Non-Estonian speaking youth will start learning Estonian in Estonian families and camps

Career counsellors training programme starts
A Citizens Day essay contest for students is underway

Updated online Estonian language e-tests are now available
Youth workers are invited to participate in methodological training

Non-Estonian speaking youth will start learning Estonian in Estonian families and camps

Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) is supporting nine organisations with more than € 108,000, in order to organise Estonian language instruction for 7-18-year-olds in Estonian families and project camps.

Within the framework of part one of the project competition titled “The Integration of Youth in the Informational and Cultural Space”, support has been provided to the 6th School in Narva, Estonian Sports Club Kalev, Semolen Training, Keila Rural Municipality, the nonprofit Süda Estonian Social Centre, the nonprofit Spend Free Time in Võrumaa, the Kohtla-Järve Ahtme Upper Secondary School, Tallinn Laagna Upper Secondary School and the nonprofit Estonian Union for Child Welfare.

The activities will be conducted until November 2012, and the organisations receiving the support are planning camps for 642 young people, including 303 who are citizens of third countries living in Estonia (EKRK) and young people with undetermined citizenship, while the same number are young people with Estonian citizenship; and an additional 36 EKRK young people will participate family study within the framework of the project support. The study of the Estonian language in Estonian families and camps is one of the most popular activities in the integration field since 1998 and in total MISA has supported the participation of approximately 18,500 young language learners and support students in camps and family study.

The results of a study commissioned by MISA in 2009 show that camps where young people learn Estonian primarily by communicating with their contemporaries and which are based on the young people’s common interests, such as sports camps, promote communications in Estonian between young people of various nationalities.

“The same study showed that young people that have participated in Estonian family life within the framework of family study often maintain their contacts with the Estonian family and being in a family is the most direct way for them to see, experience, understand and learn each others’ languages, culture and customs,” Lianne Ristikivi, MISA Culture and Youth Work Coordinator.

According to Ristikivi, the same study also showed that as a result of family study and camp study courage among the young people to use the Estonian language and, regardless of the their nationality, the young people’s mutual understanding and tolerance improved, as well as their understanding of the other nationality’s culture increased.

For more information, contact: Lianne Ristikivi, Culture and Youth Work Coordinator, phone 6 599 028, e-mail lianne.ristikivi@meis.ee

Career counsellors training programme starts

The Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) started cooperation with Tercare OÜ within the framework of a project titled “Career Study Courses for Working Adults with Insufficient Estonian Language Skills” in order to organise in-service training for 13 career counsellors who will conduct career education courses for working adults with insufficient Estonian language skills.

The theme of the in-service training is taking into account nationality specifics when preparing and carrying out career education courses, as well as the introduction of the curriculum for career education courses and its practical implementation. The career counsellors are career information specialists from the Unemployment Insurance Fund, as well as career coordinators from the information and advisory centres in East-Viru and Harju Counties.

“The popular position is that only those who have lost their jobs need career education. We wish to end this stereotype and to provide career education to working people, including those who have seniority and experiences and not those who are very young,” Eduard Odinets, MISA Head of Lifelong Education said.

According to Odinets, the foundation hopes that, despite the fact that they are busy, working adults will find the time to participate in career study, in order to consider their work-related future with an experienced and well-training specialist and to improve their career-related outlooks for the future.

The budget for the project is close to 102,000 euros and its activities will continue until the end of 2012. The project is being financed by the European Social Fund and Estonian budgetary measure titled “The development of learner-based and innovative vocational education and expanding the opportunities for lifelong education.”

For more information, contact: Riina Ring, Lifelong Education Unit, phone 659 9030, e-mail riina.ring@meis.ee

A Citizens Day essay contest for students is underway

The Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) and the Ministry of Education and Research announced an essay contest for Citizens Day titled “What does being an Estonian citizen mean to me”; in the course 7-12-grade students are invited to submit essays.

The purpose of the competition is to collect the topics that interest students and their opinions about being citizens, to recognise the students and increase tolerance among young people.

“The selection of the topic for this year’s contest is not accidental. The implementation of the new national curriculum started to be introduced in the schools as of 1 September of this year, and one of the most important keywords in the new curricula is citizen activism,” said Irene Käosaar, Head of the General Education Department at the Ministry of Education and Research.

“Our wish is that young people develop into entrepreneurial and responsible citizens who dare to and are able to take part in democratic processes, by participating and managing them,” Irene Käosaar explained.

The contest entries will be evaluated by a 5-member panel, which includes Irene Käosaar, Head of the General Education Department at the Ministry of Education and Research; Siiri Tooming, chief specialist at the Cultural Diversity Department of the Ministry of Culture; Toivo Sikk, Coordinator of Language Immersion at the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People; Janek Murakas, teacher at the Viimsi Upper Secondary School, and Dmitri Rõbakov, civics and history teacher at the Tallinn City Centre Russian Upper Secondary School.

There will be one first prize, two second and third prizes, as well as an incentive award in each of the two age groups of the competition.

To participate, students should submit an essay that is up to 2 pages long (about 3,600 characters) between 10 October and 11 November to the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People at Liimi 1, 10621 Tallinn or by e-mail to toivo.sikk@meis.ee.

The detailed terms and conditions for the competition are available at http://www.meis.ee/kodanikupaeva-esseekonkurss
 
Citizens Day is dedicated to Estonian citizens, pride in citizenship and the provision of information regarding the rights and obligations of being a citizen. Through the years, the tradition of celebrating Citizens Day has turned into nice tradition – into Citizens Day Week, during which many institutions celebrate Citizens Day. Citizens Day Week is dedicated to all the creative and active people living in Estonia. The motto of this year’s Citizens Day is “Grown to be a Citizen”. For more information about celebrating Citizens Day, see the website at http://kodanik.err.ee.

Updated online Estonian language e-tests are now available

The TESTEST website of the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) has been supplemented with new tests and made even more user-friendly.

The old website, which was completed in January 2010, comprised only one set of test assignments and did not explain precisely for whom or what these tests were intended.

The new updated TESTEST provides the user with four times as many test assignments and using the website has been made more convenient and comprehensible. Also, information on the types of tests, language proficiency levels, and Estonian language proficiency examination is now provided in five languages (Estonian, English, Russian, Turkish and Ukrainian).

The improvements allow a large number of people to take the tests and provide them with more opportunities for checking their Estonian language skills.

TESTEST is an interactive testing and practice environment, which is directed at Estonian language learners who what to get feedback regarding their language skills. It also provides support to those who wish to attend Estonian language courses or plan to take Estonian language proficiency exams, but cannot decide which level course or exam to choose. The website targets adult citizens of third countries (including those with undetermined citizenship) living in Estonia, and TESTEST promotes the integration of third-country nationals into Estonian society through the development of language skills.

TESTEST allows the test taker to choose between different language proficiency levels (A2-, B1-, B2- or C1-level) and constituent skills (writing, listening, reading and speaking). The tests are checked by a computer programme that provides feedback regarding the success of the effort according to individual questions, as well as statistically, and directing the test taker to a more appropriate level, if necessary. Information on the structure of the proficiency exams and the assignment types and options are also provided on the website. The tests have been prepared by specialists from Tallinn University and the National Examination and Qualification Centre.

TESTEST was developed by Juku Lab OÜ, a provider of web-based study environments, who are promoters of e-education. The project is being financed by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals (EIF), the Ministry of Culture and MISA.

TESTEST is available online at http://web.meis.ee/testest. Additional information can also be found on TESTEST’s Facebook page.

Youth workers are invited to participate in methodological training

The Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) invite youth workers to attend practical training sessions related to the methods used in the Language Camp Handbook and the compendium titled The Youth Worker in a Multicultural Environment, which are part of the “Methods Captivate” series. The training course will be held on 28-29 November at the Kohtla Mining Park and Museum.

The course will be carried out by Leelo Kingisepp, a methodologist of Estonian language education, and Aurika Komsaare, an expert on simulation games and university lecturer.

The working language for the training is Estonian; whispered translation from Russian will also be provided onsite. Each participant will receive the entire text of the publications, as well as worksheets and tools for carrying out these methods in their work. Those who complete the training will receive a certificate from MISA.

The training can accommodate 10 Estonian-speaking and 10 Russian-speaking youth workers. Please register by 23 November by filling out the form on the MISA website. The necessary additional information for participating in the training course is also available on this website.

The participants will be provided with free transport, training materials, overnight accommodations and catering. The training is financed by the Ministry of Education and Research.

For more information, contact: Lianne Ristikivi, Culture and Youth Work Coordinator, phone 6599 028, e-mail lianne.ristikivi@meis.ee

Young people acknowledge a citizen’s responsibility in Citizen’s Day essay competition
A language learning game set for kindergarten children will soon be completed

Young people acknowledge a citizen’s responsibility in Citizen’s Day essay competition

Altogether 203 essays from 60 schools throughout Estonia were submitted to the essay competition of the Ministry of Education and Research and the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA), which was dedicated to the Citizen’s Day and called “What does it mean for me to be a citizen of Estonia?”.

The objective of the competition in two age groups was to collect topics that pupils are interested in and their opinions about being a citizen, to recognise pupils and increase tolerance among young people. Eleven pupils were awarded and the best were 9th grade pupils.

Among the pupils of 7−9th grades, an essay from Mark Basalõga, a 9th grade pupil from Tallinn Mustamäe Gümnaasium, was awarded first place. Second place went to Koidu Kask, an 8th grade pupil from Kaagvere Erikool, and Anna-Katrin Krestinov, a 9th grade pupil from Saku Gümnaasium. Maria Bambus and Ireene-Britt Ollino, 9th grade pupils from Tallinn Prantsuse Lütseum and Katrin Sander, a 9th grade pupil from Tallinna Ühisgümnaasium earned third place.

The jury decided to give a special award to Kristin Vaisma, a 9th grade pupil from Keila School.

No first award was given in the competition of 10−12th grade pupils. Second place went to Ingrid Öövel, a 12th grade pupil from Tallinna Prantsuse Lütseum, and Kristina Smirnova, a 12th grade pupil from Tallinna Kesklinna Vene Gümnaasium. Tõnis Kirsipuu, a 12th grade pupil from Saku Gümnaasium, and Heleri Helemäe, a 10th grade pupil from Abja Gümnaasium received third place.

