemel;
  • vähemalt kahe võõrkeele oskus (inglise ja vene keel).
 
Kasuks tuleb:
  • töökogemus riigiasutuses;
  • töökogemus Euroopa Liidu struktuurifondidega;
  • varasem kokkupuude lõimumis- ja/või migratsioonivaldkonnaga.

 

Asukoht: Tallinn
Tööle asumise aeg: aprill 2011
 
Ametikohale kandideerijal palume esitada järgmised dokumendid: avaldus, CV, kõrgharidust tõendava dokumendi koopia, kirjalik visioon-tegevuskava Integratsiooni ja Migratsiooni Sihtasutuse Meie Inimesed arengust aastatel 2011-2015 (kuni 3 lk).
 
Avalduste laekumise tähtaeg on 17. märts 2011. Avaldused saata märgusõna all “MISA juhatuse konkurss” postiga aadressil Integratsiooni ja Migratsiooni Sihtasutus Liimi 1, 10621 Tallinn või e-maili aadressil: maie.jyrgens (at) meis.ee.
 
 
Integratsiooni ja Migratsiooni Sihtasutus Meie Inimesed otsib KOMMUNIKATSIOONIJUHTI
(tähtajaline leping lapsehoolduspuhkusel viibiva töötaja asendamiseks)
 
 
MISA tegeleb lõimumisalaste konkursside, hangete ja taotlusvoorude korraldamisega Eesti lõimumiskava rakendusplaani elluviimiseks. Samuti kuulub MISA kompetentsi rändealaste toetuste maksmine Eestisse naasjatele või koduriiki remigreerujatele.
 
MISA kommunikatsioonijuhi eesmärk on avalikkust neist tegevustest pidevalt informeerida ning asutuse sisekommunikatsiooni korraldada.
 
Tööülesanded:
  • meediaplaanide koostamine ja rakendamine
  • sisekommunikatsiooni edendamine
  • pressiteadete ja uudiskirjade koostamine ning toimetamine
  • trükiste koostamine ja toimetamine
  • veebilehe administreerimine
  • ürituste korraldamine ja läbiviimine
  • juhtkonna ja kolleegide kommunikatsioonialane nõustamine
  • jne
 
Kandideerimise eelduseks on:
  • riiklikult tunnustatud kõrgharidus eelistatult ajakirjanduse või avalike suhete valdkonnas
  • vähemalt kaheaastane avalike suhete alane töökogemus
  • oskus nii iseseisvalt töötada kui meeskonnas kaasa lüüa
  • meediasuhtluse planeerimisoskus
  • hea sõnaseadmisoskus
  • tekstide koostamise ja toimetamise kogemus
  • kodulehekülje administreerimiskogemus
  • ladus eesti keele oskus
  • inglise ja vene keele oskus
 
Kasuks tuleb:
  • töökogemus riigiasutuses;
  • varasem kokkupuude lõimumis- ja/või migratsioonivaldkonnaga.
 
 
Asukoht: Tallinn
Tööle asumise aeg: juuni 2011
 
Ametikohale kandideerijal palume esitada avaldus, CV, kõrgharidust tõendava dokumendi koopia ning soovitaja kontaktandmed.
 
Avalduste laekumise tähtaeg on 21. märts 2011. Avaldused saata märgusõna all “Kommunikatsioonijuht” postiga Integratsiooni ja Migratsiooni Sihtasutusele Meie Inimesed aadressil Liimi 1, 10621 Tallinn või e-maili aadressil: maie.jyrgens (at) meis.ee.
 

APRIL 2011

06.06.2018
 
 
 
 
“Nationalities in Estonia” book series introduces the Chuvash people
 
Another book from the “Nationalities in Estonia” series has been completed. This time around the Chuvash people are introduced. The authors of the book, Iraida Zahharova and Ita Serman, take us to a place that is considered one of the gems of Volga region and introduce us to a people that holds the simple rules of life in high regard: deep respect for life and all living beings, carrying on customs inherited from ancestors, and the ability to maintain their culture regardless of life’s difficulties.
 
“Similarity merges. Difference creates an interest to know more.” Based on this idea of Ita Serman, a series of books introducing the customs, culture and life of various nationalities living in Estonia began in 2004 with the help of the former Integration Foundation and present Integration and Migration Foundation Our People. The books published in this series have increased respect among Estonian people for the people of other nationalities residing here in Estonia and vice versa – and the people of ethnic minorities are grateful for the interest expressed in them.
 
The series helps to promote tolerance and achieve a better understanding of each other. The book is intended to be used in history and social education classes in general education schools. The book is made available for a larger number of readers in libraries.
 
The publication of this series is supported by the Ministry of Education and Research.
 
For further information, please contact: Kaie Kullik, Coordinator, Culture and Youth Work Unit, tel 659 9025, e-mail kaie.kullik@meis.ee
 
 
 
Developing support person services for new immigrants
 
The first day of training for future support people who will provide support services to new adult immigrants of third-country nationals who have recently arrived in Estonia was held on 24 March.
 
The project entitled “Development of Support Services for New Immigrants and the Training of Support Persons“ is implemented by BDA Consulting OÜ. The 120 academic hour training programme will be conducted this year from March to October. Those who complete the training will be issued a certificate.
 
Within the framework of the project, the system of support person services will be developed and 20 support personnel will be trained to work with third-country nationals who have recently arrived in the country. The support personnel will start working in different regions of Estonia. During the project, the support person services will be piloted, through which new immigrants will be given directions and instructed in topics such as employment, health, education and social services.
 
The project is being financed from the state budget (25%) and the European Fund for the Integration of Third-country nationals (75%) through the Ministry of Culture, in line with the implementation plan of the “Estonian Integration Strategy 2008–2013” development plan. 31,806 euro has been earmarked in support for the project.
 
For further information, please contact: Ruslan Prohhorenko, Coordinator, Civil Education and Migration Unit, tel 659 9035, e-mail: ruslan.prohhorenko@meis.ee
 
 
Briefings on financing opportunities of two European Union Funds for integration activities in Sillamäe and Kohtla-Järve
 
On 8 April, briefings to introduce the financing opportunities offered by the new “Language Learning Development 2011−2013” programme of the European Social Fund and the European Fund for the Integration of Third-country nationals will be held in Sillamäe and Kohtla-Järve.
 
Activities that are financed through these funds are coordinated by the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA). The plan of competitions organised by MISA, including the current year’s competitions financed by the European funds, are available on the MISA web page www.meis.ee/konkursside-plaan. 
 
Briefings are aimed towards citizens associations and institutions that have received aid or implemented activities as well as those organisations that are yet discovering and seeking opportunities to make their contribution in area of integration. You can register for the Sillamäe event HERE and for the Kohtla-Järve event HERE.
 
During the briefings, an overview will be given of the planned project competitions and activities to be implemented, which are financed by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-country nationals, the Ministry of Culture, and the European Social Fund.
 
The principles and requirements of the European Fund for the Integration of Third-country Nationals will be explained and issues that may arise when implementing the projects will be discussed during the information day.
 
Detailed information regarding all 11 activities the new language-learning programme of the European Social Fund will be provided. that are planned for implementation in the next three years and included in
 
Briefings are being organised by the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture.
 
 
Sillamäe briefings are being held at Sillamäe Huvi- ja Noortekeskus ULEI (7 Vladimir Majakovski Street, II floor hall)
 
Topic:              Financing opportunities offered by the European Social Fund programme “Language Learning Development 2011−2013”
Presenter:        Eduard Odinets, Head of MISA Lifelong Education Unit, Head of Language Learning Development Programme
Time:               11:00−12:00
 
 
Topic:              Financing opportunities offered by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-country Nationals
 
Presenter:        Ruslan Prohhorenko, Coordinator, MISA Civil Education and Migration Unit
                                                                                                             
Time:               12:00−13:00
 
 
Kohtla-Järve briefings are being held at Kohtla-Järve Kultuurikeskus (36 Keskallee, II floor, foyer)
 
Topic:              Financing opportunities offered by the European Social Fund programme “Language Learning Development 2011−2013”
Presenter:        Eduard Odinets, MISA Head of Lifelong Education Unit, Head of Language Learning Development Programme
Time:               15:00−16:00
 
 
Topic:              Financing opportunities offered by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-country Nationals
 
Presenter:        Ruslan Prohhorenko, Coordinator, MISA Civil Education and Migration Unit
 
Time:               16:00−17:00
 
 
For further information, please contact:
 
The European Social Fund: Eduard Odinets, Head of Language Learning Programme, tel 659 9840, e-mail eduard.odinets@meis.ee
 
The European Fund for the Integration of Third-country Nationals: Ruslan Prohhorenko, tel 659 9035, e-mail ruslan.prohhorenko@meis.ee
 
 
The round for submitting proposals for supplementary Estonian language learning for academic level students is open until 20 April
 
The target group for the additional language learning is students of academic level who have obtained their secondary education in Estonia and wish to develop the communicative language and the language skills necessary for obtaining higher education regardless of their level of Estonian. For such people, additional supportive learning will be organised from 2011−2013 with the aim of developing the necessary Estonian language and specified language skills for academic level studies.
 
Institutions of higher education are expected to submit proposals on how they would like to organise additional Estonian language learning activities for their students. The goal is to ensure that as many institutions of higher education as possible would develop Estonian language learning activities using different methods based on the needs and possibilities of their students. The method and cost of teaching are not prescribed. Some institutions may wish to organise a summer school; some may choose to combine speciality and language learning or develop new courses and new teaching aids and carry out pilot courses based on them. The teaching aids developed within the framework of the “Language Learning Development 2007−2010” programme will be also used. At the beginning and end of language learning, the level of Estonian language skills among students will be evaluated. All proposals are welcome.
 

The Integration and Migration Foundation Our People will hold two proposal-submitting rounds from 4 March to 20 April 2011 and from 1 February to 20 March 2012.

