Table of Contents:

Dmitri Moskovtsev: We are looking for options to provide the necessary services to all interested parties

It is still possible to sign up for the last available spots of the autumn semester

In the autumn season, we await all Estonian language learners to exciting language practice events

Estonian language cafés welcome you to sip coffee and practice Estonian

Special courses to refine your Estonian language skills

Proposals for this year’s integration awards can be submitted only until 1 September!

Ukrainian war refugees will receive free adaptation training and Estonian language courses

A large study of the Estonian diaspora conducted by the Institute of Baltic Studies has been completed

Marika Sulg has started working in the Integration Foundation team as a Compatriot Adviser

The summer of camps offered activities for several of the Integration Foundation’s target groups

Note this on your calendar: the international conference on integration will take place this year on 10–11 November

There are several ongoing public procurements and calls for proposals

Dmitri Moskovtsev: We are looking for options to provide the necessary services to all interested parties

You have been the Head of the Integration Foundation for two months – how do you like it here?
In short, I like it very much! The last two months in this new position have been extremely eventful and exciting. Starting from my first day at work, I focused on learning more about the team and partners of the Integration Foundation and on acquiring a deeper understanding of every area of activity. I was positively surprised about the extent of the cooperation network of the foundation – meeting all the partners and discussing cooperation will take a considerable amount of time. Another surprise was the extent of the operations of our organisation: we provide various services, support important projects during the application stages, and organise activities that help to increase the cohesion of the society. However, the most vital aspect is our motivated and hard-working team and it is pure joy to work with them towards a better society.

What can clients expect from the Foundation in the coming years?
Many of the activities and services of the Integration Foundation (such as language courses and camps or events for practising language) have a significantly higher number of applicants than we can accommodate. Together with the Ministry of Culture, we are looking for opportunities to provide the necessary services to all interested parties. Among other things, we will focus on developing Estonian Language Houses, which will expand their activities to the Lääne-Harju and Lüganuse rural municipalities this year. We are certainly going to continue developing the self-service system to further facilitate participation in our activities for our clients.

The main goal of the Integration Foundation is supporting the cohesion of the society. In your opinion, what keeps us united?
Estonia has a diverse society. This is an extremely valuable aspect of our culture which we must emphasise more. On the other hand, finding common ground between different nationalities, generations, or the representatives of communities is often complicated. I think that contact and communication between people is important for that. When people communicate, they share their opinions, joys, and possible fears – all of which help to understand each other better.
The latest integration survey indicates that contacts between nationalities have increased over time but there is still a lot of room for improvement. We are working towards creating programmes and organising events where Estonian residents who have never met each other before could meet and, why not, even become friends. Excellent examples of this are the Language Friends programme and the Estonian-Russian or Estonian-English tandem camps, where true cohesion magic happens in addition to practising Estonian. I would like to use this moment to sincerely thank all our volunteers and mentors!

It is still possible to sign up for the last available spots of the autumn semester

Registration for free Estonian courses in the self-service of the Integration Foundation is about to end. The courses are free and intended for adults from the age of 18.

Contact language courses take place in Tartu, Pärnu, Valga, Tapa, Sillamäe, Jõhvi, Kohtla-Järve, Tallinn, and Narva. In addition, online courses are held for students across Estonia. The courses take place at the training partners selected as part of the Integration Foundation’s procurement and in Estonian language houses.

In the spring semester of 2022, 1,200 people completed the Estonian language course, and a total of 1,730 people will study in the summer and autumn seasons.

The next registration for courses will take place at the beginning of the next semester in the Integration Foundation’s self-service. We recommend all those interested in language learning to sign up as customers in the self-service to be the first to find out about available study spots. More information on the self-service: integratsioon.ee/en/iseteenindus. For those who do not have the possibility of using the internet-based self-service, the foundation’s advisers will help them choose language learning opportunities and sign up for them by calling +372 800 9999 (free of charge) or by sending an e-mail to info@integratsiooniinfo.ee.

At the end of September, the Integration Foundation will also open registration in Lääne-Harju municipality in Paldiski.

You can register on an ongoing basis for free Estonian language courses (up to level B1) meant for applying for Estonian citizenship, additional information: https://www.integratsioon.ee/en/language-training-apply-estonian-citize….