Toivo Sikk, a Coordinator of the Language Immersion Unit of MISA and a member of the jury said that pupils have often not thought through about what being a citizen means and they tend to confuse nationality and citizenship.

“Although our constitution was cited, attention was drawn to the fact that our young people take part in environment protection events and in the work of NGOs and the topic of elections was also discussed; however, the concept of being a citizen is still unclear for many. It was positive that the pupils see that today’s young people have the responsibility and role as the promoters of the life of society, and it is clear that bringing the topic of citizenship and the possibilities to be a good citizen closer to young people is important. We will take this need into account in the coming year when organising the Citizen’s Day quiz and also when planning the essay competition,” said Sikk.

MISA plans to publish a collection of the best essays in January and make this essay competition a tradition.

The Citizen’s Day essay competition was conducted from 10 October to 11 November and it was one event in a series of Citizen’s Day events. Citizen’s Day is celebrated on 26 November in Estonia and this is dedicated to the citizens of Estonia, improving awareness of the pride in being a citizen and the rights and responsibilities arising from being a citizen.

For further information, please contact: Toivo Sikk, Language Immersion Unit, Coordinator, tel 659 9850, e-mail toivo.sikk@meis.ee  

A language learning game set for kindergarten children will soon be completed

In March 2012, the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) will issue a language game set to support the early learning of the Estonian language by kindergarten children whose mother tongue is other than Estonian, and to supplement the book series “Let’s read together!”.

From 2004−2010, MISA published a series of books entitled “Let’s read together!” that are linked to the topics of the national curriculum for kindergartens and designed as a resource material in the language learning of 3−7 year old children.

“The books from the series “Let’s read together!” are suitable for reading together for children, parents and kindergarten teachers and the beautiful and detailed pictures allow us to teach the children to notice, describe, list, name and shape their understandings,” explained Svetlana Belova, a Coordinator of the Language Immersion Unit of MISA.

The language learning game set that will be completed as a result of procurement “Language learning materials for kindergartens” and a set of cards with holophrases include six cubes with pictures from different books and speech cards. The activities with these cubes enable us to develop a child’s verbal expression skill, logical thinking and making associations. The cards with holophrases help the teachers to make it easy for children whose mother tongue is different from the Estonian language to understand everyday activities and support the learning of linguistic forms related to routine activities.

“With the help of speech cards, children can remember and practice sentence patterns together with their teacher. The language game set comes with a methodological guide for teachers, in which there are ideas on how to use the speech cards in pair, group and individual games for children of different ages and on how to link everyday activities in the kindergarten and the book series,” added Belova.

The issuance of these learning materials is financed by the Ministry of Education and Research.

For further information, please contact: Svetlana Belova, Language Immersion Unit, Coordinator, tel 659 9848, e-mail svetlana.belova@meis.ee  

Culture societies of national minorities can apply for base-line funding
A new simulation game opens the background of cultural integration
More than 600 public sector employees have undergone specialised Estonian language learning courses

Culture societies of national minorities can apply for base-line funding

The Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture announced an application round for the baseline financing of national cultural societies to support with more than 313,100 euro the activities of cultural organisations of national minorities through umbrella organisations.

There are 244 attested national cultural societies and umbrella organisations in Estonia. The objective of the umbrella organisations of the cultural societies of minorities is to introduce the uniqueness of cultures and to support the national cultural societies for the purpose of preserving, promoting and introducing cultural heritage. The cultural societies and umbrella organisations communicate to the society the idea of a multicultural Estonia and develop cooperation with each other as well as with Estonian cultural societies.

Only umbrella organisations and their member organisations that have been attested by the Office of the Minister of Population and Ethnic Affairs in 2008 or by the Ministry of Culture in 2009 can apply for baseline financing. The list of attested societies and umbrella organisations is available here!

Applications must be submitted to the competition by 2 February. The requirements of the competition are available on the MISA homepage.

The project competition is financed by the Ministry of Culture within the framework of the Estonian Integration Strategy 2008−2013.

For further information, please contact Kristina Pirgop, Culture and Youth Work Unit, Coordinator, tel 659 9024, e-mail kristina.pirgop@meis.ee.

A new simulation game opens the background of cultural integration

The Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) initiated the development of the “Sources” simulation game that may be used as a learning tool in understanding the ideas of cultural integration.

The game is primarily designed to be used at the upper secondary school level during regular lessons but it is also ideal for a younger age group. The game can be utilised in work with students or during adult refresher courses.
The game lasts for about 90 minutes and the optimal number of players is 6−30 people.

“The game allows for discussion on the most important aspects of cultural integration and to see them from a new viewpoint. What the players gain from the experience are new perspectives and a wish to examine integration topics more deeply in future,” explained Maarja Mänd, the Coordinator of the Language Immersion Unit of MISA.

“This is the most significant difference of a simulation game compared to common teaching methods. Although the players will not gain a thorough and complete overview of the various aspects of cultural integration by simply playing the Source game, playing this game will definitely improve the understanding of the theoretical discussions and debates in society on this topic,” added Mänd.

Information days introducing the simulation game will be held on 3 February in Tallinn and on 10 February in Narva.

The creator of the game is Ivar Männamaa from the University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy and the co-creators are professor Raivo Vetik (Tallinn University) and docent Innar Liiv (Tallinn University of Technology). The design and product development was managed by Tartu Art School. The production of the game is financed by the Ministry of Education and Research within the framework of the Estonian Integration Strategy 2008−2013.

For further information and registration to the information days, please contact Maarja Mänd, Language Immersion Unit, Coordinator, tel 659 9853, e-mail maarja.mand@meis.ee.

More than 600 public sector employees have undergone specialised Estonian language learning courses

In 2011, the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) organised Estonian specialised language learning courses for 604 public sector employees to the tune of more than 155,000 euro.

Face-to-face learning and collective training visits were conducted in 60−120 academic study hours during 27 different training courses. In addition, the employees received individual tuition in the form of in-service training, mentor learning and learning trips.

Medical staff, police officers, rescue workers, teachers and other employees of educational institutions, care workers, employees of youth centres, hobby schools, culture institutions and public sector employees took part in language learning.

“Active learning methods are employed during the courses – for example true to life role play and simulation games because often the participants do not have the courage to express themselves spontaneously. To that end, the teachers create appropriate situations and tasks that encourage more active learning,“ commented Jana Tondi, the Coordinator of the Lifelong Learning Unit of MISA.

“It could be said that during a class the learners mostly speak and the teacher acts in the capacity of a conductor that encourages, instructs and directs and corrects errors only if truly necessary,“ added Tondi.

MISA has been assisting public sector language learning with the support of the European Social Fund since 2007. From 2007−2010, 1,235 participants successfully attended language training and 176 people participated in workforce exchange. The activities were supported with more than 8.9 million EEK.

The activities in 2011 were implemented within the framework of the programme "Language Learning Development 2011−2013" of the measure “Language Learning Development” of the priority axis “Lifelong Education” of the Human Resource Development Operational Programme. The language learning activities will continue in 2012.

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

Working adults will have free career education courses
School administrators are adjusting to diversifying school environments

LAK-instruction training will start in March for training providers

Sunday school teachers of ethnic culture societies acquired new knowledge

Working adults will have free career education courses

The Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) is organising working adults with limited Estonian language proficiency free career education courses, the goal of which are to increase the competitiveness and ability of the participants to cope in everyday life and in the labour market.

The courses will take place in Tallinn, Jõhvi, Kohtla-Järve, Sillamäe and Narva. The courses are comprised of 24 academic hours of auditory study and 10 hours of independent study. The courses include group work and discussions as well as role-playing; practical assignments are solved and reciprocal feedback is provided; talks and study trips are organised and an individual approach towards the participants is employed. The working languages of the courses are Estonian and Russian.

“Mostly people seek out a career counsellor or attend a course after they have lost their job, although one should constantly deal with developing one’s competitiveness. Career education is not only intended for young people or the unemployed. It is also important for working people, in order to make them aware of workers’ rights, the expectations of employers, how best to apply their strengths, etc.,” explained Eduard Odinets, Head of the MISA Lifelong Education Unit.

“These new courses are intended for those working adults who have no higher education and have limited proficiency in Estonian because, as we know, this target group is less competitive than workers who have a higher level of education and proficiency in Estonian,” added Odinets.

The target group for the career education courses is working adults who are at least 27 years old and have a lower level of education, who have limited Estonian language proficiency and who wish to increase their competitiveness in the labour market.

The courses will help the participants to develop skills in the management of personal development, to improve their study and work motivation, to increase their awareness of developments in the labour market and trends in the employment market as well as the employers’ expectations for employees. In addition, the participants will also find out about the possibilities offered by career services and supports systems as well as increase their competitiveness and ability to cope.

The courses will deal with the participants individually and help them with self-analysis and self-regulation and the development of communications and cooperation skills.

The free courses will take place in Estonian and Russian, as required. Upon completion of the course, the participants will be given a certificate by MISA attesting to the completion of the course.

For the schedule and more information, see www.meis.ee/karjaarioppekursused and www.meis.ee/kursused-rus!

The courses will take place within the framework of the “Career study courses for working adults with insufficient Estonian language skills” project of the “The development of learner-based and innovative vocational education and expanding the opportunities for lifelong education” measure of the priority with the title Implementation Plan for the Development of Human Resources financed by the European Social Fund.

For additional information, please contact: Riina Ring, Coordinator in the Lifelong Education Unit, phone 659 9030, e-mail riina.ring@meis.ee  

School administrators are adjusting to diversifying school environments

January saw the start of a training project entitled “Inter-school cooperation and multiculturalism in school” targeting school administrators from Estonian and Russian language schools, which is the result of a procurement carried out by the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA).

The main objective of the training for school administrators is to support better information exchange and cooperation between schools with the same and different languages of instruction, and to provide knowledge on how to better cope with the cultural diversification of the student body.

“The topics covered by the training include the need and inevitability of change in school; the themes of school culture, values and school development; partnerships between school administrators and schools, and the cooperation opportunities for the optimisation of resources,” commented Ave Härsing, MISA Coordinator of the Language Immersion Unit.

“In addition, the focus will be on the planning and evaluation of developmental management; cultural diversification within the context of the new curriculum will also be dealt with; as will the development of multicultural identities, values, attitudes, cultural awareness and tolerance in schools and the school curriculum,” Härsing added.