 
Reviewing with experts the proposals submitted by schools may take up to two months depending on the hours of language learning and number of proposals. Each school is allowed to submit several proposals. It is important to note that the sums intended for language learning will not be transferred to the school’s account but rather to the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People, which will contract the necessary services. The Foundation will work together with experts and the respective school that has made the proposal before contracting any services.
 
Proposals for cooperation shall be submitted on the required form via e-mail by 20 April. The proposal form and instructions are available on the Foundation’s web page.
 
Language learning is being financed by the European Social Fund programme “Language Learning Development 2011−2013”.
 
For further information, please contact: Jana Tondi, Coordinator, Lifelong Education Unit, tel 659 9069, e-mail jana.tondi@meis.ee
 
 
Submission deadline for proposals for language learning activities for public sector employees is 20April
 
One activity of the Lifelong Learning priority of the programme is called “Language Learning Development 2011−2013”, which involves language learning for employees of public sector agencies and is financed by the European Social Fund.
 
Medical staff, police officers, rescue workers, teachers, employees of educational institutions, personal care workers, employees of youth centres, hobby schools, cultural institutions, and public sector agencies are eligible to participate in language learning activities. For the purposes of this programme, public sector agencies are agencies that have been entered into the state register of state and local government agencies and companies and non-profit organisations and foundations under their control or significant influence.
 
The agencies are due to submit proposals on organising language learning for their employees with consideration for the needs of the particular agency. Proposals must include, among other things, the proposed programme and action plan, its potential organisers, a description of the students’ level of motivation, a description of the employer’s non-monetary contribution (e.g. study rooms, equipment, etc.), and expected costs.
 
Cooperative activities between different agencies and original, novel proposals are given preference. The submitted proposals will be analysed by an expert committee established by the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People.
 
The language learning courses last for 60−120 academic hours. Language learning activities must include an adult education approach, study tours, active teaching methods, and practical language learning. When organising language learning, the language learning aids of special areas (e.g. teaching aids in medicine and security, integrated Estonian language learning materials and a teaching aid to introduce Estonia, etc.) developed in 2010 within the framework of “Estonian Integration Strategy 2008−2013” will be used.
 
Reviewing the proposals submitted by agencies with experts may take up to two months depending on the hours of language learning and number of proposals. Each agency may submit several proposals. It is important to note that the sums intended for language teaching will not be transferred to the account of the agency but rather to the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People, which will contract the necessary services. The Foundation will work together with experts and the respective agency (agencies) that has (have) made the proposal prior to contracting any services.
 
Proposals for cooperation shall be submitted on the required form via e-mail by 20 April. The proposal form and instructions are available on the Foundation’s web page.
 
In order to implement the activity, two proposal-submitting rounds will be held: from 4 March to 20 April 2011 and from 1 February to 20 March 2012.
 
For further information, please contact: Jana Tondi, Coordinator, Lifelong Learning Unit, tel 659 9069, e-mail jana.tondi@meis.ee
 
 
 
Career education project launched for students of vocational education institutions whose language of instruction is Russian
 
The goal of the “Provision of career education services for students of vocational education institutions whose language of instruction is Russian” project is to improve the social skills of young people and their competitiveness in the labour market by improving the quality of career education services designed for students of vocational education institutions whose language of instruction is Russian. The target group of the project includes students of I−III courses who are obtaining vocational secondary education in vocational educational institutions and whose language of instruction is Russian as well as career counsellors of county career centres.
 
The project is coordinated by the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People. The project is being financed by the European Social Fund and Estonian state through national structural aid within the measure entitled “Development of learner-centered and innovative vocational education and widening lifelong learning opportunities”.
 
Within the framework of the project, subject syllabuses for I−III courses of vocational education institutions will be developed. The main topics of the course I subject syllabus are self-image, values, skills, capabilities, and roles. Course II is called “The World of Labour“ and will deal with topics such as the changing world of labour, types of vocational trends, being a good employee, various ways to find a job, electronic information sources, the changing labour market, trends, etc. Course III will handle the difficulties on making job-related decisions and the necessary documentation for a jobseeker, the process of applying for a job, job interviews, etc.
 
To introduce the designed subject syllabuses and materials, a training course for regional counsellors of information and counselling centres and career counsellors of vocational education institutions will be conducted, followed by a pilot career education course for the students of vocational education institutions whose language of instruction is Russian based on the developed subject syllabuses. In addition, career information materials in two languages will be compiled during the project.
 
For further information, please contact: Reet Kallo, Coordinator, Lifelong Learning Unit, tel 659 9841, e-mail reet.kallo@meis.ee
 
 
“Career education courses for working adults with insufficient Estonian language skills” project launched
 
The Integration and Migration Foundation Our People launched the “Career education courses for working adults with insufficient Estonian language skills” project in March.
 
During this project, a study programme for career education will be created and teaching aids will be tailored to provide a quality career education course for working adults who speak other languages in Tallinn, Jõhvi, Kohtla-Järve, Narva, and Sillamäe. In order to improve the level of skills and knowledge of career counsellors, refresher courses will be held in Tallinn and Ida-Virumaa. The programme activities will be carried out until the end of 2012.
 
The project is supported by the “Development of learner-centered and innovative vocational education and widening lifelong learning opportunities” competition round financed by the European Social Fund. The project will be supported with around 100,000 euro.
 
For further information, please contact: Marje Reimund, Non-staff Coordinator, Lifelong Learning Unit, tel 659 9063, e-mail marje.reimund@meis.ee
 
 
Another competition for performing arts institutions to be announced
 
In April, MISA will announce a competition for performing arts institutions entitled “Promoting a common cultural space through cooperative activities”, which is being financed by the Ministry of Culture.
 
For the third year running, cooperative activities of performing arts institutions whose goal is to promote a common cultural space and efficient integration into Estonian society by engaging Estonians and non-Estonians will be supported through this competition.
 
Within the framework of the competition, the activities to be carried out for one month that help to implement the goals of the competition – the joint performances of performing arts institutions and simultaneous interpreting – will be supported. All performing arts institutions registered in Estonia that meet the requirements of the competition are welcome to take part in the competition.
 
The competition is being financed from the state budget through the Ministry of Culture, and the budget of the competition is 67,107 euro. The competition requirements will be published on the MISA web page www.meis.ee. 
 
For further information, please contact: Kaie Kullik, Coordinator, Culture and Youth Work Unit, tel 659 9025, e-mail kaie.kullik@meis.ee
 
 
17 umbrella organisations supported through basic funding for cultural societies of national minorities
 
In March, the results of basic funding for the cultural societies of national minorities were revealed. Altogether, funding to the tune of 313,167 euro was allocated to 17 umbrella organisations.
 
Only umbrella organisations and their member organisations that have passed the evaluation carried out by the Office of the Minister for Population and Ethnic Affairsorganised in 2008 or evaluations carried out by the Ministry of Culture in 2009 were eligible to apply for basic funding. The respective list is published on the Ministry of Culture web page.
 
The goal of the competition round is to find cooperation partners for the state amongst the representatives of different nationalities that have gathered under umbrella organisations. The goal of cooperation partners is to introduce the uniqueness of cultures; to support the activities undertaken by the societies of national culture to maintain, promote and introduce their cultural heritage; to acknowledge the multi-cultural environment in Estonia; and to develop cooperation with each other as well as with Estonian cultural societies.
 
For further information, please contact: Kristina Pirgop, Coordinator, Culture and Youth Work Unit, tel 659 9024, e-mail kristina.pirgop@meis.ee
 
 
“Events and materials related to citizen knowledge and tolerance” competition are launched
 
The Integration and Migration Foundation Our People announced a public project competition entitled “Events and materials related to citizen knowledge and tolerance”.
 
The goal of the competition is to widen pupils’ knowledge of Estonian society and public law institutions, to value Estonian citizenship and being a citizen, to strengthen the tradition of citizens’ day, and to improve tolerance in multi-cultural collectives.
 
The competitions will be supported in the Republic of Estonia’s non-profit organisations and state and local government agencies and will include events and materials related to citizen knowledge and tolerance, including the organisation of multi-cultural events, cooperation between young people of different nationalities, producing thematic teaching materials and aids, and more.
 
The target group of the project is the students of general education schools and vocational education institutions whose language of instruction is Estonian or Russian. All project activities must be carried out in Estonia.
 
Similar projects have been developed and implemented during competitions in 2003−2009. On these occasions, pupils organised various joint events on many themes, from quizzes marking citizens’ day to events and photo competitions addressing tolerance. Hikes that introduce the topic of citizenship and meetings with interesting national figures, etc. have been organised. School newspapers published by pupils themselves, photo stands, and other items and materials created during other projects by pupils have turned out to be very multi-faceted and interesting.
 
All these activities have been carried out with the aim of helping pupils to acquire skills to act as citizens and to acquire truths about how to be tolerant.
 
The competition has continually been supported and will be supported again this year by the Ministry of Education and Research.
 
For further information, please contact: Toivo Sikk, Coordinator, Language Immersion Unit, tel 659 9850, e-mail toivo.sikk@meis.ee
 
 
New teaching aids for teaching Estonian language in a multi-cultural class
 
On 20 April, MISA will introduce six new, fresh teaching aids completed in 2010 that support Estonian language learning in a multi-cultural class in Lilleküla Gümnaasium in Tallinn. The teaching aids were primarily developed to teach new immigrant pupils. The publication of these materials was commissioned by the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People.
 
All six materials have been published primarily for teaching the Estonian language to pupils who have just arrived to Estonia or returned to Estonia from abroad, but they will certainly be helpful to teachers of Estonian as second language. The materials were published for the first time.
 
Materials to be introduced:
1)      an e-learning material entitled “Estonian language in e-learning. Obtaining of vocabulary”, with an accompanying CD,
2)      a textbook “Write to me” to develop writing skills,
3)      a collection of speech improving pictures “Pictures become words”,
4)      a collection of listening exercises “Listen and do”,
5)      a collection of grammar exercises “Grammar? Yes, with pleasure”, with an accompanying CD,
6)      a collection of reading exercises “Let’s read together”.
 