In the autumn season, we await all Estonian language learners to exciting language practice events

New event plans for practicing communication skills have been completed by the Estonian language houses of Integratsion Foundation. We offer thematic language practice opportunities for all levels of language skills in Tallinn, Pärnu and Pärnumaa, Narva, Sillamäe, online, as well as in new locations such as Lüganuse parish and Lääne-Harju parish.

The Narva Estonian language house offers good old series of events such as Mokalaat, film showings of new Estonian cinema, and cultural meetings. In October, the Matsalu Nature Film Festival will be once again brought to Narva. The basics of improvisation will be taught in the new series of improv workshops. The series of study trips on the Onion Route, liked by many students, will be returning. The residents of Sillamäe will be offered the opportunity to participate in a social club, led by a journalist from Põhjarannik.

The event schedule of the Tallinn Estonian language house is also highly diverse and offers a multitude of exciting events. The ‘Church Fridays’ will continue, there will be meetings with writers, cooking club meetings, study tours, and a trip to Tartu, as well as many other exciting things for people with varying interests.

The Tallinn Estonian language house again offers activities for the Estonian language learners in Pärnu and Pärnumaa. The traditional Pärnu social club meetings will continue, however there are also many new things to look forward to: a sound journey with rare instruments, an ‘ugrimugri’ party with maris, and a trip to the homestead of a famous Estonian writer.

Starting from autumn, Estonian language houses will offer language practice events in the Lääne-Harju and Lüganuse parishes, where participants can expect discussions, craft workshops, lace classes, trips, etc.

The event calendar of the language houses can be found here: www.integratsioon.ee/en/kalender. The language-practising events can be registered to via the self-service environment where all events of the current month are open for registration and the events of the following month are displayed for making plans.

The exciting projects of the language houses can also be kept up with on Facebook: become a follower of the language houses of Tallinn and Narva!

Estonian language cafés welcome you to sip coffee and practice Estonian

Since 8 August, all language cafés across Estonia are back in full swing to offer a pleasant opportunity to practice your Estonian speaking skills.

The language cafés provide support for independent Estonian studies and a chance to practice to those who want to speak the language – supplement their vocabulary, practice independent learning, and chat on everyday topics in a relaxed environment. Language cafés are held all over Estonia free of charge.

Situations and topics that arise in daily life are discussed at the cafés. These include subjects like introducing yourself, looking for work, self-improvement, communicating with colleagues, travelling, enjoying hobbies, celebrating special occasions and anniversaries, as well as everyday situations, such as attending doctor’s appointments and dealing with officials.

The language cafés offer a total of 240 meeting opportunities per week. The language café schedule and registration information can be found on the Integration Foundation’s website or in the self-service. The language cafés’ schedule will be continuously updated.

Language cafés are held every week all over Estonia: In Tallinn, Maardu, Narva, Sillamäe, Kohtla-Järve, Jõhvi, Narva-Jõesuu, Tartu, Pärnu, and Valga. There is also an online language café held twice a week.

Language cafés are supported from the resources of the ‘Development and implementation of advisory and information system’ activity 5.1 of the ‘Activities supporting integration in Estonian society’ project nr 2014-2020.2.06.004005006.01.15-0001 of the European Social Fund.

Special courses to refine your Estonian language skills

In addition to regular language courses, the Narva and Tallinn Estonian language houses offer opportunities to improve your skills in a total of 12 different special courses, both in contact learning and online. Participants from all over Estonia are welcome to the online courses.

The special courses of the upcoming academic season are primarily intended for the language house students who have completed or are completing language level courses. Invitations will be sent from mid-September to language learners of the corresponding level who have also signed up as a customer in the Integration Foundation’s self-service. The Integration Foundation’s advisors can also refer you to special courses.

This season, we will be continuing a good tradition in the Narva Estonian language house by offering the popular digital pronunciation course, an online course entitled ‘Journeys through Estonia’, as well as a playful grammar course. Educational courses such as 100 Years of Estonian Music have been added to the list of special courses. In the special courses of the Tallinn Estonian language house, we will be talking about Estonian culture, everyday life, as well as cultures of the world.

The event calendar of the language houses can be found here: www.integratsioon.ee/en/kalender. The language-practising events can be registered to via the self-service environment where all events of the current month are open for registration and the events of the following month are displayed for making plans.The exciting projects of the language houses can also be kept up with on Facebook: become a follower of the language houses of Tallinn and Narva!

Proposals for this year’s integration awards can be submitted only until 1 September!