Fifteen school administrators from Estonian-language schools and fifteen from Russian-language schools will also participate in lectures and discussions as well as practical seminars and school visits. They will also acquire knowledge about the language strategy in schools and the opportunities for subject and language study.

The in-service training for school administrators is being financed by the Ministry of Education and Research within the framework of the Estonian Integration Plan for 2008-2013, and the training will be carried out by Implement Inscape. The training will continue until June.

For more information, please contact: Ave Härsing, Coordinator in the Language Immersion Unit, 659 9037, e-mail: ave.harsing@meis.ee  

LAK-instruction training will start in March for training providers

At the initiative of the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA), a basic training course for training providers for integrated subject and language instruction (LAK-instruction) will start in March.

The training will start in 2012 and end in 2013, and it includes 120 hours of in-service training (in 2-day modules) and a 16-hour study seminar. The goal of the training is to increase the number of LAK-instruction training providers and provide better support to the teachers of various subjects in general education schools, in order to allow students the opportunity to develop their target language skills in their subject classes.

As a result of the training, the participants will acquire knowledge about LAK-instruction methods and the preparation of training materials; basic knowledge about the training of adults and practical knowledge about the technical organisation of training courses.

“The course will be conducted utilising the methods and principles of LAK-instruction. Since the methods and principles of LAK-instruction are well-coordinated with the provisions of the new basic school and upper secondary school curriculum, the training course will help to delve into the opportunities and challenges provided by the new curriculum” commented Maarja Mänd, Coordinator in the MISA Language Immersion Unit.

“We welcome all of those who feel a need to share their teaching experiences with colleagues; wish to help with the transition to Estonian-language subject teaching and with the opportunities to popularise the implementation of LAK-instruction in Estonia by improving their professional competence in the management of various processes related to learning,” Mänd added.

Applicants must compete for the right to participate in the training group. The training working language is Estonian!

The applicants must fulfil the following requirements:

• higher education;
• at least one year’s experience as a teacher or training provider;
• the wish and readiness to start training other teachers;
• a positive attitude towards the implementation of integrated subject and language instruction;
• an interest (and preferably also experience) in the implementation of methods to activate students.

Applicants must notify Marita Tanil, Coordinator in the Development Centre for Schools with Distinction Foundation by 12 February by e-mail at tartu@ami.ee or by phone at 742 8777, where more information is also available about the content of the training course and the application requirements.

The training is being organised and conducted by the Development Centre for Schools with Distinction Foundation of the Institute for the Open Mind (AMI). The activity is being financed by the Ministry of Education and Research within the framework of the Estonian Integration Plan for 2008-2013.

Additional information: Maarja Mänd, Coordinator in the Language Immersion Unit, phone 659 9853, e-mail maarja.mand@meis.ee  

Sunday school teachers of ethnic culture societies acquired new knowledge

The training of the Sunday school teachers of ethnic culture societies, which was ordered by the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) and focuses on the creation of a secure teaching and learning environment for developing creativity, ended in January.

Twenty-seven Sunday school teachers participated in the training that learned about teaching methods, the psychological principles for teaching and learning and the implementation of strengths and weaknesses in studies.

“The Sunday school teachers of ethnic culture societies have been attending training courses since 2004, and although we have trained many teachers during this period, there is a great need to continue because new Sunday schools and teachers have been added in the meanwhile. In addition to increasing competence, these training courses are important from the perspective of sharing experiences, because Sunday school teachers include people who do not have any teacher training,” comments Kristina Pirgop, Coordinator in the Language Immersion Unit.

There are almost 40 Sunday schools registered in Estonia, which teach children of various ethnic backgrounds the culture, language and customs of their country of origin and how to introduce their culture to the residents of Estonia.

The training was conducted by Õie Vahar and Helgi Org, and the training was financed by the Ministry of Education and Research within the framework of the Estonian Integration Plan for 2008-2013.

More information: Kristina Pirgop, Coordinator in the Language Immersion Unit, phone 659 9024, e-mail kristina.pirgop@meis.ee  

Content and language integrated learning courses for teachers of vocational schools begun
A new season of training courses of the language immersion programme is about to be opened

State acknowledged MISA for furthering subject learning in the Estonian language
An invitation to a dissemination event for Immigrant Inclusion by eParticipation project outcomes

Content and language integrated learning courses for teachers of vocational schools begun

In the middle of February, the foundation SA Omanäolise Kooli Arenduskeskus started to conduct refresher courses on the methodology of content and language integrated learning (CLIL) and on the compilation of learning materials for the language and vocational teachers of vocational educational institutions commissioned by the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA).

“CLIL is concurrently content and language learning and requires that subject teachers also teach language to some degree. This is why the common language learning materials are not suitable for CLIL because these materials have to support the content of each subject, including the area of specialisation,” explained Eduard Odinets, Head of the Lifelong Learning Unit of MISA.

“During the training course, a wide range of topics will be dealt with and the teachers will obtain knowledge on the CLIL basics and examples of application, the development of teacher and pupil, how to shape learning environment and much more. The teachers will observe at least three different lessons where CLIL is applied,“ commented Odinets.
The training courses in which a total of 80 teachers participate will be held in Narva, Tartu and Tallinn and continue until December 2012. Within the framework of the programme “Language Learning Development 2007−2010” of the European Social Fund, 48 teachers of vocational educational institutions have completed a full CLIL course.

The training courses will be held within the framework of the programme “Language Learning Development 2011−2013” of the measure “Language Learning Development” of the priority axis “Lifelong Learning” of the Human Resource Development Action Plan financed by the European Social Fund.

For further information, please contact: Maria Ratassepp, Lifelong Learning Unit, tel 659 9068, e-mail maria.ratassepp@meis.ee

A new season of training courses of the language immersion programme is about to be opened

March is the first month that opens the 2012 training calendar of the language immersion programme with two study programme trainings that will begin on 30 March in Tallinn.

The target group of the training course “A teacher’s three hats: subject, language and learning skills” is subject teachers that wish to enrich the learning experience and offer assistance as a developer of learning and language skills. The total volume of the training course is 28 contact hours. The training will be held by experienced study programme developers and trainers, Anne Kloren and Anu Parts, who is head of the study programme.

The target group of the training course “Faster, higher, farther – drama as a tool of active learning” is teachers that wish to diversify learning experience. The total volume of the training course is 28 contact hours. The training course will be held by trainers with language immersion class teaching experience, Tatjana Baum-Valgmaa and Anna Sele, who is head of the study programme.

The objective of the language immersion programme training courses is to offer opportunities to learn new tools and methods and to try them out. These courses also help build confidence in selecting goals and activities for a lesson or a longer period; study learning materials and their further development and possibilities to apply them; enliven and remind what has been learned and experiences obtained when applying what has been learned; relate with colleagues that belong to the language immersion network from other schools; understand the importance of feedback and self-analysis in ensuring quality, etc.

Information on the following training courses and registration links to the training courses can be found here. The working language of the courses is Estonian, support for Russian speakers will be offered. The courses are financed by the Ministry of Education and Research within the framework of the Estonian Integration Plan for 2008-2013

For further information, please contact: Maire Kebbinau, Language Immersion Programme, Coordinator, tel 659 9847, e-mail maire.kebbinau@meis.ee

State acknowledged MISA for furthering subject learning in the Estonian language

On 15 February, at the Estonian Drama Theatre, the Ministry of Education and Research acknowledged Maire Kebbinau, a coordinator at the Foundation Integration and Migration Our People (MISA), and the language immersion programme for the promotion of subject learning in the Estonian language.

The state acknowledged people and organisations that in recent years have helped develop subject learning in the Estonian language in schools with the Russian language as the language of instruction.

“As the Head of the Foundation, I am very glad that our employees and organisation have been noticed and considered worthy of acknowledgement. Such acknowledgement also sets very high expectations for the future for us to be even more involved in the work so that the people living in Estonia have equal opportunities for self-realisation and to contribute to our society. We will continue this work with joy and a deep sense of duty,” said Tatjana Muravjova, Head of MISA.

“This acknowledgement was a very pleasant surprise and I am grateful for it, but I have to say that it belongs more to the team in MISA as well as to the people outside the foundation who have been the supporters, developers and implementers of the programme for years. A special thank you and attention belongs to the developers, trainers and heads of schools of the language immersion programme trainings study programmes that have contributed their effort, a lot of time and energy and created favourable opportunities for training to benefit the whole programme,” said Maire Kebbinau, Coordinator of Language Immersion Unit of MISA.

The following were also acknowledged: Tatjana Lüter, the Director of Tallinna Mustamäe Humanitaargümnaasium; Izabella Riitsaar, the Director of Tallinna Pae Gümnaasium; Annelii Juhkama head of humanities subjects at Tallinna Humanitaargümnaasium; Georgi Ostašov, Estonian language teacher at Narva Soldino Gümnaasium; Anna Golubeva, lecturer at Narva College of the University of Tartu; Maire Kebbinau, Coordinator of Integration and Migration Foundation Our People; Moonika Laht, Estonian language teacher at Narva Kesklinna Gümnaasium; Julia Trubatšova, Deputy Director of Tartu Annelinna Gümnaasium; Pavel Alonov, history teacher of Tallinna Pae Gümnaasium; and Airi Kukk, lecturer of Tallinn University.

In addition to teachers, a letter of acknowledgement was given to the Narva College of the University of Tartu, Avatud Meele Instituut of SA Omanäolise Kooli Arenduskeskus, Sola Integra, the language immersion programme of the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People, the Training Centre of the Estonian Theatre and Music Academy, and the Estonian Atlantic Treaty Association.

An invitation to a dissemination event for Immigrant Inclusion by eParticipation project outcomes

Tallinn University invites all interested parties to attend “Supporting e-Particiaption”, a dissemination event for Immigrant Inclusion by eParticipation project outcomes on 8 March, starting at 10:00 am at Sokos Hotell Viru Conference Centre.

The aim of the IIeP is to encourage dialogue between officials of local and state authorities and multilingual communities and NGOs as well as to improve the opportunities to participate in decision-making processes via the Internet and social media tools.

The guidelines for e-inclusion and e-participation as the outcome of the IIeP carried out in Estonia, Finland and Sweden in 2009–2012 and the Internet-page where e-tools have been collected will be introduced by the representatives of Tallinn University, the University of Helsinki, Södertörn University and the Ministry of Justice of Finland.