The authors of the materials, Leelo Kingisepp, Mare Kitsnik, Kaare Sark, Õie Vahar, Asko Uri, and Helgi Org, will give tips and make suggestions on how to use the materials during the presentation.
 
In addition, a fresh guide will be introduced on the organisation of education in Estonia entitled “Welcome to the Estonian School!” It has been designed for the parents of pupils who have arrived in Estonia and is published in Estonian and English.
 
The materials have been published with the support of the European Fund for the Integration of Third-country Nationals, the Ministry of Culture, and the Ministry of Education and Research.
 
These materials will be distributed to schools free of charge by MISA. The materials are primarily intended to support the Estonian language-learning efforts of pupils who have arrived to Estonia from abroad.
 
For further information, please contact: Ave Härsing, Coordinator, Language Immersion Unit, tel 659 9037, e-mail ave.harsing@meis.ee .
 
 
Language immersion programme training for kindergartens
 
The language immersion programme provides an opportunity to join a partial and/or full language integration programme. The Integration and Migration Foundation Our People offers various training courses for the kindergartens that have joined the programme.
 
Training for kindergarten teachers: Language Immersion ABC (Basic training for new teachers)
Target group: head teachers, group teachers who start working in language immersion groups or who have not yet undergone a language immersion training course. The 1st session will be held on 14-15 April 2011 at Kersti Võlu training centre in Jõhvi. Please register via e-mail at the following address svetlana.belova@meis.ee.
 
For further information, please contact: Svetlana Belova, Coordinator, Language Immersion Unit, tel 659 9848, e-mail svetlana.belova@meis.ee
 
 
Language immersion programme training course for schools
 
In 2011, the training activities of the language immersion programme primarily include the implementation of updated study programmes during training sessions to support schools in offering self-development opportunities to their teachers.
 
The training course will begin in April in Tallinn:
 
13-14 April “A teacher’s three hats: subject, language and learning skills”
Target group: subject teachers who work in language immersion classes and wish to receive support as a trainer of learning and language skills.
 
For further information, please contact: Maire Kebbinau, Coordinator, Language Immersion Programme, tel 659 9847, e-mail maire.kebbinau@meis.ee
 
 
CLIL MONTH NEWS
 
The Integration and Migration Foundation Our People has organised a CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) month, which will lasts from 10 March to 20 April. Some of the activities and events that will be held this month are discussed below. A full list of the CLIL month events is accessible on the MISA home page www.meis.ee/lak-oppe-kuu.  
 
 
CLIL week to bring interesting trainings
 
The Language Immersion Unit of MISA is organising a CLIL week in Tallinn within the framework of the countrywide CLIL (content and language integrated learning) month. The topic of the week will be “Content and language integrated learning as a method of enriching school culture”.
 
The main events during the week are various trainings. Training for directors of educational institutions that have joined the language immersion programme will be held from 4-5 April, while training for promoters of education who are interested in content and language integrated learning and for trainers interested in the language immersion programme and CLIL will be held on 6 April and from 7-8 April, respectively.
                                                                                                  
The trainers are internationally acknowledged CLIL specialists: trainers David Marsh and Oliver Meyer. Anu Virovere will speak about the impact of values education on shaping school culture.
 
For further information, please contact: Maire Kebbinau, Coordinator, Language Immersion Programme, tel 659 9847, e-mail maire.kebbinau@meis.ee
 
 
Information day “Content and language integrated learning in the first stage of study – the key to the future in the revolving school – experience gained from the language immersion programme”
 
During the CLIL month, the Language Immersion Unit together with the English College will organise an information day entitled “Content and language integrated learning in the first stage of study – the key to the future in the revolving school – experience gained from the language immersion programme” on 19 April in Tallinn.
 
The topics include the future image, the national study programme as a supportive tool for the revolving school, developments in the context of the demographic situation and multi-cultural environment, and the characteristics of a learning school – openness, creativity, cooperation – as possible topics to be used in a subject class. The speakers will be Einar Värä from the Ministry of Education and Research and Anu Virovere, a management coach. The information day offers participants the opportunity to learn about the teaching aids and possible trainings used in the language immersion programme that support content and language integrated learning.
 
Teachers and class teachers of the first stage of study who are interested in the language immersion programme and the experience gained by a user of content and language integrated learning and who see CLIL as a solution for working in a renewed class context with pupils whose native language is a different language are welcome to participate in the information day events.
 
Please register on the information day via the MISA home page. 
 
For further information, please contact: Maire Kebbinau, Coordinator, Language Immersion Programme, tel 659 9847, e-mail maire.kebbinau@meis.ee
 
 
Tens of education institutions will introduce their activities and experiences during the CLIL month
 
Many education institutions have responded to the invitation to introduce their activities and experience during the CLIL month. All CLIL month events are listed on the home pages of MISA and the Language Immersion Programme.
 
 
Open door days, exhibitions, seminars, and trainings will be arranged. Besides customary Estonian and Russian languages, there will be interesting examples of German, English, Azerbaijan, and other languages.
 
All are welcome to participate in the events – please read www.meis.ee/lak-oppe-kuu-2011-uritused
 
For further information, please contact: Maire Kebbinau, Coordinator, Language Immersion Programme, tel 659 9847, e-mail maire.kebbinau@meis.ee

MAY 2011

06.06.2018

 
 

New material will help to introduce the Estonian educational system and school life
 
Recently, material titled Welcome to Estonian Schools was completed at the request of the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) and financed by the Ministry of Education and Research. The material introduces the Estonian school system to those arriving in Estonia and was written by Anu Luure, the director of studies at the Lilleküla Upper Secondary School in Tallinn and instructor Leelo Kingisepp.
 
The material provides an overview of school life and organisation in Estonia, which is intended for families that have recently arrived in Estonia from another country and whose children will be attending school in Estonia. The material provides a short review of the Estonian educational system, introduces the internal regulations at Estonian schools, and makes recommendations on how to help children adapt to the new environment.
 
The material was published in Estonian and English, and the English-language web version is posted on the website intended for new arrivals at http://welcome.teretere.eu/welcome-to-estonian-school.
 
The publication will be distributed free to schools and educational authorities as needed. More information about ordering the materials is available by written request to ave.harsing@meis.ee.
 
For more information, please contact: Ave Härsing, Coordinator of the Language Immersion Unit, phone 659 9037, e-mail ave.harsing@meis.ee
 
 
In the first quarter, 16 people received migration support
 
In the first quarter of 2011, the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) paid migration support to 16 people. Of them, 12 received a total of 8,400 euros in return support in order to return to Estonia; four were paid a total of 1,550 euros in remigration support in order to return to their homelands.  
 
These supports have been available to both returning and departing people for years. MISA is dealing with the provision of support for the second year. MISA assumed the responsibility for the topic of migration at the beginning of 2010 when the Integration Foundation merged with the Estonian Migration Fund, and the name of the new agency became the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA).
 
Remigration support is available to non-Estonians and non-citizens, who after living in Estonia for a long time, have decided to relinquish their residence permits and leave Estonia. The support is meant to help compensate the costs related to the citizens of third countries, who have lived in Estonia for a long time – at least 10 years – and are leaving Estonia.
 
The return support is available to Estonians, Estonian citizens or their descendants that are returning to Estonia. The support is meant to help compensate the costs related to Estonians or Estonian citizens who have lived abroad for a long time – at least 10 years – returning to Estonia, and also, to make it easier for them to adapt to living in Estonia. 
 
More information on the types of migration support and the application conditions are available on the MISA website.
 
For more information, please contact: Martin Eber, Head of the Civil Education and Migration Unit, phone 659 9067, e-mail martin.eber@meis.ee
 
 
The recipients of the development and media scholarships in the integration field have been announced
 
In cooperation with the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA), the Ministry of Education granted four development and two media scholarships totalling 5,110 euros.
 
The purpose of the development scholarships is to appreciate the development of the integration field, including innovative and diversified approaches to involving people of various nationalities in cooperative activities. The media scholarship is intended for journalists or media channels/publications for reporting on cultural and mutual understanding and the appreciation of tolerance in the Estonian media. 
 
The scholarship committee decided to give the scholarship for activities that place value on Estonian as the common official to Albu Basic School; the scholarship for activities supporting intercultural dialogue and cooperation between civil associations to the nonprofit East-Viru County Integration Centre; the scholarship for promoting the cultural diversity of Estonia to the nonprofit Studio Joy; and the scholarship for joint activities for the integration of young people to the Haapsalu Vocational Education Centre.    
 
The recipients of the media scholarships are the Visual Collection Association and the cultural magazine Plug.  
 
In addition, ten projects were recognised with letters of thanks.
 
In addition to the Ministry of Culture, the other members of the scholarship committee included representatives from Tallinn University, the Ethnic Minorities Portal – Etnoweb, the Tallinn Õismäe Russian Lyceum, the Youth Assembly of Estonian Nationalities, the Russian Museum and MISA. 
 
The development scholarship in the field of integration was granted for the 12th time; the media scholarship for the third year. The scholarships and the letters of thanks were delivered on 15 April at the Russian Theatre.
 
For more information, please contact: Tea Tammistu, Coordinator of the Civil Education and Migration Unit, phone 659 9062, e-mail tea.tammistu@meis.ee
 
 
Almost 500 young people will participate in Estonian language study programmes in youth summer camps
 
Within the framework of the project titled “Estonian Language Instruction in Youth Summer Camps” the Estonian language study programme received a total of almost 32,000 euros in support from eight organisations.
 
The project financed by the Ministry of Culture and organised by the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) will support 11 camp sessions with Estonian language instruction at various summer camps, in which about 500 7-to-18-year-olds will presumably participate.  
 
Estonian language instruction for open target groups will take place primarily at the Remniku Youth Camp (see www.lastelaagrid.eu). The families must pay for attendance at the youth camp, but the young people that participate in the corresponding camp sessions and have registered for the language programme will receive free Estonian language instruction. The Estonian language instruction programme will be offered at camp sessions from 5th to 14th July and 18th to 27th July.
 