Applications are welcome to the Integration Foundation for receiving awards for projects carried out in the field of integration. The deadline for applications is September 1st.

The integration prize fund is EUR 4,000. The prizes will be awarded in four categories and the best project promoter of each category will receive a prize of EUR 1,000.

Applications for awards can be submitted in the following categories:

• The building blocks of integration (acknowledging the cultural diversity of Estonia and the targeted long-term activities to promote integration);
• Bridge Builder of the Year (implementation of cooperation projects between native Estonians and non-Estonian residents);
• Message Carrier of the Year (development of attitudes supporting integration through the media);
• Spark of the Year (implementation of outstanding activities in the field of integration).

Applications can be submitted in several categories, but in this case, different projects or activities must be proposed in each category. The competition is for the projects or activities which were initiated on or after 1 September last year and will be completed by the end of August this year at the latest; there are no time limits applicable to the category of ‘The building blocks of integration’.

The full information about the competition and application form can be found HERE (in Estonian)

The awards are funded by the Ministry of Culture. The names of the prize-winners will be published on the website of the Integration Foundation and the awards will be presented at the end of 2022.

Ukrainian war refugees will receive free adaptation training and Estonian language courses

In July, registration began to the mandatory and free adaptation programme for Ukrainian war refugees who have been granted temporary protection, consisting of adaptation training and Estonian language courses. Nearly 4,000 people have completed adaptation training to date, and nearly 2,000 have started or are about to start learning Estonian.

The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board will send a referral letter for participation in the adaptation programme to all adults who have been granted temporary protection. After that, you must sign up for both the adaptation training and Estonian language courses yourself in the online environment www.settleinestonia.ee.

‘Participation in the adaptation programme is essential to all Ukrainian refugees who have been granted temporary protection in order to cope independently in Estonia and to adapt more smoothly. We ask all those who have already received a referral letter from the Police and Border Guard Board to sign up for training as soon as possible,’ said Kerli Zirk, an advisor of the Cultural Diversity Department of the Estonian Ministry of Culture.

• Adaptation programme module for persons eligible for temporary protection: www.settleinestonia.ee/programme/temporary-protection-module.
• A-1 level Estonian language courses for persons eligible for temporary protection: www.settleinestonia.ee/programme/temporary-protection-lang-module.

Trainings will be organised in all regions of Estonia where persons eligible for temporary protection reside, they can also be completed online.The adaptation programme is led by the Ministry of Culture. Read more HERE.

A large study of the Estonian diaspora conducted by the Institute of Baltic Studies has been completed

According to various estimations, 150,000 – 200,000 Estonians, people from or connected to Estonia live outside Estonia, which makes up nearly 15% of the Estonian population. At the beginning of the summer, a large-scale study was published, which reveals the identity, attitudes, and expectations of Estonians living abroad regarding Estonia.

The results of the study show that:

• global Estonian communities – despite their largely permanent life outside Estonia – are in no way distant, absent, or estranged from Estonia. Most of them are satisfied with their life in their (new) country of residence and have adapted there, but at the same time their sense of belonging to Estonia remains strong;
• more than half of the respondents celebrate holidays related to Estonia and, similarly to Estonians living in Estonia, they are also active in exercising their right to vote by voting in Estonian elections. A large part of families with children wish to pass on the Estonian language, culture, and customs to their children, and the vast majority wish to retain their citizenship of the Republic of Estonia;
• the global Estonian community is very diverse – there is no such thing as an ideal ‘global Estonian’, just as there is no single ‘global Estonian community’. The reasons for the emigration of Estonians are increasingly diverse and in combination with several factors that cause and promote emigration;
• significant differences in attitudes occur both across age groups and between generations, more than half of the families seem to be mixed families, and even if the vast majority of the global Estonian community has Estonian as their mother tongue, nearly a fifth of them have actual Estonian language skills below that of a so-called native speaker.

You can find the complete report of the study on the website of the Institute of Baltic Studies. Photo: nansiphotography.com / estonianworld.com

Marika Sulg has started working in the Integration Foundation team as a Compatriot Adviser

Since Marika Sulg has lived in St. Petersburg for a long time, participated in international programmes and language camps, and is well acquainted with the worries and joys of Estonians in St. Petersburg, she can understand the challenges of those returning to Estonia. In addition to Estonian, Marika offers counselling in Russian and English.