Workshops will be held during the event at which various tools supporting e-inclusion, e-participation and web-based cooperation will be introduced.

The presentations can be followed and the presentations and workshop information materials can be accessed via the web.

Registration is open until 5 March 2012 on the homepage of IIeP: www.iiep-project.eu.  

The project is financed through the Central Baltic Sea INTERREG IV A Programme 2007−2013 of the European Union. The event is free for the participants and work will be conducted in the English and Estonian languages.

For further information, please contact: Katri Tammsaar, Tallinn University, tel 6 409 428, e-mail katri.tammsaar@tlu.ee  

CLIL month dedicated to content and language integrated learning began
CLIL month to begin in Narva with a presentation “Child and bilingualism”
Opening event of CLIL week to discuss the possibilities of learning in another language
CLIL week will bring several events to Ida-Virumaa kindergartens
MISA delegation will go to Holland to attend an international CLIL conference 
Competition “Events and materials about civil awareness and tolerance” began 
E-course commissioned by MISA was awarded a quality mark
Events dedicated to film director Tarkovsky will be organised in the Russian Theatre

CLIL month dedicated to content and language integrated learning began

This is the third year that the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) has organised the content and language integrated learning (CLIL) month in April during which time several events introducing learning in another language will be held throughout Estonia.

Under the auspices of the CLIL month, a CLIL week during 9−13 April featuring several major events at Tallinn Nordic Hotel Forum will take place:

• Training “Competence in several languages and cultures“ by the trainers from Roskilde University and Justus-Liebig University to discuss a multitude of knowledge, attitudes and skills that a pupil needs to obtain competence across languages and cultures will be held on 12−13 April. The teachers will be given ideas on how to use the learner’s earlier knowledge of other languages and cultures, how to encourage and motivate pupils and develop learning skills, prepare projects, etc.

• During the CLIL week, a research day on “Possibility of learning in a second language” during which new studies on learning in a second language will be introduced and a discussion will be held on 9 April. During the day, studies on how a child whose first language is not Estonian manages in an Estonian language school, the impact of late and early language immersion, and the school readiness and performance of children that have attended a language immersion kindergarten in the first stage of study will be introduced.

• On a CLIL day to be held on 10 April, the key presenter, Martin Ehala, will speak about content and first language integration when teaching in a mother tongue. In addition, the language immersion programme will be introduced and the preparation of teachers, attitudes and work of the network will be addressed during the day.

The CLIL month events may also be initiated by educational institutions, local governments, and other organisations and people involved in this subject. More than 100 events have already been registered. Information regarding the events planned to be held all over Estonia is available on the MISA home page in the events calendar of the CLIL month.

“We expect people that are interested in the subject such as teachers, students, heads of educational institutions and others to participate in the CLIL month events. Representatives of schools where the language of instruction is Estonian and Russian together with parents are most welcome because CLIL is not intended only to be used in Russian-language studies, as it helps to bring subject lessons as well as learning in a second language closer to life regardless of the language of instruction,” said Maire Kebbinau, Coordinator of the Language Immersion Programme at MISA.

For further information, please contact: Maire Kebbinau, MISA Language Immersion Programme, Coordinator, tel 659 9847, e-mail maire.kebbinau@meis.ee

CLIL month to begin in Narva with a presentation “Child and bilingualism”

Marylin Vihman, Professor of the University of York, will make a presentation “Child and bilingualism”, followed by a forum on bilingualism, in Narva College of the University of Tartu as part of the content and language integrated learning (CLIL) month on 2 April.

In addition to the presentation and speeches the best of the CLIL network and the winners of the children’s drawing competition will be acknowledged on the day addressing bilingualism. The interested also have an opportunity to participate in the discussion forum.

On 2−13 April, the lecturers of Narva College of the University of Tartu will hold open classes at Narva, Sillamäe and Kohtla-Järve schools. At the same time, an exhibition “New teaching materials for the teachers of natural science and exact sciences in the Estonian language” will be displayed in the library of Narva College of the University of Tartu and the organiser has planned meetings with the authors of these materials.

In addition, led by Narva College of the University of Tartu, a training session “Options for creating a language environment during extracurricular activities” for class teachers and a seminar “Complex topics when teaching in a second language in upper secondary school” for history teachers will be organised.

The CLIL week in Narva will end with the introduction and trial of the “Sources” simulation game of the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA). The objective of the game is to initiate a discussion on the key aspects of cultural integration and see them from a new perspective.

All those interested in CLIL, including parents, representatives of educational institutions involved in CLIL, members of the CLIL network, teachers and heads of educational institutions, are welcome to participate in the events.

Narva College of the University of Tartu collaborates with the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People, the leader and initiator of the CLIL month, in organising the above activities. The Ministry of Culture and Research and the City Government of Narva also provide their support in organising these events.

For further information, please contact: Pille Lille, Head of Humanities Programme at Narva College of the University of Tartu, tel 356 0698, e-mail pille.lille@ut.ee

Opening event of CLIL week to discuss the possibilities of learning in another language

A research day “Possibilities of learning in a second language” will be held as an opening event of content and language integrated learning on 9 April in Tallinn Nordic Hotel Forum.

Students, teachers, lecturers, heads of educational institutions, education officials, partners of the language immersion programme, members of the CLIL network, parents, etc., regardless of the language of instruction of the school, are welcome to participate in the research day.

Aaro Toomela, Professor of Tallinn University, introduces the development and ability to cope of non-Estonian children studying at a school where the language of instruction is Estonian. Kristina Sau-Ek from Tallinn University will speak about a study on late language immersion and how the language immersion programme has been actually implemented in schools. She will also introduce a study that compares the results of the final examination of the early language immersion programme and the attitudes of pupils, teachers and parents regarding the programme and their assessment thereof.
During the day, a discussion on how the children whose native language is not Estonian manage in a school where the language of instruction is Estonian will be held. Kristina Sau-Ek will speak about research conducted on the impact of late language immersion and introduce the early language immersion study of 2011.

Airi Kukk, Leida Talts and Maie Muldma will introduce a study about school readiness and the performance of children at the first stage of study, followed by a questions and discussion round.

A questions and discussion round will be held after each study introduction. The topics of how the study results could influence the implementation of the language immersion programme and how to use the input better in practice will be discussed during the day.

For further information, please contact: Natalja Mjalitsina, MISA Head of Language Immersion Programme, tel 659 9854, e-mail natalja.mjalitsina@meis.ee

CLIL week will bring several events to Ida-Virumaa kindergartens

The content and language integrated learning (CLIL) week directs the attention of Ida-Virumaa to kindergartens where several events for the teachers and parents that are involved or interested in bilingual studying will be held during the CLIL week.

As a preliminary event of the CLIL week, a seminar-workshop on “The Easter traditions in the Estonian and Russian culture” for the teachers of Ida-Virumaa language immersion kindergartens will be held in Tuhkatriinu kindergarten in Kohtla-Järve on 4 April at 9:30. On the same day, at 16:30, the options of the language immersion programme will be introduced to the parents in Rukkilill kindergarten in Sillamäe.

On 12 April in Pillerkaar kindergarten in Jõhvi, the network of Ida-Virumaa language immersion teachers will organise a seminar “Let’s learn together” in the Estonian and Russian languages to discuss modern language teaching methods, share experiences and promote collaboration among kindergartens, basic schools and upper secondary schools.

At the seminar, the parents will be given an opportunity to examine different language teaching methods that are used in kindergarten and continued at school level.

1st session of the ABC training for kindergarten teachers that begin working as the teachers of language immersion groups in September 2012 will be held on 12−13 April.

For further information, please contact: Svetlana Belova, MISA Language Immersion Programme, Coordinator, tel 659 9848, e-mail svetlana.belova@meis.ee

MISA delegation will go to Holland to attend an international CLIL conference

A delegation from the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) will go to Utrecht in Holland to attend an international CLIL conference “CLIL 2012: From Practice to Visions” on 19−21 April.

The keynote presentations will address the importance of a discussion to develop language skills when studying natural science and social subjects and compare the similarities of CLIL and language immersion and discuss the opportunities for mutual enrichment.

In the first two days, the focus will be on practical activities and workshops that deal with learning, teaching skills, teacher training and management will be held. During the conference, the delegation will visit several schools in Holland.

The coordinators of the Multicultural Education Unit and Language Immersion Programme and the representatives of Tallinn, Kohtla-Järve and Narva schools will go to the conference as the members of the MISA delegation. The participation of the delegation in the conference is being funded by the Ministry of Education and Research.

For further information, please contact: Natalja Mjalitsina, MISA Head of Language Immersion Programme, tel 659 9854, e-mail natalja.mjalitsina@meis.ee

Competition “Events and materials about civil awareness and tolerance” began

The Integration and Migration Foundation Our People has announced a public project competition “Events and materials about civil awareness and tolerance”.

The goal of the competition is to expand pupils’ knowledge about Estonian society, value Estonian citizenship and being a citizen, strengthen the tradition of the Citizen’s Day, promote tolerance in a multi-cultural collective and offer the young people of different national ethnicity opportunities to create contacts and participate in developing activities.

Within the framework of the competition, the events and materials about civic awareness and tolerance produced by non-profit organisations registered in the Republic of Estonia, state or local government authorities, including organisation of multi-cultural events, cooperation between the young of different national ethnicity, creation of thematic learning materials and tools etc., will be supported.

The target group of this project are the pupils of general education institutions where the language of instruction is Estonian and Russian as well as vocational schools. All the activities of the project must be carried out in Estonia.

Hikes introducing the topic of citizenship and meetings with interesting people from Estonia are some examples of what has been organised in previous years with the project aid.

The budget of this competition is 33,500 euro and it is supported by the Ministry of Education and Research within the framework of “Estonian Integration Strategy 2008−2013”.

The deadline for the submission of applications is by 16:00 on 12 April. The requirements and documents of the competition are available here!

For further information, please contact: Toivo Sikk, Multicultural Education Unit, Coordinator, tel 659 9850, e-mail toivo.sikk@meis.ee

E-course commissioned by MISA was awarded a quality mark

The e-course “Specialised Estonian for the Speciality of Fuel Technology” commissioned by the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) and prepared by Virumaa College of Tallinn University of Technology received a quality mark in March.