In addition, the following also received support for carrying out supplemental programmes for Estonian language study: the nonprofit Fän Clab, Newox Sports Club, Lasnamäe Hobby School, ME Study and Development Centre, Jaan Olesk, Kalev Sports Club in Tartu and the Tartu Child Protection Association.  The list of support recipients and allocated amounts are available on the MISA website.
 
Information about state-supported youth camps is compiled on the website administered by the Estonian Youth Centre at www.noortelaagrid.edu.ee.
 
For more information, please contact: Lianne Ristikivi, Coordinator of the Culture and Youth Work Unit, phone 659 9028, e-mail lianne.ristikivi@meis.ee

JULY 2011

06.06.2018
66 young ethnic Estonians travel to Pärnu County to learn Estonian
MISA supports additional language studies of about 500 students

Ministry of Cultural Affairs approved the new Covering Board of MISA

The Minister of Cultural Affairs, Mr. Rein Lang, approved modifications in the membership of the Covering Board of the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) on 10 June. At the meeting of the Covering Board, which took place on 14 June, it was unanimously decided to appoint Ms Laine Randjärv to the position of the chairman of the Covering Board, while Ms Anne-Ly Reimaa was assigned to the position of Vice Chairman.

The Covering Board, which earlier consisted of 13 members, now has seven members. Ms Irene Käosaar, Ms Ruth Annus and Mr. Vitali Gaitšonok were appointed as the new members of the Covering Board. The Ministry assigned Mr. Paul-Eerik Rummo to the Covering Board for the next three-year term. Ms Laine Randjärv, Ms Anne-Ly Reimaa and Mr. Mart Nutt will continue as the members of the Covering Board.

Mr. Tõnis Lukas, Mr. Marko Pomerants, Ms Tea Varrak, Ms Liili Kaska, Mr. Jevgeni Žurjari-Ossipov, Ms Katri Raik, Ms Mary Velmet, Ms Birute Klaas and Mr. Mati Heidmets were withdrawn from the Covering Board, by a resolution of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

Up to 13 members, appointed by the founding institution for a three-year period, can belong to the Covering Board of the MISA. The Covering Board organises the management of the Foundation and conducts supervision over its activities.

Comments:

Ms Laine Randjärv – Vice Speaker of the Riigikogu

“In 2007-2011, as I held my office as the Minister of Cultural Affairs, I had the opportunity to pay special attention to integration issues through a number of different initiatives. In 2007, a Department of Cultural Diversity was established at the ministry of Cultural Affairs and after the Office of the Population Minister was wound up, all the issues related to integration were transferred to the competence of this Ministry. The ministry of Cultural Affairs also established the Cultural Council for Ethnic Minorities, which advises the ministry of the cultural issues of ethnic minorities. In September 2010, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs also supported the launching of a website, which provides an overview of the cultural life of ethnic minorities at www.etnoweb.ee. Through these and many other activities, which are linked to integration, I have encountered a variety of integration-related issues in Estonian society.

As a Chairman of the Covering Board of the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) I would like, above all, to facilitate better access to various competitions organized by the Foundation, seeing that a larger number of organizations and people could participate in various interesting, integration-related activities. I feel that the formation of the new Covering Board is a very positive step, as this is a body consisting of professionals and specialists who deal with integration issues in their regular, everyday work and use an in-depth approach to search solutions for the problems. The resolution to reduce the number of members of the Covering Board is not caused solely by the need to cut down some of the expenses of the Foundation, but also to achieve a constructive, efficient and more dynamic working environment.“

Ms Anne-Ly Reimaa – Undersecretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs

“The most important function of the Foundation is the initiation and provision of support to various activities aimed at integration as well as migration issues within Estonian society. MISA is used to implementing objectives as laid down by the Estonian integration strategy; hundreds of important projects in the sphere of education, culture and media are being implemented; surveys and information dissemination events are being organised; contemporary training and information materials are being developed. In short, the Foundation implements and supervises integration policies, as well as being a creator of co-operation networks and supporter of citizens’ initiatives. It’s good to admit that MISA also takes an active part in international co-operation.

MISA makes use of European Union Structural Funds for integration activities; this will also mean considerable liabilities for the Covering Board. I appreciate the current good and efficient partnership and open dialogue between the Covering Board and the Foundation. Efficiency, competence and the maintenance of strong values is a motto of any good and effective institution. I do hope, most sincerely, that all the valuable ideas, which support cohesion and the development of society through integration aspects, will become a reality.”

Ms Irene Käosaar – Head of General Department of the Ministry of Education and Research

“I’ve experienced integration since childhood, as I was brought up in a bi-lingual and cultural family. I’ve spoken both Estonian and Russian language since I was a child and have communicated with people from both cultural spaces. All my working life has been intertwined with integration – I started as a teacher of the Estonian language in a Russian school in 1992; then I ran a language immersion programme for eight years in Estonia; since 2007 I’ve been working at the Ministry of Education and Research, and I have been involved with general and non-formal education issues of ethnic minorities.

As a member of the Covering Board I want to contribute to the development of the integration process – supporting opportunities for creating cohesion in society and also the greater involvement of Estonian-speaking students and young people in the process. I hope that the Foundation is and will be an even more influential supporter and developer of the integration process and the funds, allocated from both the state budget and international sources will be used, efficiently, for supporting the integration processes in Estonia.“

Ms Ruth Annus – Head of Migration and Border Guard Policy Department of the Ministry of the Interior

“I’ve been working in the field of citizenship and migration policies at the Ministry of the Interior since 2000 and my work has always involved participation in the development of integration policies and co-ordination of their implementation.

As far as the Ministry of the Interior is concerned, integration is immediately linked to the safety and security of Estonian society. I believe that MISA can largely contribute to integrating foreigners with Estonian society. MISA could support various citizens’ initiatives and give people better opportunities for self-realisation – by facilitating Estonian language studies, for example, and supporting people in the process of applying for Estonian citizenship.“

Mr. Vitali Gaitšonok – adviser to the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union’s fraction

“I have not been involved with migration issues within an Estonian context before and this is a new sphere for me. But I do feel that we lack a common, shared opinion regarding integration. Being a member of the MISA Covering Board, I would also like to develop, apart from supporting Estonian language studies, other spheres of the Foundation, which could serve as tools that contribute to uniting the population of Estonia.

During my career, I’ve been always involved with information technology development and IT infrastructure maintenance. Therefore, I would like to optimise the internal MISA processes, using modern technologies and thereby simplifying services for clients using information technology development tools.“

Mr. Paul-Eerik Rummo – member of the Riigikogu

“I worked on integration and migration subjects for quite a long term during my term as the Population Minister, Chairman of the MISA Covering Board and later as a member of the same Foundation, as a Chairman of the Covering Board of the Migration Foundation. I am also focused on integration aspects of educational and cultural draft bills, as a member of the cultural committee of the Riigikogu.

Apart from conducting supervision over the efficiency and legitimacy of the work done by the Foundation, I also see participation in the generation of new ideas and acting as a linking part between the institution and society as a task of a member of the Covering Board.“

Mr. Mart Nutt – member of Tallinn City Council

“I’ve been a member of the Covering Board of the Migration Fund previously and have been involved with issues of integration, migration, refugee, foreigners and citizenship and related legislation since 1992 as a member of the Constitutional Committee of the Riigikogu.

As for the integration, more attention should be given to new immigrants. We must not forget that migration and integration are two sides of the same coin, which cannot be dealt with separately, and therefore, they should be observed together.”

Performing arts establishments were given support for promoting a shared cultural space

The Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) published the list of performing arts establishments that were granted support within the framework of the competition “Promoting a shared cultural space through partnership activities”. MISA, which is allocating support to performing arts institutions for the third year, granted support to six performing arts institutions in the amount of 67,000 euro.

The objective of the competition is to support the cooperative activities of performing arts establishments with the aim of promoting a shared cultural space and of improving efficiency of integration in Estonian society with the participation of ethnic Estonians and non-Estonians. Activities that last more than one month and help to achieve the objectives of the competition, i.e. joint performances of performing arts institutions and organisation of simultaneous interpretation, are supported within the scope of this competition.

MISA supported MTÜ Vene Nukuteater with 14,000 euro that will organise a performance “Let’s read Dovlatov” during the “Dovlatov Days in Tallinn” international literary festival. A support in the amount of 12,065.84 euro will go to MTÜ Banaanikala to stage and perform Rünno Saaremäe’s play titled “Jaanituli” (“Midsummer Eve Bonfire”) in Russian. Loominguline Ühendus Teine Laine (Artistic Association “The Second Wave”) received support in the amount of 14,000 euro to stage a play of Marius Lätte titled “Rasmusele teeb küll küllaga liiga” (“A little bit more will hurt Rasmus”) in Russian. MTÜ Päikesevanker was granted a support of 14,000 euro to stage “Crime and Punishment”. Both SA Eesti Draamateater and SA Vene Teater received 6,070 euro to offer simultaneous interpretation: the first will use its support money for simultaneous interpretation of performances into Russian and the latter to provide simultaneous interpretation of performances into Estonian.

18 applications were submitted to the competition. The competition is financed by the Ministry of Culture from the state budget.

For further information, please contact: Kaie Kullik, Culture and Youth Work Unit, tel 6 599 025, e-mail kaie.kullik@meis.ee

66 young ethnic Estonians travel to Pärnu County to learn Estonian

For eleven years, the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) has supported holding a camp for young people of Estonian origin who do not live in the Republic of Estonia. The camp will be held at three different times and will bring 90 young ethnic Estonians living abroad and local support students aged from 12−17 to Ojako tourist farm in Pärnumaa.

The objective of the camp is to offer the young people of Estonian origin organised language learning, an opportunity to communicate with their peers from ethnic Estonians in a camp atmosphere and participate in joint activities and tours, to provide sporting and amateur arts opportunities and to acquaint them with the attractions and culture of Estonia.