The purpose of the counselling service is to offer support to compatriots who have developed an interest and desire to return to Estonia, as well as to those who have already started a new life in Estonia. The advisor helps to plan a smoother return to Estonia, including both practical information as well as topics related to re-adjustment in Estonia.

Counselling is still also conducted by the Head of the Compatriots Service, Kaire Cocker, thus we can offer returnees more support than previously.

The summer of camps offered activities for several of the Integration Foundation’s target groups

During the summer, we organised various camps supporting integration and language learning for young Estonians living abroad, adult learners of Estonian, Romas of Valga, and families from Lääne-Harju parish whose home language is not Estonian.

Language camps for young Estonians living abroad were held in Viljandimaa. In the three shifts of the camp, a total of 66 young people from twenty foreign countries, as well as 24 local young people participated, with whom they practiced spoken Estonian and talked about life in Estonia. The young people made friends from compatriots, practiced spoken language and studied grammar, and improved their knowledge of Estonian culture.

Estonian language houses organised various camps offering both language practice and cultural immersion for those who attended language courses and for other interested parties. Estonian-Russian and Estonian-English tandem camps were held, as well as language learning camps in Saaremaa, Nelijärve, and a city camp at the Estonian Museum of Natural History.

From this year, the activities of the Estonian language house in Tallinn also expanded to Lääne-Harju parish. As the first activity, the families there were offered the opportunity to participate in the Fairy tale camps in Vasalemma and Paldiski, where they improved their vocabulary of the Estonian language and gained more courage to use the language in speech through various activities.

Note this on your calendar: the international conference on integration will take place this year on 10–11 November

The Integration Foundation’s annual international conference on integration will take place on 10–11 November in Tallinn and its theme is ‘Together or Apart: Searching for the Middle Ground’. The conference brings together internationally recognised experts, researchers, and policy-makers, and can also be followed online.

The theme of this year’s conference deals with segregation in various areas. We will talk about the dangers that might await us if we stay too separate and distant from one another, how other countries have gone about finding a balance, and how we can move forward so that society could be a little more together and a little less apart.

The main speaker of the conference is OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities and Ambassador Kairat Abdrakhmanov.

In addition, Dr Gemma Catney, a Population and Social Geographer at Queen’s University Belfast, Dr James Laurence, a Senior Research Officer at the Economic and Social Research Institute and Associate Professor at Trinity College Dublin, Dr Judit Kende, a social psychologist working at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Hanno Kruse, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Amsterdam, Laura Kirss, a doctoral student at the University of Tartu and a Science Adviser at the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research, and Dr Patrick Kotzur, an Assistant Professor of Social Psychology at Durham University will be taking the stage.

Participation in the conference is free, registration will open at the beginning of October. You can participate on site in Tallinn or by following the live broadcast of the conference.

There are several ongoing public procurements and calls for proposals

29 August is the last day to submit proposals for the public procurement ‘Estonian language A1-level training for temporary protection recipients II’. The 2022 application round for self-initiated projects aimed at foreign communities in Estonia is open until 5 September. Until the beginning of September, we also await applicants for the 2022 awards in the field of integration in four different categories.

The opportunity to organise more culture and sports events in Ida-Virumaa will be created in the application round ‘Sports and culture events promoting entrepreneurship in Ida-Virumaa II round’, opened in September, with a budget of 150,000 euros.

29. august on viimane päev esitada pakkumusi riigihankele „Eesti keele A1-tasemel õpe ajutise kaitse saajatele II”. Eesti väliskogukondadele suunatud omaalgatuslike projektide taotlusvoor 2022 on avatud 5. septembrini. Septembri alguseni ootame kandideerijaid ka lõimumisvaldkonna 2022. aasta preemiatele neljas erinevas kategoorias.

Võimalust Ida-Virumaal rohkem kultuuri- ja spordisündmusi korraldada loob septembrist avanev taotlusvoor “Ida-Virumaa ettevõtlust edendavad spordi- ja kultuurisündmused II voor” eelarvega 150 000 eurot.

Information on the announced calls is published on the Integration Foundation's website.

Our calendar

Information on events that take place by our organisation, participation or support, can be found in the calendar published on our website.

Our news

You can read the latest announcements of the Integration Foundation in the news section of our website and on the Facebook page of the Integration Foundation or the Estonian Language House.

Table of Contents:

Irene Käosaar: Let us carry on together!

The first free Estonian language courses of the season will already begin in July

A call for students whose first language is not Estonian to participate in a summer school and gain work experience in the public sector!