The fuel technology specialised Estonian language e-course of Virumaa College of Tallinn University of Technology, the creator of which is the teacher Kaire Viil, received an e-course quality mark for 2012 from the network of universities and vocational schools involved in e-learning. Altogether 43 courses applied for the quality mark of which 27 courses were granted the mark.

“The students whose mother tongue is not Estonian need additional learning materials to better manage their daily, academic and professional communication and be more competitive on the labour market,” commented Eduard Odinets, Head of the Lifelong Learning Unit of MISA.

Specialised language e-courses for both vocational schools and higher education institutions are commissioned by MISA with the aid of the European Social Fund. E-courses have been prepared since 2006. In addition to the course that received the quality mark, learning materials are being developed for the Estonian University of Life Sciences and Tallinn Health Care College in the 2011/2012 academic year. Already completed learning materials as well as those being prepared are accessible on the specialised language webpage kutsekeel.ee.

“For example, this summer the Estonian language learning materials on the production of field crops and horticultural products for the students whose mother tongue is not Estonian will be completed in the Estonian University of Life Sciences. In addition, a joint course will be prepared in the Moodle environment with the help of which the students of veterinary medicine and the production and processing of healthy animal products, engineering and production of field crops and horticultural products can improve their specialised language skills in future,” explained Odinets.

The award of the quality mark is part of an e-learning quality system the main goal of which is to harmonise e-learning processes and levels in the education institutions that belong to the e-University and e-Vocational School network. The quality mark indicates a very good level of an e-course and acknowledges the creator of the particular e-course who has received excellent results in the teaching process when using e-learning.

Implementation of specialised language courses is financed within the programme “Language Learning Development 2011−2013” of the priority axis “Lifelong Learning” of the European Social Fund’s “Human Resource Development Operational Programme”.

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

Events dedicated to film director Tarkovsky will be organised in the Russian Theatre

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding Russian film director Andrei Tarkovsky, a project named “Rendezvous with Tarkovsky“ will be organised in the Russian Theatre in collaboration with the creativity association N-VIDEOPRESS in April.

The days dedicated to Tarkovsky will be opened on 18 April at 18:00 with the presentation of a photo exhibition in the Gallery of the Russian Theatre “Andrei Tarkovsky: The Last Film” by Layla Aleksander-Garrett (England), film historian and interpreter-assistant to the film director when the film “The Sacrifice” was shot in Sweden.

A collection of short films “Karikakramäng” (1977) by Estonian film directors P. Urbla, T. Tahvel, P. Simm and cameraman A. Iho, graduates of the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography in Moscow, whose instructor of diploma works was Andrei Tarkovsky, will be presented on the same day at 19:00 in the Great Hall of the Russian Theatre.

The premier of a new documentary “Tarkovsky. Crossings” by Ella Agranovskaya and Nikolai Scharubin will be shown on 19 April at 19:00. A creative event “The Return of Andrei Tarkovsky” with Tarkovsky’s relatives, colleagues and students will be organised and Tarkovsky’s film “The Mirror” (1976) will be shown.

The opening night of the production “One summer night in Sweden” by the Estonian film director Ilmar Taska based on the play of the Swedish actor and playwright Erland Josephson will be on 20 April at 19:00.

“The producer Ilmar Taska was intrigued by the clash and synthesis of two worlds, Sweden and Russia. The world of filmmaking, the scene behind the camera and the encounter of two cultures that does not necessarily go smoothly have always fascinated audiences,” commented Ksenia Kuzmina, the manager of the sales and promotion department of the Russian Theatre.

According to Kuzmina, the Russian Theatre also welcomes people that speak Estonian and do not understand Russian to participate in the events dedicated to Tarkovsky because the production “One summer night in Sweden” and other productions of the theatre are translated into the Estonian language.

The organisation of Tarkovsky’s Days are supported by the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People via the Ministry of Culture through the state budget within the framework of “Estonian Integration Strategy 2008−2013” and “Russkij mir”.

For further information, please contact: Ksenia Kuzmina, Manager of the Sales and Promotion Department of the Russian Theatre, tel 6114963, e-mail ksenia@veneteater.ee  

Training for Content and Language Integrated Learning about to start
Sillamäe public sector workers made learning Estonian fun
Career counselling courses for working adults with insufficient Estonian language proficiency
The exercise portal TRIMM was translated into Russian

Training for Content and Language Integrated Learning about to start

In June, the ABC training of Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) will start in Tallinn and Narva. The target group pf the training are the teachers from Russian language or Estonian and Russian language schools, who teach or will start to teach subjects in another language.

The CLIL ABC training is the basic training for the content and language integrated learning method. The training focuses primarily on the specifics of learning and teaching in another language; the nature of CLIL; teacher competences; the topic of creating a learning environment, and group processes. Information is also provided on class targeting (subject, language and learning skills); the development of learning skills; the 4C model of CLIL and its cultural component; formative evaluation and advisory services.

The training volume is 39 hours (4 training days, with additional independent work). Trainings will take place in Tallinn and in Narva in three sessions from June to September.

The implementation of the training is supported by the Ministry of Education and Research. The training is being organized by the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People.

The training will be conducted in Estonian and the training providers are Anne Kloren, Anu Parts, Urve Aja and Ene Kurme.
For additional information, please contact: Maarja Mänd, Coordinator in the MISA Multicultural Education Unit, phone 659 9853, e-mail maarja.mand@meis.ee

Sillamäe public sector workers made learning Estonian fun

Twelve library employees completed language courses at the Sillamäe Central Library, which has successfully participated for two successive years in the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People proposal round for organising language instruction for public sector workers.

We asked Elviira Sidorova, the director of the Sillamäe Central Library, what impression was left by the employees that completed the course.

Learning Estonian is not boring

Elviira Sidorova confirms that learning Estonian is not boring, although it might sometimes seem so to working people. Within the framework of language instruction for employees of public sector institutions of the Language Learning Development 2007-2010 and Language Learning Development 2011-2013 programmes funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), the employees of Sillamäe Library have studied the language for several years in a combined way, which means that one-day themed collective study trips to the language environment have been skilfully integrated into traditional or auditory language instruction.

Within the framework of the study trips, other cultural institutions working in the same field of activity were visited, which included one week of practical language training in a library where the working language is Estonian. For instance, the Sillamäe librarians practice their language skills in Raplamaa and Rakvere.

“On the study trips, we communicated on the “same wavelength” with our colleagues from other Estonian libraries. We deal with similar topics and work problems, so we understood each other splendidly wherever we went, and we rode around a lot,” Elviira says excitedly. “We were received everywhere very cordially, with respect and understanding. We were cared for maybe even too much and we were always listened to with great patience. No one hurried us or rushed to correct our linguistic mistakes,” she added and explains that their colleagues at the Estonian language libraries did everything they could to show them all the sights in the city, county and the environs.

What you learn must be applied

According to Elviira, the language instruction that ended in April and had started in November of last year was another step on a path that does not seem to be ending. “After the course, everyone can go and take the language exam and get a certificate of language proficiency, but the knowledge that has been acquired with such great efforts must not be abandoned. What has been learned must be applied,” Elviira thinks. In Sillamäe, you must make an effort to make use of Estonian in your everyday life, but she is convinced that if you want to and search for opportunities you will find them.

For this reason, it was decided to invite people from other Sillamäe cultural institutions, which are also studying Estonian within the framework of the ESF programme, to attend the event marking the end of the language studies. In addition to librarians from the Sillamäe Central Library, employees from the Sillamäe Music School and the Sillamäe Youth and Hobby Centre Ulei also attended the final event, where a joint quiz with mixed teams was organised to examine language proficiency, logical thinking and knowledge about Sillamäe. “Completing the language studies by organising a quiz turned out to be fun and memorable for all the participants,” Elviira said in summary, adding that learning at any age is interesting.

For more information about the project, please contact Jana Tondi, Coordinator in the MISA Lifelong Education Unit, phone 659 9069, e-mail jana.tondi@meis.ee

Career counselling courses for working adults with insufficient Estonian language proficiency

The month of May saw the end of the career counselling courses that started in February, which were organized for almost 130 working adults with low levels of education and insufficient Estonian language proficiency.

In order to carry out the career counselling courses, the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) also organized 13 methodical in-service training sessions for career advisers to improve the advisers’ skills and knowledge in their work with working adults with low levels of education and insufficient Estonian language proficiency. The career advisers included career information specialists from the Unemployment Fund, career coordinators from information and advisory centres in East-Viru and Harju counties and career specialists from nonprofit organizations.

“The career counselling courses organized for working adults were successful and there was great interest in them. Almost 130 working adults aged 27 and older participated in the course, who do not possess a higher level of education than basic education, general education or vocational secondary education, and who have insufficient Estonian language proficiency,” explained Eduard Odinets, Head of the MISA Lifelong Education Unit.

During the 34 academic hours, the course participants focused on self-analysis, the opportunities for lifelong learning, employers’ expectations, career planning and many other skills. The courses took place in Tallinn, Narva, Jõhvi, Sillamäe and Kohtla-Järve.

“Based on the feedback, we can see that the participants in the course believe that what they learned helped them shape their working life so that the motivation and joy of working will endure. During the course, great emphasis was placed on social skills and support for one’s development. Hopefully, the employers of the participants will also notice the new quality they have achieved,” Odinets commented.

Odinets also said that most of the feedback indicated that there should be more courses of this kind and they should last longer.

Support for the project was provided from the “The development of learner-based and innovative vocational education and expanding the opportunities for lifelong education” measure of the Lifelong Education priority direction of the Implementation Plan for the Development of Human Resources financed by the European Social Fund.

For additional information, please contact: Riina Ring, Coordinator in the Lifelong Education Unit, phone 659 9030, e-mail riina.ring@meis.ee.

The exercise portal TRIMM was translated into Russian

Since the spring, the exercise portal TRIMM (www.trimm.ee) has been available in Russian. The portal, which was created by the Sports for All Association and the Estonian Olympic Committee in 2006, includes tests and forms to help people assess their physical condition.

Those who are interested can get tips on healthy eating and stretching exercises, as well as descriptions of various sports. The sections called Sports for Children and Youth and Sports for Seniors have gained popularity.

Information about other amateur sports events throughout Estonia has been collected and is available at www.trimm.ee.