The camp will be held from 5−15 July, 19−29 July and 2−12 August and the young people who will attend the camp come from Finland, Russia (Krasnoyarsk, Upper Suetuk, Moscow, Arkhangelsk, St. Petersburg, Pechory), USA (Virginia, New Jersey, Michigan, California), Ireland, Canada, Lithuania, Sweden, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Italy, Denmark, Belgium, Ukraine, Germany, Belorussia, Norway, and Scotland.

In previous years, altogether 360 ethnic Estonians living abroad have studied the Estonian language and learned about the Estonian culture within the scope of the programme and 66 young ethnic Estonians will attend the camp this year.

The organisation of the camp is being supported by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education and Research.

For further information, please contact: Kristina Pirgop, Culture and Youth Work Unit, tel 6 599 024, e-mail kristina.pirgop@meis.ee

More than 600 public sector officials and employees will start learning Estonian

In autumn, language courses for more than 600 public sector officials and employees will be organised with the support of the European Social Fund within the scope of which language training will be provided for the employees of educational, hobby education and cultural institutions, the rescue teams of city governments and the Police and Border Guard Board, libraries and social welfare institutions.

In order to improve the provision of language training, the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) held a round of proposals collecting where 120 proposals were submitted by more than a hundred institutions all over Estonia. The experts considered successful 32 proposals of which 28 will be implemented. About 4/5 of the institutions that submitted proposals are located in Ida-Virumaa and 1/5 in Tallinn, although proposals came also from Harju County and Pärnu.

“We are extremely glad that people have overcome their fear of undertaking in-service training. The employees of the East Prefecture of the Police and Border Guard Broad working in Narva are given an opportunity to have at least a two-week in-service training at Rakvere police station or Iisaku constable station,” said Jana Tondi, a coordinator of MISA Lifelong Learning Unit.

In addition, kindergarten teachers and librarians are offered the opportunity to overcome their language barrier by practicing their language skills while working for two days in various establishments in Rapla, Tartu, Tallinn, Pärnu, Viljandi or Võru where the Estonian language is spoken.

Tondi said that although the language studies to be organised in 2011−2012 will cost 150,000 euro the actual need for language training is ten times larger.

Language studies will be organised within the framework of the activity “Language studies for public sector employees” of the programme “Language Learning Development 2011−2013” financed by the European Social Fund. The experts considered successful proposals that had clear objectives, incorporated diversified language-training methods and described the motivation of learners. In addition, it was evaluated whether the scope of language training matches the resources to be spent and the purposefulness and objectiveness of money use was also considered. When analysing the proposals, the experts took into account whether the submitter of the proposal intends to contribute to the language training activities.

For further information, please contact: Jana Tondi, Lifelong Education Unit, tel 659 9069, e-mail jana.tondi@meis.ee

A refresher course on the method of teaching specialised language for the teachers of vocational education institutions will be conducted in the autumn

In May, the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) held an open procurement with a simplified procedure “Refresher training on the method of teaching specialised language for the teachers of vocational education institutions”, the winner of which was BDA Consulting OÜ, within the framework of which a training course on the method of teaching specialised language will be held for 40 teachers of vocational education institutions in the autumn of 2011.

During the course, the teachers will learn to use the methods of teaching specialised language provided in the manuals translated within the framework of the programme “Language Studies Development 2007−2010” and acquire skills to use the prepared language training materials.

A refresher training course for the teachers of vocational education institutions will be held within the framework of the programme “Language Learning Development 2011−2013” of the measure “Language Learning Development” of the priority axis “Operational Plan for Human Resources Development” financed by the European Social Fund.

For further information, please contact: Merlin Mägi, Lifelong Education Unit, tel 659 9068, e-mail merlin.magi@meis.ee

Diversified summer school for social science and history teachers

From 14 – 17 September, another summer school for teachers of social sciences and history will take place in Roosta Camping, Läänemaa. 90 social science and history teachers are expected to take part in the summer school; the training is free for the participants.

The following issues will be discussed, among other topics, in the summer school:

  • Comparison of educational systems. Comparison of educational systems of Japan, China, Islamic countries and Europe.
  • Future of Islamic countries, Internet and Islamic countries.
  • Propaganda – definition, theoretical bases, operational mechanisms.
  • Examples of operational multi-cultural society. New immigrant in Estonia.
  • Conflicting persons (non-Estonians) in Estonian history, their contribution to Estonian culture, history, science, politics.
  • Debating and argumentation. Practical art of debating. Options for using debate in a lesson. Practical debate on a subject “The role of social sciences and history teacher in the society”.
  • Introduction to LAK-teaching methodology. Active teaching methods.
  • And other educational and teaching issues.

One can register for the in-service training on the website of OÜ Sola Integra; additional information about the training course is available by calling 6030526 or 5266759 (Aniita Siim).

The training will be held by Sola Integra OÜ. The training was commissioned by the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) and is being funded by the Ministry of Education and Research.

MISA supports additional language studies of about 500 students

The Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) conducted a round of proposal submission to gather ideas for organising additional language learning in higher education institutions. MISA selected 18 proposals from the submitted 25 proposals according to which about 500 students of higher education institutions whose mother tongue is not Estonian will be provided additional supportive training of the Estonian language starting from autumn.

The additional training will cost around 100,000 euro and starting from autumn the students of education, culture, medicine, maritime, arts, economics and information technology whose mother tongue is not Estonian will participate in different language learning activities such as language learning in classroom, contact learning lessons and specialised language practice in language environment. The objective of additional training is to develop Estonian language skills necessary for academic studies at higher education level and the specialised Estonian language.

“Additional training organised based on the proposals ensures the students’ more active participation and commitment because the language training initiative comes from the higher education institutions and the courses are different from traditional language training,” explained the usefulness of the round of proposals Jana Tondi, a coordinator of MISA Lifelong Learning Unit.

“For example, a mini-group from the Kohtla-Järve department of the Tallinn Health Care College will study Estonian in Tallinn for two weeks as a part of speciality-related studies and during practical activities. The students can also be active in the language environment under the direction of mentor students, participate in a culture programme and analyse whether the objectives set by the programme have been achieved,” Tondi gave an example of the activities that were originally suggested during the round of proposals.

Additional language training is organised for the students of higher education level that have acquired their secondary education in Estonia regardless of the level of their Estonian language skills. Additional training to be held in the academic year of 2011/2012 is supported within the framework of the “Language Learning Development 2011−2013” programme activity “Additional language training for the students of higher education level” financed from the European Social Fund.

Altogether 12 higher education institutions submitted 25 proposals during the round of proposals from all over Estonia. Half of the approved 18 proposals, or 9 proposals, came from Ida-Virumaa, 6 from Tallinn and 3 from Tartu.

For further information, please contact: Jana Tondi, Lifelong Learning Unit, tel 659 9069, e-mail jana.tondi@meis.ee

JULY 2011

06.06.2018

Ministry of Cultural Affairs approved the new Covering Board of MISA

The Minister of Cultural Affairs, Mr. Rein Lang, approved modifications in the membership of the Covering Board of the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) on 10 June. At the meeting of the Covering Board, which took place on 14 June, it was unanimously decided to appoint Ms Laine Randjärv to the position of the chairman of the Covering Board, while Ms Anne-Ly Reimaa was assigned to the position of Vice Chairman.

The Covering Board, which earlier consisted of 13 members, now has seven members. Ms Irene Käosaar, Ms Ruth Annus and Mr. Vitali Gaitšonok were appointed as the new members of the Covering Board. The Ministry assigned Mr. Paul-Eerik Rummo to the Covering Board for the next three-year term. Ms Laine Randjärv, Ms Anne-Ly Reimaa and Mr. Mart Nutt will continue as the members of the Covering Board.

Mr. Tõnis Lukas, Mr. Marko Pomerants, Ms Tea Varrak, Ms Liili Kaska, Mr. Jevgeni Žurjari-Ossipov, Ms Katri Raik, Ms Mary Velmet, Ms Birute Klaas and Mr. Mati Heidmets were withdrawn from the Covering Board, by a resolution of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

Up to 13 members, appointed by the founding institution for a three-year period, can belong to the Covering Board of the MISA. The Covering Board organises the management of the Foundation and conducts supervision over its activities.

Comments:

Ms Laine Randjärv – Vice Speaker of the Riigikogu

“In 2007-2011, as I held my office as the Minister of Cultural Affairs, I had the opportunity to pay special attention to integration issues through a number of different initiatives. In 2007, a Department of Cultural Diversity was established at the ministry of Cultural Affairs and after the Office of the Population Minister was wound up, all the issues related to integration were transferred to the competence of this Ministry. The ministry of Cultural Affairs also established the Cultural Council for Ethnic Minorities, which advises the ministry of the cultural issues of ethnic minorities. In September 2010, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs also supported the launching of a website, which provides an overview of the cultural life of ethnic minorities at www.etnoweb.ee. Through these and many other activities, which are linked to integration, I have encountered a variety of integration-related issues in Estonian society.

As a Chairman of the Covering Board of the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) I would like, above all, to facilitate better access to various competitions organized by the Foundation, seeing that a larger number of organizations and people could participate in various interesting, integration-related activities. I feel that the formation of the new Covering Board is a very positive step, as this is a body consisting of professionals and specialists who deal with integration issues in their regular, everyday work and use an in-depth approach to search solutions for the problems. The resolution to reduce the number of members of the Covering Board is not caused solely by the need to cut down some of the expenses of the Foundation, but also to achieve a constructive, efficient and more dynamic working environment.“

Ms Anne-Ly Reimaa – Undersecretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs

“The most important function of the Foundation is the initiation and provision of support to various activities aimed at integration as well as migration issues within Estonian society. MISA is used to implementing objectives as laid down by the Estonian integration strategy; hundreds of important projects in the sphere of education, culture and media are being implemented; surveys and information dissemination events are being organised; contemporary training and information materials are being developed. In short, the Foundation implements and supervises integration policies, as well as being a creator of co-operation networks and supporter of citizens’ initiatives. It’s good to admit that MISA also takes an active part in international co-operation.