Once again, language cafés opened their doors all over Estonia

Estonian language-learning opportunities for Ukrainian war refugees

Registration for courses on the constitution of Estonia and the Citizenship Act is open

Summer is the best time for practising Estonian!

Dmitri Moskovtsev will be the new Director of the Integration Foundation

The Integration Foundation is looking forward to applications for integration awards

Calls for tenders and proposals

Irene Käosaar: Let us carry on together!

Summer is finally about to arrive and we can close another academic year. This will also mark the end of my work at the foundation. The past five years have been meaningful, full of challenges and successes.

In this past five years:
* the team of the Integration Foundation has expanded from twentyone to fifty-one employees,
* we transferred the headquarters of the foundation to Narva and moved into new premises specially renovated for us in Narva as well as in Tallinn,
* we have opened Estonian Language Houses in Tallinn and Narva, expanded their activities to the parishes of Lüganuse and LääneHarju, and organised many different projects in very different local municipalities in Estonia,
* the number of the ministries funding us has increased from two to five, while our budget has more than doubled,
* we have strengthened our position as a competence centre and as the opinion leader in our sector,
* we have quickly and flexibly responded to the coronavirus and Ukrainian war crises and are prepared to review our plans and implement changes openly, rapidly, and meaningfully,
* the satisfaction surveys conducted inhouse and among our partners, the analysis of the impact of the Estonian Language Houses, and our own risk analysis show that the institution has a healthy organisational culture and a good sense of mission and is highly regarded among our partners – we are doing the right thing in the right way, are flexible and prepared to learn from experience.

Our last year’s management report provides a better overview of our activities. 

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the partners, colleagues, friends, and of course my loved ones, my family – I have experienced priceless faith, attention and care, as well as acceptance of all my strengths and mistakes throughout those years. And now let us carry on together from a slightly new position – due to the shared values, the Narva State Gymnasium will undoubtedly become a strong partner for the foundation.

Photo: Postimees / Andres Haabu

The first free Estonian language courses of the season will already begin in July

The Integration Foundation will be offering over 2,000 places for learning Estonian language for permanent residents as well as new migrants over the summer and autumn. Estonian can be studied for free all over Estonia.

In July and August, we will be organising 120-hour A2, B1, and B2 level language courses in Tallinn, Narva, Kohtla-Järve, Sillamäe, Tartu, and Pärnu, as well as online courses all over Estonia.

From 8 August, those interested can choose between A2, B1, B2, and C1 level language courses in Tallinn, Tartu, Valga, Pärnu, Jõhvi, Sillamäe, Tapa, and Ahtme, as well as online.

The courses will be funded from the state budget through the Ministry of Culture and from the European Social Fund within the framework of action 5.2.1 ‘Integration trainings’ funded from project no. 2014-2020.2.06.004005006.01.15-0001 ‘Activities Supporting Integration in Estonian Society’.

The Estonian Language Houses in Narva and Tallinn will also be providing courses at different levels in Tallinn and Narva from the middle of September, as well as in the parishes of Lääne-Harju and Lüganuse for the first time.

The public registration to the courses beginning in July will be opened in the self-service environment of the Integration Foundation at the end of June, with the other courses added in due time. The opening of the registration will be announced separately on our website and through social media.
 

A call for students whose first language is not Estonian to participate in a summer school and gain work experience in the public sector!

Public sector agencies have teamed up and are welcoming students whose first language is not Estonian to come and see what happens in the public sector, gain knowledge at the summer school, and obtain work experience.

The Integration Foundation along with the Ministry of Culture is starting a programme where public sector agencies offer work experience for students whose first language is not Estonian. The aim of the project is to introduce to young people the job opportunities at state agencies and to encourage them to apply for positions in the public sector in the future.

Trainees are welcome at the Government Office, Estonian Ministry of Education and Research, Ministry of Culture, Estonian Data Protection Inspectorate, Land Board, Health Board, Health Insurance Fund, Emergency Response Centre, Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, and the Integration Foundation. The work-experience tasks are related to, for example, the topics of data protection, management of state assets, environmental health, the employer’s branding, and other areas.

Students of various fields of study can apply if their first language is not Estonian. The applicants are expected to have a very good Estonian language skill, interest in the field, positive attitude, and preparedness for an interesting challenge. Information about the work experience offers and application requirements are available on the website praktikaprogramm.integratsioon.ee. Deadline for applications is 27 June.