In addition, all amateur athletes and exercise fans can register free as users of the training diary. They can also participate in a game with the chance to win one of four cruises to Finland for five people.

The translation of the TRIMM portal into Russia was carried out with support from the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People project competition titled “Common media field and equal treatment.” The project was financed within the framework of the Ministry of Culture’s Estonian Integration Plan 2008-2013 and the European Fund for the Integration of Third Country Nationals.

For additional information, please contact: Peeter Lusmägi, Secretary General of the Sports for All Association, e-mail peeter@eok.ee
For additional information about the “Common media field and equal treatment”, please contact: Mari Valgepea, MISA Coordinator in the Civic Education and Migration Unit, phone 659 9034, e-mail mari.valgepea@meis.ee

The first class of the early language immersion programme students will graduate
MISA’s language play for kindergartens will be introduced at an international conference
Civic awareness and tolerance themed projects received support
Youth camp organisers received support for teaching Estonian
MISA awaits suggestions from NGOs on how to organise language courses
The winners of the story competition “Estonia’s Positive History” announced

The first class of the early language immersion programme students will graduate

This spring, the first class of the early language immersion programme students will graduate from the upper secondary school and a festive ceremony for the graduates to celebrate this event will be held on 19 June.

The Language Immersion Programme of the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Research organises a festive ceremony for the first class of the language immersion programme graduates in Tartu at which the students, parents, school officials and teachers of the four schools that were the first to join the language immersion programme are welcome.

Tallinna Läänemere Gümnaasium, Tallinna Mustamäe Humanitaargümnaasium, Kohtla-Järve Ühisgümnaasium and Narva Vanalinna Riigikool send off their first class of the early language immersion programme graduates this spring.

“The pupils of the language immersion programme and their study results have been extensively studied in Estonia, and based on the research results we can firmly say that learning subjects in another language within the framework of a language immersion programme does not reduce in any way the depth of knowledge of subjects; on the contrary, the average study results and skills of the language immersion programme students are better than those of regular students,” commented Natalja Mjalitsina, the Head of the Language Immersion Programme at MISA.

Altogether, 82 students of the early language immersion programme graduated this year, 11 with a gold medal and 10 with a silver medal.

Jaak Aaviksoo, Minister of Education and Research, John Morrison, Ambassador of Canada and Tõnis Lukas, a member of the Riigikogu, will extend their congratulations and good wishes at the ceremony. Gerry Connely, who in 2000 acted as the representative of Canada and made an agreement on the implementation of Estonia-Canada language immersion, will also congratulate the programme graduates. Irene Käosaar, Head of the General Department of the Ministry of Education, will introduce the research and examination results of the students. The festive event at the Ministry of Education and Research will be followed by a reception of the Ambassador of Canada at the Tartu Botanical Gardens.

Language immersion is a form of learning that enriches bilingual education to enhance the better learning of Estonian as a second language. Language immersion aims at ensuring equally good skills in mother tongue as well as in Estonian and foreign languages. Language immersion is implemented in Estonia as a national programme financed and supported by the Ministry of Education and Research from 2000. To date, 38 kindergartens and 36 schools have joined the language immersion programme and around 5,000 pupils and 1,000 teachers participate in the programme.

For additional information, please contact: Natalja Mjalitsina, Head of Language Immersion Programme at MISA, tel 659 9854, e-mail natalja.mjalitsina@meis.ee

MISA’s language play for kindergartens will be introduced at an international conference

An international conference on the topic of plays “26th ICCP World Play Conference” will be held on 18−19 June at Tallinn University where Lea Maiberg from Tähekese kindergarten in Tallinn and Hedi Minlibajeva from Vindi kindergarten in Tallinn will introduce a set of the language play created for the language immersion programme.

The language play comprises playing cubes based on books, a methodical guide and speech cards. The objective of the play is to support language learning and the development of children’s speech, attract interest for the Estonian language and facilitate the acquisition of language through playful activities. The objectives of the national curriculum for childcare institutions were taken into account when the learning aid was created.

The creation of the language play was financed by the Ministry of Education and Research.

For additional information, please contact: Svetlana Belova, Language Immersion Programme of MISA, Coordinator, tel 659 9848, e-mail svetlana.belova@meis.ee

Civic awareness and tolerance themed projects received support

The Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) supported events and materials that help increase young people’s civic awareness and tolerance to the tune of around 25,000 euro.
Kohtla-Järve Ahtme Gümnaasium, Tallinna Pimedate Ööde Filmifestival MTÜ, MTÜ Tartu Koidu Keskus, Narva Humanitaargümnaasium, SA Eesti Inimõiguste Keskus, Kanepi Gümnaasium, Lohusalu Kool, Narva 6. Kool and Kammeri Kool received support from MISA through this project competition.

The objective of supporting these activities is to enhance the knowledge of students about Estonian society, add value to Estonian citizenship and being a citizen, keep alive the Citizen’s Day tradition, improve tolerance in a multicultural collective and offer the young people of different ethnic nationalities opportunities to make contact with each other and participate in developmental activities.

Through this competition, civic awareness and tolerance themed events and materials are supported, including the organisation of multicultural events, cooperation between the young people of different ethnic nationalities, creation of topic-related learning materials and tools, etc.

Implementation of the activities is supported by the Ministry of Education and Research within the framework of “Estonian Integration Strategy 2008−2013”.

For additional information, please contact: Toivo Sikk, Multicultural Education Unit, Coordinator, tel 659 9850, e-mail toivo.sikk@meis.ee

Youth camp organisers received support for teaching Estonian

With the support of the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA), seven organisations will organise Estonian language instruction activities in summer camps designed for young people whose home language is other than the Estonian language.

The objective of the activities is to build young people’s confidence in speaking Estonian and managing in an Estonian-speaking environment. The target group of the competition is 7−18 year olds that live in Estonia and speak a language other than Estonian at home and their peers that speak Estonian as a mother tongue and act as support persons.

Through this competition round, a total of 27,000 euro was allocated as support by MISA to FIE Jaan Olesk, MTÜ Fän Clab, Tallinna Õismäe Vene Lütseum, Tartu Vene Lütseum, Semolen Koolitus OÜ, Lastekaitse Liidu Lastelaagrite OÜ and MTÜ Õppe- ja arengukeskus ME. The only organisation of Estonian language instruction at already planned camps is financed through this project.

Usually, the activities planned for youth camps that support Estonian language learning also include sports, manual and artistic activities, and drama. For the purpose of learning Estonian, the young people will visit different sights, museums and practice Estonian in a cultural setting by active participation and communication with their peers.

According to the results of the qualitative study on the efficiency of Estonian language camps and the family study commissioned by MISA, non-formal language learning at camps facilitates communication in Estonian between young people. The study revealed that regardless of their ethnic nationality the level of mutual understanding of the participants of Estonian language camps and family study significantly deepened as did their readiness to communicate with people of different cultural and language backgrounds.

Last year, 470 young people were taught Estonian at such camps, among whom were around 200 support students who speak Estonian as a native language and whose duty was to assist the young people that were interested in learning the Estonian language. This summer around 400 young people who speak a language other than Estonian at home and Estonian-speaking support students will engage in the Estonian language learning activities planned at the camps.

The camp activities are financed by the Ministry of Culture within the framework of the action plan of “Estonian Integration Strategy 2008−2013”.

For additional information, please contact: Sandra Nuudi, Multicultural Education Unit of MISA, Doordinator, tel 6599 855, e-mail sandra.nuudi@meis.ee

MISA awaits suggestions from NGOs on how to organise language courses

The Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) awaits additional suggestions on how to organise the language instruction of employees of third sector organisations until 17 June.

Those eligible for these language courses include paid employees whose mother tongue is other than Estonian of culture societies, including ethnic culture societies and their Sunday schools, sports associations and NGOs that work with young people. If an organisation does not have any paid employees, the members of the organisation’s management board will be considered employees.
From this year, MISA organises language courses for people working in third sector organisations with the aim of showing Estonian inhabitants the advantages of a command of several languages and creating conditions for learning Estonian.

The umbrella associations of culture societies, societies engaged in youth work and sports associations are expected to submit suggestions for the organisation of language courses, which means that should a non-profit organisation want to make suggestions it has to turn to the umbrella organisation of its respective field to submit the suggestions in the name of the umbrella organisation.

The length of the Estonian language courses is 60−120 academic hours and they will be held from September 2012 to September 2013. MISA will find the organisers of language courses through a procurement that takes into account the suggestions made by the organisations. Classroom learning must be combined with language learning through the main activity of the organisation. In addition to learning in a classroom, the preferred forms of language learning are also learning trips, in-service training, mentored learning, and study tours. In the suggestion round, the cooperative activities of Estonian-speaking and non-Estonian-speaking employees of associations working in different regions, including joint language courses of different organisations, are preferred.

The idea for the suggestions round is MISA’s wish to consider individual needs and specifics of NGOs.

The application for Estonian language instruction prepared in Estonia by MTÜ Vene rahvuskultuuriliste organisatsioonide ühendus "SADKO" (an association of Russian ethnic culture organisations) was approved in the first suggestions round.

Activities are financed within the European Social Fund programme "Language Learning Development 2011−2013" of the measure “Language Learning Development” of the priority axis “Lifelong Education” of the Human Resource Development Operational Programme.

Please find the suggestions round documents here!

For additional information, please contact: Tea Kotkas, Lifelong Learning Unit of MISA, Coordinator, tel 659 9061, e-mail tea.kotkas@meis.ee

The winners of the story competition “Estonia’s Positive History” announced

Almost 50 works were submitted to the competition “Estonia’s Positive History” organised to collect positive stories about Estonia’s history from which the jury selected four winners and acknowledged three stories.

Half of the stories sent to the competition were written in Russian, and the youngest participant was 10 years old. The authors represented four ethnic nationalities and the stories were sent in from Estonia and abroad.

“We are glad for the active participation, and the range of topics and areas of history discussed was very wide: from the St George’s Night Uprising to Skype. Estonia’s history is seen from very different angles and in fact there are very many positive stories in our history,” said Jaanus Vihand, the main organiser and creator of the history portal Histrodamus.

“Since the times of ancient Greece, history is depicted though revolutionary events,” history professor David Vseviov said and he added: “Usually, such events are conflicts and wars and often the people we know from history were those that held arms. Indeed, the War of Independence was a critical event in Estonia’s history but what is important is to which we turn our attention. We identify ourselves with history and this is why we need to highlight other aspects, such as goodness and humanity, in history.”