MISA makes use of European Union Structural Funds for integration activities; this will also mean considerable liabilities for the Covering Board. I appreciate the current good and efficient partnership and open dialogue between the Covering Board and the Foundation. Efficiency, competence and the maintenance of strong values is a motto of any good and effective institution. I do hope, most sincerely, that all the valuable ideas, which support cohesion and the development of society through integration aspects, will become a reality.”

Ms Irene Käosaar – Head of General Department of the Ministry of Education and Research

“I’ve experienced integration since childhood, as I was brought up in a bi-lingual and cultural family. I’ve spoken both Estonian and Russian language since I was a child and have communicated with people from both cultural spaces. All my working life has been intertwined with integration – I started as a teacher of the Estonian language in a Russian school in 1992; then I ran a language immersion programme for eight years in Estonia; since 2007 I’ve been working at the Ministry of Education and Research, and I have been involved with general and non-formal education issues of ethnic minorities.

As a member of the Covering Board I want to contribute to the development of the integration process – supporting opportunities for creating cohesion in society and also the greater involvement of Estonian-speaking students and young people in the process. I hope that the Foundation is and will be an even more influential supporter and developer of the integration process and the funds, allocated from both the state budget and international sources will be used, efficiently, for supporting the integration processes in Estonia.“

Ms Ruth Annus – Head of Migration and Border Guard Policy Department of the Ministry of the Interior

“I’ve been working in the field of citizenship and migration policies at the Ministry of the Interior since 2000 and my work has always involved participation in the development of integration policies and co-ordination of their implementation.

As far as the Ministry of the Interior is concerned, integration is immediately linked to the safety and security of Estonian society. I believe that MISA can largely contribute to integrating foreigners with Estonian society. MISA could support various citizens’ initiatives and give people better opportunities for self-realisation – by facilitating Estonian language studies, for example, and supporting people in the process of applying for Estonian citizenship.“

Mr. Vitali Gaitšonok – adviser to the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union’s fraction

“I have not been involved with migration issues within an Estonian context before and this is a new sphere for me. But I do feel that we lack a common, shared opinion regarding integration. Being a member of the MISA Covering Board, I would also like to develop, apart from supporting Estonian language studies, other spheres of the Foundation, which could serve as tools that contribute to uniting the population of Estonia.

During my career, I’ve been always involved with information technology development and IT infrastructure maintenance. Therefore, I would like to optimise the internal MISA processes, using modern technologies and thereby simplifying services for clients using information technology development tools.“

Mr. Paul-Eerik Rummo – member of the Riigikogu

“I worked on integration and migration subjects for quite a long term during my term as the Population Minister, Chairman of the MISA Covering Board and later as a member of the same Foundation, as a Chairman of the Covering Board of the Migration Foundation. I am also focused on integration aspects of educational and cultural draft bills, as a member of the cultural committee of the Riigikogu.

Apart from conducting supervision over the efficiency and legitimacy of the work done by the Foundation, I also see participation in the generation of new ideas and acting as a linking part between the institution and society as a task of a member of the Covering Board.“

Mr. Mart Nutt – member of Tallinn City Council

“I’ve been a member of the Covering Board of the Migration Fund previously and have been involved with issues of integration, migration, refugee, foreigners and citizenship and related legislation since 1992 as a member of the Constitutional Committee of the Riigikogu.

As for the integration, more attention should be given to new immigrants. We must not forget that migration and integration are two sides of the same coin, which cannot be dealt with separately, and therefore, they should be observed together.”

Performing arts establishments were given support for promoting a shared cultural space

The Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) published the list of performing arts establishments that were granted support within the framework of the competition “Promoting a shared cultural space through partnership activities”. MISA, which is allocating support to performing arts institutions for the third year, granted support to six performing arts institutions in the amount of 67,000 euro.

The objective of the competition is to support the cooperative activities of performing arts establishments with the aim of promoting a shared cultural space and of improving efficiency of integration in Estonian society with the participation of ethnic Estonians and non-Estonians. Activities that last more than one month and help to achieve the objectives of the competition, i.e. joint performances of performing arts institutions and organisation of simultaneous interpretation, are supported within the scope of this competition.

MISA supported MTÜ Vene Nukuteater with 14,000 euro that will organise a performance “Let’s read Dovlatov” during the “Dovlatov Days in Tallinn” international literary festival. A support in the amount of 12,065.84 euro will go to MTÜ Banaanikala to stage and perform Rünno Saaremäe’s play titled “Jaanituli” (“Midsummer Eve Bonfire”) in Russian. Loominguline Ühendus Teine Laine (Artistic Association “The Second Wave”) received support in the amount of 14,000 euro to stage a play of Marius Lätte titled “Rasmusele teeb küll küllaga liiga” (“A little bit more will hurt Rasmus”) in Russian. MTÜ Päikesevanker was granted a support of 14,000 euro to stage “Crime and Punishment”. Both SA Eesti Draamateater and SA Vene Teater received 6,070 euro to offer simultaneous interpretation: the first will use its support money for simultaneous interpretation of performances into Russian and the latter to provide simultaneous interpretation of performances into Estonian.

18 applications were submitted to the competition. The competition is financed by the Ministry of Culture from the state budget.

For further information, please contact: Kaie Kullik, Culture and Youth Work Unit, tel 6 599 025, e-mail kaie.kullik@meis.ee

66 young ethnic Estonians travel to Pärnu County to learn Estonian

For eleven years, the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) has supported holding a camp for young people of Estonian origin who do not live in the Republic of Estonia. The camp will be held at three different times and will bring 90 young ethnic Estonians living abroad and local support students aged from 12−17 to Ojako tourist farm in Pärnumaa.

The objective of the camp is to offer the young people of Estonian origin organised language learning, an opportunity to communicate with their peers from ethnic Estonians in a camp atmosphere and participate in joint activities and tours, to provide sporting and amateur arts opportunities and to acquaint them with the attractions and culture of Estonia.

The camp will be held from 5−15 July, 19−29 July and 2−12 August and the young people who will attend the camp come from Finland, Russia (Krasnoyarsk, Upper Suetuk, Moscow, Arkhangelsk, St. Petersburg, Pechory), USA (Virginia, New Jersey, Michigan, California), Ireland, Canada, Lithuania, Sweden, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Italy, Denmark, Belgium, Ukraine, Germany, Belorussia, Norway, and Scotland.

In previous years, altogether 360 ethnic Estonians living abroad have studied the Estonian language and learned about the Estonian culture within the scope of the programme and 66 young ethnic Estonians will attend the camp this year.

The organisation of the camp is being supported by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education and Research.

For further information, please contact: Kristina Pirgop, Culture and Youth Work Unit, tel 6 599 024, e-mail kristina.pirgop@meis.ee

More than 600 public sector officials and employees will start learning Estonian

In autumn, language courses for more than 600 public sector officials and employees will be organised with the support of the European Social Fund within the scope of which language training will be provided for the employees of educational, hobby education and cultural institutions, the rescue teams of city governments and the Police and Border Guard Board, libraries and social welfare institutions.

In order to improve the provision of language training, the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) held a round of proposals collecting where 120 proposals were submitted by more than a hundred institutions all over Estonia. The experts considered successful 32 proposals of which 28 will be implemented. About 4/5 of the institutions that submitted proposals are located in Ida-Virumaa and 1/5 in Tallinn, although proposals came also from Harju County and Pärnu.

“We are extremely glad that people have overcome their fear of undertaking in-service training. The employees of the East Prefecture of the Police and Border Guard Broad working in Narva are given an opportunity to have at least a two-week in-service training at Rakvere police station or Iisaku constable station,” said Jana Tondi, a coordinator of MISA Lifelong Learning Unit.

In addition, kindergarten teachers and librarians are offered the opportunity to overcome their language barrier by practicing their language skills while working for two days in various establishments in Rapla, Tartu, Tallinn, Pärnu, Viljandi or Võru where the Estonian language is spoken.

Tondi said that although the language studies to be organised in 2011−2012 will cost 150,000 euro the actual need for language training is ten times larger.

Language studies will be organised within the framework of the activity “Language studies for public sector employees” of the programme “Language Learning Development 2011−2013” financed by the European Social Fund.

The experts considered successful proposals that had clear objectives, incorporated diversified language-training methods and described the motivation of learners. In addition, it was evaluated whether the scope of language training matches the resources to be spent and the purposefulness and objectiveness of money use was also considered. When analysing the proposals, the experts took into account whether the submitter of the proposal intends to contribute to the language training activities.

For further information, please contact: Jana Tondi, Lifelong Education Unit, tel 659 9069, e-mail jana.tondi@meis.ee

A refresher course on the method of teaching specialised language for the teachers of vocational education institutions will be conducted in the autumn

In May, the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) held an open procurement with a simplified procedure “Refresher training on the method of teaching specialised language for the teachers of vocational education institutions”, the winner of which was BDA Consulting OÜ, within the framework of which a training course on the method of teaching specialised language will be held for 40 teachers of vocational education institutions in the autumn of 2011.

During the course, the teachers will learn to use the methods of teaching specialised language provided in the manuals translated within the framework of the programme “Language Studies Development 2007−2010” and acquire skills to use the prepared language training materials.

A refresher training course for the teachers of vocational education institutions will be held within the framework of the programme “Language Learning Development 2011−2013” of the measure “Language Learning Development” of the priority axis “Operational Plan for Human Resources Development” financed by the European Social Fund.

For further information, please contact: Merlin Mägi, Lifelong Education Unit, tel 659 9068, e-mail merlin.magi@meis.ee

Diversified summer school for social science and history teachers

From 14 – 17 September, another summer school for teachers of social sciences and history will take place in Roosta Camping, Läänemaa. 90 social science and history teachers are expected to take part in the summer school; the training is free for the participants.