The work-experience programme will take place for the third time. A total of 21 young people whose first language is Russian, Estonian Russian, German, Azerbaijani, and Turkish have completed the work-experience programme at various ministries and state authorities.

For the first time, the Integration Foundation along with the Ministry of Culture is organising a public sector summer school for students whose first language is not Estonian and its activities take place from 22 to 25 August in the city centre of Tallinn.

The summer school raises the awareness of students about the possibilities of working in the public sector and teaches skills necessary for applying to exciting positions at state or local government agencies.

The participants will visit different agencies and discuss the functions of the public sector. The topics involve working, career opportunities and success stories in the public sector, writing a good CV and motivation letter, and much more. You can also expect joyful communication and new contacts.

Applications are open for all students who are finishing at least their second year at an Estonian university, whose first language is not Estonian, who wish to expand their horizons, see their future in Estonia, and wish to meet other active young people. The deadline is 8 August!
 

Once again, language cafés opened their doors all over Estonia

The language cafés provide support for independent Estonian studies and a chance to practice to those who want to speak the language – supplement their vocabulary, practice independent learning, and chat on everyday topics in a relaxed environment. Language cafés are held all over Estonia free of charge.

Situations and topics that arise in daily life are discussed at the cafés. These include subjects like introducing yourself, looking for work, self-improvement, communicating with colleagues, travelling, enjoying hobbies, celebrating special occasions and anniversaries, as well as everyday situations, such as attending doctor’s appointments and dealing with officials.

You can get acquainted with the schedule and registration information of language cafés on the website of the Integration Foundation. The schedule is constantly updated.

Language cafés are held every week all over Estonia: In Tallinn, Maardu, Narva, Sillamäe, Kohtla-Järve, Jõhvi, Narva-Jõesuu, Tartu, Pärnu, and Valga. There is also an online language café held twice a week.

Language cafés are supported from the resources of the ‘Development and implementation of advisory and information system’ activity 5.1 of the ‘Activities supporting integration in Estonian society’ project nr 2014-2020.2.06.004005006.01.15-0001 of the European Social Fund.

Estonian language-learning opportunities for Ukrainian war refugees

The Integration Foundation and our Estonian Language Houses are preparing opportunities for the refugees who have arrived from Ukraine to learn Estonian on a basic level and offer counselling in language learning as well as adapting. Information sessions are organized for refugees and introductory videos have been made.

From summer, up to 10,000 recipients of temporary protection will be able to take part in A1-level Estonian language courses as well as an adaptation programme. It is possible to sign up for Estonian courses after having received a residence permit on the basis of temporary protection and after the Police and Border Guard Board have notified the recipient by email regarding the opportunity to participate in language learning. In addition to teaching Estonian at the A1 level, the state will begin offering a one-day adaptation programme to the recipients of temporary protection starting from summer.

Various free portals and applications can be used to learn Estonian independently. Estonian Language Houses offer web-based support to the war refugees who have begun learning Estonian independently and are in need of practical advice related to planning language learning, helpful materials, language-learning techniques, and staying motivated. Please contact the Integration Foundation’s counsellors by calling the free number +372 800 9999 or writing an email to info@integratsiooniinfo.ee to take part in online counselling groups.

The recipients of temporary protection are also welcome to the Integration Foundation’s counselling and they will be helped in choosing the most suitable opportunities for language learning and practicing. In addition, the counsellors will offer advice on other topics related to adapting, including regarding corresponding services and support. For counselling, we ask you to set a time by sending us an email at info@integratsiooniinfo.ee or by calling the free number +372 800 9999 (when calling from abroad, call +372 6599025). We will conduct consultations both face to face and through virtual channels (Skype, Zoom, Teams).

Additional information on the Integration Foundation’s services for war refugees can be found HERE.
 

Registration for courses on the constitution of Estonia and the Citizenship Act is open

The Integration Foundation is welcoming participants to the free courses on the constitution and the Citizenship Act. The courses will start in July. You can register for the courses, which will take place in different regions of Estonia, at www.kodanik.net.

The courses are intended for adult permanent residents or newly arrived immigrants whose first language is not Estonian and who wish to apply for Estonian citizenship and prepare for the exam on the constitution and the Citizenship Act.

The courses focus on Estonian state institutions and their functioning, the obligations, opportunities, and freedoms arising from the constitution, and the content and nature of the Citizenship Act. At the end of the course, participants will prepare for the exam.