Stories about the history of the Orthodox Church in Sillamäe, the history of the Russian Drama Theatre in Estonia, stories about Narva, a thorough discussion about Saaremaa`s history, stories about 20th century currency in Estonia, blockading Moscow’s embassy during the events of the Bronze Night and Estonia’s history through music were sent to the competition. The life stories of regular people, their strong character and positive attitude during the revolutionary events of the last century were also sent to the competition. Stories about the long history of Estonian industries, vocational hobbies and the historic development of rights and laws in the Estonia’s areas were told.
The acknowledged stories about our history are accessible via the history portal Histrodamus www.histrodamus.ee.  

The collection of stories about history was financed by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-country Nationals, the Ministry of Culture and the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People.

For additional information, please contact: Jaanus Vihand, MTÜ Eesti Elava Ajaloo Keskus, GSM 502 2016, e-mail jaanus@eestiajalugu.ee  

More than 200 public sector employees undertake language training this autumn
Around 250 students will have additional Estonian language training
Students staged a play by Kivirähk as part of their Estonian language course
Findings of the survey on foreign language competences revealed 

More than 200 public sector employees undertake language training this autumn

Estonian language courses for more than 200 public sector employees supported by the European Social Fund will commence in autumn.

85 proposals from public sector institutions all over Estonia were submitted to the second proposals round of public sector authorities organised by the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA). The majority of proposals came from Ida-Viru County and Tallinn but also from Harju County and Pärnu. Although the experts approved 57 proposals, only ten activities will be initially financed due to limited budgetary funds. The Foundation tries to find the additional money to support the organisation of more language courses.

“The learners come from education institutions, hobby education and culture organisations and city governments this time around. Usually, versatile language teaching courses last 60-120 academic contact hours, during which time focus is also on professional or work-related language practice and study tours to experience the language environment or in-service training positions are organised,” explained Eduard Odinets, Head of Lifelong Education Unit of MISA.

“For example, kindergarten teachers will be offered an opportunity to practice their language skills during two-day practices in various Estonian-speaking organisations in Tartu, Tallinn or Rakvere, in addition to language classes to help them overcome their language barrier,” explained Odinets.

According to Odinets, the combined language learning method ensures the learners’ greater involvement and commitment, for the language learning activities included in the proposals have been prepared by taking into account the organisations’ specific wishes and needs.

The experts analysed the proposals based on the contribution of an organisation and/or a learner to the language learning activities and took into account compliance with the goals, versatile teaching methods, how likely it is to achieve results, learners’ motivation and harmony between the budget and the activities.

In 2012–2013, public sector language learning is supported with around 60,000 euro. The language courses will be conducted within the framework of the activity “Language Learning for Public Sector Employees” of the programme “Language Learning Development 2011−2013” financed by the European Social Fund.

For further information, please contact: Jana Tondi, Coordinator, Lifelong Learning Unit of MISA, tel 659 9069, jana.tondi@meis.ee

Around 250 students will have additional Estonian language training

As a result of the proposals round organised by the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA), in the coming academic year around 250 students whose mother tongue is different than Estonian will be given an opportunity to undertake an additional Estonian language course to enhance their academic development.

Altogether, 15 proposals by eight higher education institutions all over Estonia were submitted to the proposals round and the assessment committee decided to support 12 proposals for organisation of language learning courses. While half of the ten approved proposals come from Ida-Viru County, the rest originate from Tartu and Tallinn. The course participants are students learning the following subjects: education, art, social work, agriculture and information technology.

“The goal of additional language learning is to help students whose native language is different than Estonian to cope with their academic studies and offer them an opportunity to obtain specialised language skills indispensible at higher education level. The approved activities usually include contact learning in a classroom, but learning trips and activities in the appropriate language setting will also be organised,” said Eduard Odinets, Head of Lifelong Learning Unit of MISA.

“Language learning that is supported via a proposals round is much more productive, allows greater involvement of learners and motivates students more than a common teaching approach. The organisation of proposals rounds gives an opportunity to take into account the needs of higher education institutions and support their initiatives,” added Odinets.

These courses ensure greater involvement and commitment of learners because proposals concerning language learning are made at the initiative of the higher education institutions themselves and the courses are conducted using different teaching methods than the traditional approach.

During the programme, several additional study aids will be developed, including, for example, several e-courses in the Moodle environment.

MISA supports language-learning courses of students of higher education institutions selected through a proposals round with around 80,000 euro. The activities are financed within the framework of the activity “Additional Language Learning for Students of Higher Education Institutions” of the programme “Language Learning Development 2011−2013” supported by the European Social Fund.

For further information, please contact: Jana Tondi, Coordinator, Lifelong Learning Unit of MISA, tel 659 9069, jana.tondi@meis.ee

Students staged a play by Kivirähk as part of their Estonian language course

Last month, an additional Estonian language course designed for the students whose native language is different than Estonian was completed in the University of Tartu, culminating with the production of the play “Rehepapp” by Andrus Kivirähk in the courtyard of Tampere House.

Additional Estonian language learning courses for students of higher education institutions whose native language is different than Estonian have been supported via proposals rounds organised by the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) since 2008 and more than 900 students have passed these courses.

In June, a group of 30 learners from the Department of Estonian Language as a Foreign Language of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Tartu completed their three-month course during which period the learners attended lectures, did group assignments and practical exercises. The goal of the course was to improve the students’ pronunciation and vocabulary and enhance their public speaking skills. The underlying theme of the whole process was Estonian drama, which the learners had a closer contact with when staging “Rehepapp” at the end of the course.

“We not only studied language at the course, but we challenged ourselves as actors. It was an exciting and useful activity for me. The course was useful because we conversed a lot, learned new words and improved our pronunciation. This approach does not let you become bored – you discover new words and find new friends,” commented one of the course participants, Olga Shumilina.

According to Shumilina, staging the play by Kivirähk in a beautiful historic Tampere House created an intriguing atmosphere for everyone, and her opinion is that such a language learning approach should be much more widely spread: “I would like to see that our teachers continue employing this method of teaching and more people wish to participate in these courses!”

The organisation of additional language learning for students of higher education institutions is funded by the Integration and Migration Foundation within the framework of the activity “Additional Language Learning for Students of Higher Education Level” of the programme “Language Learning Development 2011−2013” financed by the European Social Fund.

For further information, please contact: Jana Tondi, Coordinator, Lifelong Learning Unit of MISA, tel 659 9069, jana.tondi@meis.ee

Findings of the survey on foreign language competences revealed

Last week, the new European Survey on Language Competences was presented, in which the English and German language proficiency of Estonian students was examined and their results compared with similar data of the 14 participating European countries.

The survey on language competences initiated by the European Commission studied the foreign language proficiency of students from 14 countries in the five most widely taught foreign languages in the European Union (English, French, German, Spanish and Italian). Information was collected about the language proficiency of students in the last year of basic education or the second year of the upper secondary education.

In Estonia, the survey was conducted as a collaborative effort of the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) and the Foundation Innove. The implementation of the survey was supported within the programme “Language Learning Development 2011-2013” financed by the European Social Fund.

During the programme, the English and German language listening, reading and writing skills of students in the last year of basic education in Estonia were studied. In addition to assessing the level of language proficiency, the survey also examined some aspects of attitudes held as regards language learning. The survey confirmed that better language proficiency is ensured by learning a foreign language at a very early age and the students that understand the necessity of language learning show better results.

“Based on the survey findings, we can plan integration process in Estonia and guide the teaching process at school to prepare the young people to be successful in both the Estonian and European labour market,” commented Eduard Odinets, Head of Lifelong Learning Unit of MISA.

“The survey showed that although the English language proficiency of the young students was very good, the findings concerning other languages were not so good. The proficiency of German was average compared to the findings in other European countries. Estonian society is multilingual and multilingualism always gives a society a competitive advantage, making it important to develop the proficiency of other languages besides English,” added Odinets.

This was the first survey on language competences that actually measured language proficiency, because earlier similar surveys were based on people’s own assessment of their language proficiency. The survey was conducted in compliance with international research standards.

The representative sample of the first European Survey on Language Competences comprised approximately 53,000 students (over 3,000 from each country). In every country, foreign language skills were measured in the two most widely taught languages out of the five test languages (English, French, German, Spanish and Italian), calling them the first and second test language. The language proficiency of a student in the sample was measured in one language only.

More detailed information about the survey findings is available here. 

For additional information, please contact: Tea Kotkas, Lifelong Learning Unit of MISA, Coordinator, tel 659 9061, e-mail tea.kotkas@meis.ee  

Providers of support services to new immigrants announced
27 child care institutions were granted aid to learn Estonian
Jõhvi and Narva policemen exchanged their language and work environment for a month 
Support serving summer lunch to children in need in Narva!
Countrywide integration-related youth survey launched

Providers of support services to new immigrants announced

The Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) has altogether allocated 247,118 euro for the organisation of courses within the framework of the new immigrants adaptation programme and, for the first time, the provision of support services.

ImmiSoft OÜ was the winner of the first part of the project competition “Support services for new immigrants”, or the training courses part of the adaptation programmes, which was allocated aid to the sum of 217,132 euro by the decision of the assessment committee. The winner of the second part of the competition was MTÜ Johannes Mihkelsoni Keskus to whom the committee allocated aid in the amount of 29,986 euro for the provision of a support person service.

The objective of the competition is to support the adaptation to Estonian society of new immigrants that are third-country nationals and have come to live in Estonia legally less than three years ago.

The adaptation programme is a training course commissioned by MISA and developed by Tallinn University in 2009, aimed at improving the socio-economic coping abilities of new immigrants in Estonia. The adjuster will be prepared for entry into the employment market and general socio-economic integration during the courses. Different areas of basic training introduce the history, country and culture of Estonia as well as main customs and values of society. Further information about the current laws and rights of residents will be given and a 364-hour Estonian language course will be organised.

Concurrently with the adaptation programme, support persons specially trained in 2011 will provide a support person service to new immigrants. The main task of a support person is to consult the adjuster in matters like Estonian society, culture, daily life and other areas.