The following issues will be discussed, among other topics, in the summer school:

  • Comparison of educational systems. Comparison of educational systems of Japan, China, Islamic countries and Europe.
  • Future of Islamic countries, Internet and Islamic countries.
  • Propaganda – definition, theoretical bases, operational mechanisms.
  • Examples of operational multi-cultural society. New immigrant in Estonia.
  • Conflicting persons (non-Estonians) in Estonian history, their contribution to Estonian culture, history, science, politics.
  • Debating and argumentation. Practical art of debating. Options for using debate in a lesson. Practical debate on a subject “The role of social sciences and history teacher in the society”.
  • Introduction to LAK-teaching methodology. Active teaching methods.
  • And other educational and teaching issues.  
One can register for the in-service training on the website of OÜ Sola Integra; additional information about the training course is available by calling 6030526 or 5266759 (Aniita Siim).

The training will be held by Sola Integra OÜ. The training was commissioned by the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) and is being funded by the Ministry of Education and Research.

MISA supports additional language studies of about 500 students

The Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) conducted a round of proposal submission to gather ideas for organising additional language learning in higher education institutions. MISA selected 18 proposals from the submitted 25 proposals according to which about 500 students of higher education institutions whose mother tongue is not Estonian will be provided additional supportive training of the Estonian language starting from autumn.

The additional training will cost around 100,000 euro and starting from autumn the students of education, culture, medicine, maritime, arts, economics and information technology whose mother tongue is not Estonian will participate in different language learning activities such as language learning in classroom, contact learning lessons and specialised language practice in language environment. The objective of additional training is to develop Estonian language skills necessary for academic studies at higher education level and the specialised Estonian language.

“Additional training organised based on the proposals ensures the students’ more active participation and commitment because the language training initiative comes from the higher education institutions and the courses are different from traditional language training,” explained the usefulness of the round of proposals Jana Tondi, a coordinator of MISA Lifelong Learning Unit.

“For example, a mini-group from the Kohtla-Järve department of the Tallinn Health Care College will study Estonian in Tallinn for two weeks as a part of speciality-related studies and during practical activities. The students can also be active in the language environment under the direction of mentor students, participate in a culture programme and analyse whether the objectives set by the programme have been achieved,” Tondi gave an example of the activities that were originally suggested during the round of proposals.

Additional language training is organised for the students of higher education level that have acquired their secondary education in Estonia regardless of the level of their Estonian language skills. Additional training to be held in the academic year of 2011/2012 is supported within the framework of the “Language Learning Development 2011−2013” programme activity “Additional language training for the students of higher education level” financed from the European Social Fund.

Altogether 12 higher education institutions submitted 25 proposals during the round of proposals from all over Estonia. Half of the approved 18 proposals, or 9 proposals, came from Ida-Virumaa, 6 from Tallinn and 3 from Tartu.

For further information, please contact: Jana Tondi, Lifelong Learning Unit, tel 659 9069, e-mail jana.tondi@meis.ee

 
 

AUGUST 2011

06.06.2018
MISA is now also active in Facebook

Schools of higher education and language training companies are invited to tender
 
In August, invitations to tender will be issued, during which the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) will initiate a search for people to carry out Estonian language training for employees in the public sector and supplementary Estonian language instruction for students at the higher education level. 
 
The invitations to tender will be presented within the framework of the “Supplementary Language Instruction of Students at the Higher Education Level” activities of the Language Development 2011–2013 programme financed by the European Social Fund.  The goal of the programme is to provide additional instruction in the Estonian language to Estonian students whose native language is not Estonian during their studies at schools of higher education, in order to develop their academic and professional Estonian-language skills. Within the framework of the “Language Instruction for Public Sector Employees” activities, support is provided for language instruction for adults living in Estonia whose native language is not Estonian and to ensure a level of language skills that is needed to be able to cope in daily life and at work. 
 
Both students at schools of higher education and employees at public sector institutions can study Estonian based on programmes compiled at the initiative of the institutions or schools of higher education.
 
During the 2011/2012 academic year, almost 500 students and more than 600 employees of 28 public sector institutions will receive specific Estonian language instruction that is based on the particularities of their areas of specialisation and needs.
 
According to Eduard Odinets, Head of the MISA Lifelong Education Unit, experiences to date show that participants receive more help of such specialised courses that are directed at a very narrow target group, than for ordinary training that is intended for broader target groups. Odinets said that recently the trend in teaching the official language to adults has been to favour custom-tailored work over mass production, so that suitable opportunities are found for each client.
 
This type of instruction ensures greater participation and dedication on the part of the students, as recommendations are made mostly at the initiative of the institution’s employees and the courses usually take place at the institution. The dedication and motivation of the people participating in language studies is also demonstrated by the fact that most of the participants have set a goal of taking language proficiency exams in Estonian. 
 
“In regard to the proposals from the schools of higher education, I am pleased to see that training visits to other schools of higher education or institutions in the same field have been skilfully integrated into traditional language instruction, with the goal of language and specialised instruction. This active short and long-term language training is beneficial in several ways; for example, in addition to language skills and specialised vocabulary, students also acquire practical skills in their chosen field,” Odinets explained. 
 
The invitation to tender for students at schools of higher education and employees at public institutions will be issued in mid-August at the latest. The invitations will be published on the MISA website: www.meis.ee.
 
For further information, please contact: Jana Tondi, Lifelong Education Unit, tel 659 9069, e-mail jana.tondi@meis.ee

Supplementary language instruction will start for students vocational and adult upper secondary schools

 
The Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) organised a round of proposals for the organisation of supplementary language instruction for students at vocation education institutions and adult upper secondary schools, based on which MISA will organise the preparation of programmes to introduce Estonian culture,     training visits to various Estonian counties, practical training in Estonian-language work environments, student exchange programmes, intensive support instruction, compilation of teaching materials, and popularisation of teaching methods that increase motivation for language studies.
 
For example, the development of coping competences in the language and cultural space will also be supported, as well as education related to intercultural differences, intercultural education and the understanding of Estonian culture through other cultures.   
 
Supplementary Estonian language instruction will be organised in the 2011/2012 academic year in eight vocational education institutions and two adult upper secondary schools.
 
The first round of proposals carried out in order to organise the supplementary language instruction for students at vocation education institutions and adult upper secondary schools within the framework of the Language Development 2011–2013 programme financed by the European Social Fund received proposals from three adult upper secondary schools and 19 vocational education institutions.
 
Based on the proposals received from the adult upper secondary schools and vocational education institutions, supplementary language instruction will be organised for students with native languages other than Estonian, who are studying in vocational education groups with Estonian-language instruction or Russian-language vocational education groups with partial Estonian-language instruction.     
 
The language instruction will be organised in addition to instruction financed within the framework of state-commissioned education and the national curriculum.
 
For further information, please contact: Reet Kallo, Lifelong Education Unit, tel 659 9841, e-mail reet.kallo@meis.ee
 
 
Schools will receive grants for introducing partial Estonian-language subject study
 
With the support of the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA),  twelve upper secondary schools in East-Viru County and Harju County that are transitioning to Estonian-language subject study will receive over 36,000 euros in order to support the acclimation of students coming for Russian-language basic schools to Estonian-language instruction.
“More generally, the activities of the schools can be divided in two – acclimation camps and opportunity courses will take place. The goal of the acclimation camps is to activate the students’ Estonian language skills and to develop positive attitudes toward studying in Estonian. The opportunity courses create a sense of security for students and prevent the decline of motivation or educational success,” Natalia Reppo, Coordinator of the MISA Language Immersion Unit, explained.  

For example, the schools use the grants for travelling from East-Viru County to South-Estonia or Harju County, to organise excursions, visits to museums and theatres, for cooperation with Estonian-language schools and their students, for conducting study trips with Estonian-language guides, for adventure games, meetings with Estonian cultural and community leaders, etc. Foreign volunteers who are in Estonia are invited to the schools to talk about coping in a strange language environment, photo exhibitions are organised along with other creative activities and competitions.
According to Reppo, the project competition does not support strict grading, but encourages young people to communicate and instead of receiving grades the students keep self-analytical diaries in order to assess their own success and contributions to the studies. 
The project competition titled “Support for the Introduction of Partial Estonian-Language Subject Study” is financed by the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research based on the implementation plan for the development plan related to this field of activity titled “Estonian Integration Plan 2008–2013”.
 
More information about the schools that have received grants and the project competition is available on the MISA website. 

Participate in the information day for the project competition titled “Courses – Estonian Language and Citizenship”

 
The Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) announced a project competition entitled “Courses – Estonian Language and Citizenship”, the goal of which is to help third-country nationals and people with undetermined citizenship that live in Estonia to get involved and integrated into Estonian society.  
 
The information day to introduce the competition will take place on 2 August at the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) (Liimi 1, Tallinn) from 1 pm to 3 pm.

Please notify Tea Tammistu, Coordinator of the MISA Civic Education and Migration Unit, of your wish to participate in the information day by sending an e-mail to tea.tammistu@meis.ee.

 
With the support of the European Fund for the Integration of Third-country Nationals and the Ministry of Culture, the MISA will intermediate 240,910 euros, in order to facilitate the better acclimation of the target group in Estonian society through language courses and courses on the Citizenship Act. 
 
The competition guidelines and other necessary information are available here.

MISA is now also active in Facebook  

 
All interested parties can get current information and keep themselves updated with the activities of the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) on Facebook.
 
The Facebook page includes both the newest topical thoughts and news as well as interesting articles, references and recollections of accomplishments (for example, you can find out about MISA’s previous advertising campaigns, to be updated on projects financed by MISA, etc.).
 
You can find us on Facebook at:

www.facebook.com/IntegratsioonijaMigratsiooniSihtasutusMeieInimesed

SEPTEMBER 2011

06.06.2018
 
For the first time, Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) will organise language fairs within the framework of the XIV Adult Learners’ Week on 8 October in Ida-Virumaa and 13 October in Tallinn. The goal of the language fairs is to offer concise language learning information for adult language learners.
 