The courses will take place from July to 15 December. During this period, at least a total of 204 people can take part in the course free of charge. The courses consist of 18 academic hours of learning. The courses take place in at least four Estonian counties and online.

The course plan is available on the website of the Integration Foundation. The course plan is updated and supplemented with new courses on a monthly basis.

If you want to apply for Estonian citizenship, you can also learn Estonian for free to reach B2 level. Read more here.

The courses on the constitution of Estonia and the Citizenship Act are financed by the Ministry of the Interior.
 

Summer is the best time for practising Estonian!

During the summer months, we welcome everyone who have studied Estonian independently or with a teacher to maintain and practice their language skills!

The Estonian language houses in Narva and Tallinn offer great opportunities for practising Estonian in June and August. There will be excursions, trips, museum visits, and language camps. Using the method of tandem studies, this summer, you can once again participate in the Nelijärve Estonian-Russian tandem camp and in the Palamuse Estonian-English tandem camp: you can still apply for the latter until 26 June!

Similarly to previous years, the language roulette will be rolling again this summer. As a celebration of the Year of Libraries, the virtual meetings will be broadcasted only from libraries. On 28 June, they will be broadcasted from Tallinn. As this year, the representatives of the Estonian language house are also available in Lüganuse parish and Lääne-Harju parish, on 26 July, all the participants are virtually welcomed to Kiviõli and on 23 August, to Paldiski.

The event calendar of the language houses can be found here: www.integratsioon.ee/en/kalender. The language-practising events can be registered to via the self-service environment where all events of the current month are open for registration and the events of the following month are displayed for making plans.

The exciting projects of the language houses can also be kept up with on Facebook: become a follower of the language houses of Tallinn and Narva!
 

Dmitri Moskovtsev will be the new Director of the Integration Foundation

The Supervisory Board of the Integration Foundation elected Dmitri Moskovtsev as the new director of the foundation as a result of a public competition. The new director will take office on 1 July. The current director Irene Käosaar will become the headmaster of the new Narva Estonian State High School.

Dmitri Moskovtsev has been working in the Ministry of Finance since 2017 as a project manager in the field of public administration. In 2014–2017, Dmitri Moskovtsev worked in the Tallinn City Centre Government as the Chief Specialist of the City Property Department. He has actively contributed to social activities, being the founder and organiser of the TEDxLasnamäe conference in 2014–2018.

Dmitri Moskovtsev holds a bachelor’s degree in politics and governance and a master’s degree in political science from Tallinn University. In addition, he has completed a number of refresher training courses in management and policy-making.
 

The Integration Foundation is looking forward to applications for integration awards

Applications are welcome to the Integration Foundation for receiving awards for projects carried out in the field of integration. The deadline for applications is September 1st.

The integration prize fund is EUR 4,000. The prizes will be awarded in four categories and the best project promoter of each category will receive a prize of EUR 1,000.

Applications for awards can be submitted in the following categories:

• The building blocks of integration (acknowledging the cultural diversity of Estonia and the targeted long-term activities to promote integration);
• Bridge Builder of the Year (implementation of cooperation projects between native Estonians and non-Estonian residents);
• Message Carrier of the Year (development of attitudes supporting integration through the media);
• Spark of the Year (implementation of outstanding activities in the field of integration).

Applications can be submitted in several categories, but in this case, different projects or activities must be proposed in each category. The competition is for the projects or activities which were initiated on or after 1 September last year and will be completed by the end of August this year at the latest; there are no time limits applicable to the category of ‘The building blocks of integration’.

The full information about the competition and application form can be found HERE (in Estonian)

The awards are funded by the Ministry of Culture. The names of the prize-winners will be published on the website of the Integration Foundation and the awards will be presented at the end of 2022.

The photo shows the winners of the 2021 integration awards
 

Calls for tenders and proposals

A public procurement ’Introducing the Estonian cultural space to less integrated permanent residents and new immigrants’ was issued with a deadline of 12 July. Applications are open until the beginning of September for 2022 laureates of the areas of integration in four different categories.

Information on the announced calls is published on the Integration Foundation's website.
 

Our calendar

Information on events that take place by our organisation, participation or support, can be found in the calendar published on our website.
 

Our news

You can read the latest announcements of the Integration Foundation in the news section of our website and on the Facebook page of the Integration Foundation or the Estonian Language House.