More than 60 people have attended the MISA-coordinated adaptation programme for new immigrants with an additional 45 people participating this summer. During the two years, 300 more new immigrants will have an opportunity to be involved in the adaptation programme and support services. The courses and the provision of support services commence in autumn.

The project competition is financed by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals and by the Ministry of Culture from the state budget within the framework of “Estonian Integration Strategy 2008−2013”.

For more information, please contact: Ruslan Prohhorenko, MISA Civic Education and Migration Unit, Coordinator, tel 659 9035, e-mail ruslan.prohhorenko@meis.ee.

27 child care institutions were granted aid to learn Estonian

The Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) supported 27 pre-school child care institutions with more than 76,800 euro intended for the organisation of multicultural developing activities and learning Estonian.

The objective of the project competition is to expand the opportunities for children to improve their Estonian language skills and create a good language environment. The target group of the activities is children whose mother tongue is different than Estonian, their parents and teachers in pre-school child care institutions. The activities help support educational and teaching activities at pre-school child care institutions, the creation of a child-focused environment, refresher courses for teachers and collaboration between parents and educational institutions. MISA also facilitates using the aid for teachers’ salaries within the framework of the competition.

According to the decision of the assessment committee, aid was granted to the following institutions: Kindergarten Pääsuke, Kirju-Mirju, Tuvike and Aljonuška in Kohtla-Järve, Kindergartern Päikseke in Sillamäe, Lohusuu School, Kindergarten in Liblika Street in Pärnu, Kindergarten Sipsik in Maardu, Kindergarten Pääsupesa and Sitsi in Tallinn, Kindergarten Männi and Sipsik in Kohila, Kindergarten Ojake and Mesipuu in Tallinn, Kindergarten Rukkilill in Maardu, Loksa Kindergarten, Kindergarten Kakuke in Kohtla-Järve, Kindergarten Väike Pauliine MTÜ, Lohkva Kindergarten, Kindergarten Maasikas, Rakvere Elementary School, Lehola School, Järveotsa Kindergarten in Tallinn, Kindergarten Punamütsike in Kohtla-Järve, Kindergarten Vesiroos and Rõõmupesa in Tallinn and Kindergarten Punamütsike in Narva.

“Kindergarten Tuvike in Kohtla-Järve has planned to conduct language learning through a traffic education project “I am smart and polite in traffic”. In the course of the project, a meeting with rescue workers will be organised, children will learn how to behave correctly in traffic and a small-scale traffic park will be erected on the territory of the kindergarten. All the activities will be conducted in Estonian with their parents involved and will be carried out in the kindergartens,” explained the Coordinator of MISA Multicultural Education Unit, Marje Sarapuu.

Sarapuu added that there are many fun projects; for example, the kindergarten in Liblika Street in Pärnu has linked the activities to food. During the project, the traditions of various countries and preparing food will be introduced and the children, teachers and parents will be involved in the activity. Thematic weeks such as bread week, pancake week, chef’s days and theatre week will be organised.

“During the theatre week, plays related to food with protagonists such as a bun, gingerbread, egg, turnip, etc. will be performed. By the end of the project, the children will compile a collection of recipes in the kindergarten,” added Sarapuu.

The activities will commence in September and continue until July of next year. The competition is being financed by the Ministry of Education and Research within the framework of the area development plan “Estonian Integration Strategy 2008–2013”.

For more information, please contact: Marje Sarapuu, MISA Multicultural Education Unit, Coordinator, tel 659 9852, e-mail marje.sarapuu@meis.ee.

Jõhvi and Narva policemen exchanged their language and work environment for a month

20 employees of the East Prefecture of the Police and Border Guard Board whose mother tongue is different than Estonian will spend a month living and working in Rakvere and Iisaku to improve their Estonian language skills.

Since April, the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) has already supported the accommodation and work of 15 policemen in Rakvere, and five more policemen from Narva and Jõhvi will be sent to Rakvere or Iisaku in August. The policemen that have changed their environment perform their regular police work during their assignment, but they are assisted by a specially appointed support person whose first language is Estonian.

Going to theatre and museums in free time helped

Ilja Masljakov, a detective with the criminal investigation bureau at Jõhvi Criminal Investigations Department, admits that learning a new language at the age of 44 is not an easy task with the added problem of having very few opportunities to practice Estonian.

“We learn the Estonian language, but unfortunately there are very few opportunities to use Estonian in our region, and so, in order not to forget the language, I wanted to live for some time in another Estonian town where I will not hear Russian and have an opportunity to hear pure Estonian and to try talking with people,” he said.

According to Masljakov, people in Ida-Viru County are quite often afraid of talking with Estonians in Estonian, and due to their limited vocabulary they are tempted to switch to Russian, because almost everybody understands Russian in Estonia.

“I gladly took the opportunity to live in Rakvere for a month, because although born in Estonia and having visited Rakvere with my family, living a month in this town gave me plenty of opportunities to stroll down small streets, talk to locals, and visit cosy, peaceful cafés and museums,” added Masljakov.

He also visited Rakvere theatre, which he found useful, because in addition to interesting plays the actors use a good standard of language and pronunciation that really helps a language learner.

More courage!

According to Piret Jõgi, the manager of AS TEA Keeleõpetus, which acts as a MISA partner in organising language learning and supported the participants by providing learning materials, the policemen had to do various exercises individually or together with their support person. The Estonian language teacher also gave feedback on the completed exercises after their assignment.

Jõgi stresses that language learning during an assignment is not a traditional classroom lesson and the main emphasis is on intensive practice in the language environment. What makes this assignment project special is that the participants are accommodated in Estonian families where the policemen that wish to improve their skills have an opportunity to practice the official language even more.

“What the participants mainly needed was conversing in Estonian as much as possible to improve their language and professional knowledge. Based on the preliminary and final tests that have been delivered to us, we can say that Estonian language skills have improved, and almost all the participants stated on their feedback forms that they now have more courage to speak in Estonian,” commented Jõgi.

The feedback showed that in addition to increased readiness to communicate in the other language the policemen felt stronger in daily and work-related vocabulary. The participants also discovered useful new professional knowledge and acquaintances, and several of them expressed their wish to go to Rakvere on an assignment in future.

“The feedback also revealed that such projects should be conducted at least once every six months and that the staff was friendly and helpful,” added Jõgi.

Detective Ilja Masljakov is satisfied with the outcome: “Participation in the project gave me communication experience and enriched my vocabulary. I am not shy to use Estonian any more; it doesn’t matter that my Estonian is not always grammatically correct because only through communication can one improve his/her skills.”

The language learning of public sector employees is supported in the framework of the programme “Improving Language Learning 2011−2013” of the measure “Language Learning Development” of the priority axis “Lifelong Learning” of the European Social Fund “Human Resources Development Operational Plan”. Language learning is granted to public sector authorities operating in the areas of security of society, public order, public administration, education, healthcare and others.

For more information, please contact: Jana Tondi, MISA Life-long Learning Unit, Coordinator, tel 659 9069, e-mail jana.tondi@meis.ee. 
 

Support serving summer lunch to children in need in Narva!

MTÜ Pro Consensio calls upon kind people to donate money so that the summer soup project in Narva can continue within the framework of which free lunch is offered every day all through the summer to children who are at risk.

“We started to distribute food on 18 July with a lunch for 100 children. The first weeks have shown that the need is actually 50% greater because already 150 children gather every day,” is written in the MTÜ PRO Consensio’s call for help.

One meal costs 1 euro and the project’s resources allow for serving summer lunch to only 100 children. To offer summer soup to 150 children, additional finances to the tune of at least 800 euro are required. For half of this sum, disposable tableware will be purchased and the rest will go towards the provision of lunch. All the rest is organised through the help of volunteers.

Up to 14:00 each day until the end of August, children have an opportunity to receive a hot meal in the premises of MTÜ Virumaa Heategevuskeskus at 17 Võidu Street and 40 Kreenholmi Street.

According to the information given by the project implementer, there are eight hostels in Narva, where around 200 children live, many of whom are at risk and for whom lunch at school is the only proper daily meal they receive. As school lunch is not provided in summer, people may make their donations to the bank account of MTÜ Pro Consensio (Swedbank, 221055545218, MTÜ Pro Consensio) and support serving lunch to children.

If more donations are collected than currently required, MTÜ Pro Consensio guarantees that the money will be used for the implementation of the same project. According to the project manager, Urmo Reitav, the rest of the money will be transferred to the following year’s summer lunch project or children will be offered more varied food besides soup during the summer.

For more information, please contact: Urmo Reitav, MTÜ Pro Consensio project manager, tel 5532539, e-mail urmo@proconsensio.eu.  

Countrywide integration-related youth survey launched

Led by the Estonian National Youth Council (ENYC), a consultation round of the European Commission coordinated pan-European structured dialogue was once again launched in Estonia. In the current half-year, the goal of the round is to map the situation of young people that are not native Estonians and their involvement in Estonia and find means to increase the level of integration to Estonian society.

ENYC has organised consultation rounds in Estonia since the beginning of 2010. During this time, such topics as the election age, the innovativeness of youth organisations and collaboration with young people from neighbouring European countries, among other things, have been discussed with young people in the course of six rounds. At the end of each round, the Estonian structured-dialogue working group has prepared a report through which the viewpoints of young Estonian people are made visible in the European Union.

“Youth consultations or a consultation round of the structured dialogue is a good tool through which to collect the opinions of young people on important topics across Europe”, said the project manager of the structured dialogue, Kristo Peterson. “With each round, we get better and better answers from young Estonian people, and from more than 1,500 young people in the last round. The input from the rounds helps us show the leaders of Europe as well as Estonia the actual current situation and what our Estonian young people think.”

Young people between the ages of 13–30 may take part in the survey.

Information related to the structured dialogue consultation round is available on the home page of the Council www.enl.ee/konsultatsioonid and on Facebook on the youth survey page www.facebook.com/kysitlus.  

The Estonian National Youth Council is an umbrella organisation that unites more than 63 youth organisations in Estonia. The main objectives of ENYC are to represent youth organisations and shape social opinion as well as create a legal environment that is supportive of young people. ENYC represents the youth policy interests of its members in Estonia and internationally, and it enhances the active participation of young people in society.

For more information, please contact: Kristo Peterson, project manager of the youth survey of the Estonian National Youth Council (Eesti Noorteühenduste Liit), tel 503 0220, e-mail kristo.peterson@enl.ee