Training establishments and publishers will attend the fair to introduce language learning services and materials, and several events will be organised such as sample lessons and exams as well as a quiz.
 
The Adult Learners’ Week is a traditional nationwide event organised by the Association of Estonian Adult Educators (Eesti Täiskasvanud Koolitajate Assotsiatsioon), which promotes adult education and learning opportunities. During the week, information days, free training days, courses and lectures and other thematic activities will be offered for the participants.
 
The language fair activities of the Adult Learners’ Week are financed from the European Social Fund programme “Language Learning Development 2011−2013”.
 
For further information, please contact:
Maria Ratassepp, Lifelong Education Unit, tel 659 9068, e-mail maria.ratassepp@meis.ee
Riina Ring, Lifelong Education Unit, tel 659 9030, e-mail riina.ring@meis.ee.

Four new kindergartens to join the language immersion programme

 
With the support provided by the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA), Naeratus kindergarten in Tallinn, Alyonuchka kindergarten in Kohtla-Järve, Rukkilill kindergarten in Sillamäe and Pillerkaar kindergarten in Jõhvi will join the language immersion programme from September.
 
The freshly joined kindergartens will apply the partial language immersion model where three-year-olds start learning the language, and the learning process is arranged so that one teacher communicates with the children solely in Estonian and the other teacher in the children’s mother tongue. The ratio of languages in the groups is equal.
 
In September, regional training seminars for the kindergarten teams will be organised to help the kindergartens in implementing the partial language immersion model. 
 
The kindergartens that have joined the language immersion programme are financed by the Ministry of Education and Research.
 
For further information, please contact: Svetlana Belova, Language Immersion Unit, tel 659 9848, e-mail: svetlana.belova@meis.ee.

Memory game entitled “Periods in Estonian History” completed

 
A study aid memory game entitled “Periods in Estonian History”, which has been designed to be used in Estonian history lessons, has been completed.
 
This memory game is an educational table game that enhances memory development and offers students the opportunity to think, remember, create associations, discuss and speak about the topics of Estonian history.
 
The memory game is scheduled to be introduced for the first time at the summer school for social education and history teachers on 14–17 September at Roosta.
 
The study material was developed through the cooperative effort of Mare Oja, a researcher from the University of Tallinn, and the Tartu Art School. The work was financed by the Ministry of Education and Research. Presently, the number of these games is limited but MISA will organise further production of this memory game depending on interest.
 
For further information, please contact: Maarja Mänd, Language Immersion Unit, tel 659 9853, e-mail maarja.mand@meis.ee.

Specialised language refresher courses to begin for vocational school teachers

 
A refresher course for the teachers of vocational educational institutions on the methodology of specialised language teaching will begin in September, supported by the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA).
 
The refresher course for 40 teachers of vocational educational institutions will be held by BDA Consulting OÜ and during the course the teachers will learn how to use the methodological tools of specialised language teaching included in the manuals translated within the framework of the programme “Language Learning Development 2007−2010”. The teachers will also learn how to use the language learning materials that have been composed to date.
 
The activity is implemented within the framework of the measure “Language Learning Development” of the programme “Language Learning Development 2011−2013” included in the priority axis “Lifelong Learning” of the “Operational Programme for Human Resource Development”, which is financed by the European Social Fund.
 
If you have any questions or you would like to register to the course, please contact: Kristi Rugam, tel +372 5646 6033, kristi@bda.ee.
 
For further information, please contact: Maria Ratassepp, Lifelong Learning Unit, tel 659 9068, e-mail maria.ratassepp@meis.ee
 
 
The summer school for social education and history teachers dissects controversial topics
 
The summer school for social education and history teachers will be held on 14–17 September in Roosta holiday village supported by the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA).
 
The topics of legal protection, active learning methods, propaganda theory and mechanisms will be discussed and the workings of embassies will be introduced at a training arranged by Sola Integra OÜ.
During the summer school, the educational systems of Asia, Islamic countries and Europe will be compared, the contribution of non-Estonians to the culture, history, science and politics of Estonia will be discussed and the participants will be taught how to use a debate format in a class.
 
Discussions will also focus on various European Union institutions, different processes, acute topics and issues and more.
 
The training is financed by the Ministry of Education and Research.
 
For further information, please contact: Maarja Mänd, Language Immersion Unit, tel 659 9853, e-mail maarja.mand@meis.ee.

The winners of the idea competition for the training of CLIL teachers announced

Integration and Migration Foundation Our People organised an idea competition for preparing the study programme for CLIL teachers and the best ideas submitted to the competition were awarded a monetary prize.

The purpose of the idea competition was to find a suitable input for the study programme. Based on the idea entries, the study programme for the training of CLIL teachers will be composed.
The evaluation committee considered the best to be Kai Võlli and she was awarded first prize to a value of 1,500 euro. SA Omanäolise Kooli Arenduskeskus won second place and 1,200 euro.
 
According to Ulvi Müürsepp, the chairman of the jury of the idea competition and the Head of the Language Immersion Unit of MISA, the idea for the study programme for the training of teachers submitted by the first place winner was thorough, well composed and clearly written. Kai Võlli had paid special attention to the methods that enhance cooperation between people.
SA Omanäolise Kooli Arenduskeskus was awarded the second place because they had focused on the skills of adult educators. The ideas regarding the amount of learning and the process of teaching were clearly described and were considered workable.
The activity is supported by the Ministry of Education and Research.
For further information, please contact: Maarja Mänd, Language Immersion Unit, tel 659 9853, e-mail maarja.mand@meis.ee

Journalism competition focused on discrimination issues awaits entries

 
The European Commission awaits print and online media journalists to participate in the “Together against discrimination” competition, which is focused on the issues of discrimination and diversity in Estonia and the European Union.
 
Through the award, the journalists who contribute to a better understanding of the value of diversity and the fight against discrimination in the EU are recognised. To enter the competition, articles must have been published in either print or online media from 18 September 2010 to 10 November 2011. The competition closes at 12:00 (CET) on 10 November 2011.
 
The winner of the competition and the two runners-up will receive vouchers to the value of 5,000, 3,500 and 2,500 euro respectively. The winners of national competitions will receive a prize of 1,000 euro.
 
The current EU Journalist Award is in its eight year. In 2010, more than 1,200 articles were submitted to the competition. The 2010 competition winner was Jeanette Björkqvist from Finland for her article “The Unwanted People” (published in the newspaper titled Hufvudstadsbladet), which focused on the experience of Romani people from Eastern Europe in Finland. Second place went to Edith Meinhart from Austria for the article “Failing Our Intellect”. The article that was published in the business weekly Profil explores the experience of immigrant skilled labour in Austria, viewing from the human standpoint the wasted talents due to discriminating beliefs and also drawing attention to the wasting of economic resources. Rasa Navickaitė from Lithuania was awarded third place for her article “Different, but Happy” (published in the monthly Homo Mag), which discusses the experience of same sex couples raising children in Lithuania.
 
Read the competition rules and make your entry through the competition web page!

Project applications for promoting a common information field awaited

 
The Ministry of Culture opened this year’s second round of the programme “Promoting a common information field through cultural activities, translating literature into foreign languages”, the purpose of which is to introduce Russian speaking people in Estonia to Estonian and local minorities’ literature.
 
Besides translating and publishing contemporary Estonian children and youth literature, applicants may apply for this support to organise literature events and series of lectures and to introduce book culture in the media. The budget of the support round is 20,999 euro.
 
The work to be eligible for support must have been published in Estonian and must not have been previously published in Russian. Support will be awarded to children’s books that are a cohesive whole with both the text and design playing an important role.
 
An application on the general application form with a detailed project description and budget attached must be filed to receive the support for organising literature events and series of lectures as well as promoting book culture and reading in the media. The applicants have to submit the publication application form together with the relevant contracts and details of the previous activities of the translator to receive support for the projects of translating and publishing contemporary Estonian children and youth literature.
 
The application must be submitted to the Ministry of Culture not later than 9 September at 23 Suur-Karja, 15076 Tallinn, with a notation “A common information field through literature”, or digitally signed and forwarded to min@kul.ee.
 
In the spring of 2011, the Ministry of Culture altogether allocated 23,739 euro from the same programme. Then the programme committee reviewed 34 received applications and decided to support 10 projects, including the translation into and publishing in the Russian language of the contemporary Estonian children and youth literature, literature events and introducing book culture in the media.
 
Please find here the advertisement for the application round and a detailed overview of the requirements for applying!
 
For further information, please contact: Artyom Teplyuk, Head Specialist of the Cultural Diversity Department of the Ministry of Culture, tel 55 585 540, e-mail artjom.tepljuk@kul.ee.

Language teachers encouraged to test language learning materials on the Internet

 
Within the framework of the University of Tartu project entitled “Multi-language inter-cultural business communication”, new language learning materials that are designed to help learning Estonian business language in the form of e-learning are now complete. The language teachers are encouraged to test the material at the following address http://estmigkomm.jimdo.com.
 
The primary target group of the e-learning environment are people who learn Estonian as their second language. In this e-learning environment, the language learner can watch videos, listen to audio files and read various texts and do exercises. The e-learning environment provides immediate feedback on the learner’s language skills.
 
The e-learning environment enables the language teachers to use the exercises available in the e-learning environment as homework or additional exercises and to get ideas for conducting group lessons. Although these learning materials are especially beneficial for those who wish to develop their business language skills because the subjects covered are marketing, management, service provision and inter-cultural communication, they may be also beneficial and manageable for general language learners.
 
Moreover, the homepage includes the most up-to-date language learning articles, links to the relevant topics, a list of references, a quiz on Estonia and a feedback questionnaire. Soon the course manual will be added to the page and a DVD with all learning materials for those self-learners who do have not an access to the Internet will be available.
 
Teachers are especially encouraged to test the environment and provide feedback in learning groups. The deadline for sending feedback is 15 September.
 
For further information and feedback, please contact: Katrin Tamm, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Tartu, e-mail katrin.tamm@ut.ee.
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