Table of Contents:

Irene Käosaar: new times and new challenges

Estonian language-learning opportunities for Ukrainian war refugees

Estonia is supporting returnees in a number of ways

The language house in Narva is offering diverse opportunities for learning and expanding to the Lüganuse rural municipality

The Estonian Language House in Tallinn opened new communication channels and launched cooperation with the city of Maardu

In the summer period, the Estonian Language Houses will be offering various different fun options for practicing the language

We can recommend materials for learning Estonian independently!

A film and book will be released on the initiative of the Estonian Language House in Narva

The self-service environment of the Integration Foundation is now open

The Integration Foundation is looking forward to applications for integration awards

Information days on migration, adjustment, and integration at county centres

There are several ongoing public procurements and calls for proposals

Irene Käosaar: new times and new challenges

Unfortunately, the world will never be the same after 24 February. The everyday work of the Integration Foundation has also changed in relation to the arrival of Ukrainian refugees. We are hosting a record number of free Estonian language courses at the A1 level – from June, we will be offering 10,000 free spots for language learning with the support of our partners. In cooperation with our partners, we will coordinate sharing information with those arriving from Ukraine, so we would all be in a single information space here in Estonia as soon as possible.

It is also very important to continue our current endeavours so that the permanent residents of Estonia could continue to participate in language learning and our other activities, similar to the situation before February, so we will be continuing all our activities. The broader goals of integration, i.e. supporting a connected society, have not changed, so it is important to keep all residents of Estonia in a singular cultural and customary space.

My time in the Integration Foundation is coming to an end. I began working at this establishment in 2000, and in the years 2007 – 2017 (when I worked at the Ministry of Education and Research), the foundation was one of my most important partners, I was also a member of the foundation’s board. Since 2017, I have been head of the foundation. I made a very important and difficult decision for myself and will begin working towards establishing the Narva Estonian State High School. Integration is a topic close to my heart and education is a cornerstone in the field – so, I will stay in the field, but will take on a new challenge starting from June.

Estonian language-learning opportunities for Ukrainian war refugees

The Integration Foundation and our Estonian Language Houses are preparing opportunities for the refugees who have arrived from Ukraine to learn Estonian on a basic level and offer counselling in language learning as well as adapting.

From summer, up to 10,000 recipients of temporary protection will be able to take part in A1-level Estonian language courses as well as an adaptation programme. It is possible to sign up for Estonian courses after having received a residence permit on the basis of temporary protection and after the Police and Border Guard Board have notified the recipient by email regarding the opportunity to participate in language learning. In addition to teaching Estonian at the A1 level, the state will begin offering a one-day adaptation programme to the recipients of temporary protection starting from summer.

Various free portals and applications can be used to learn Estonian independently. Estonian Language Houses offer web-based support to the war refugees who have begun learning Estonian independently and are in need of practical advice related to planning language learning, helpful materials, language-learning techniques, and staying motivated. Please contact the Integration Foundation’s counsellors by calling the free number +372 800 9999 or writing an email to info@integratsiooniinfo.ee to take part in online counselling groups.

The recipients of temporary protection are also welcome to the Integration Foundation’s counselling and they will be helped in choosing the most suitable opportunities for language learning and practicing. In addition, the counsellors will offer advice on other topics related to adapting, including regarding corresponding services and support. For counselling, we ask you to set a time by sending us an email at info@integratsiooniinfo.ee or by calling the free number +372 800 9999 (when calling from abroad, call +372 6599025). We will conduct consultations both face to face and through virtual channels (Skype, Zoom, Teams).

The Estonian state offers a safe place to stay, education, support in finding work, and various other services to the Ukrainian citizens and their family members who have fled the war. The related info is available at kriis.ee. Additional information on the Integration Foundation’s services for war refugees can be found HERE.

Estonia is supporting returnees in a number of ways

The Integration Foundation provides information and advises the returnees who are interested in and willing to return to live in Estonia, as well as those who have already begun a new life in Estonia.

Almost 7000 Estonians return to their homeland every year. In February, the criteria for receiving the returning benefit designed for the families with children who need financial assistance were relaxed. Unlike before, those who have only lived away from Estonia for seven years can also apply for the benefit – this threshold was previously ten years. The requirement of having stayed abroad for a long time does not apply to people up to 40 years of age who have completed postgraduate and doctoral studies abroad – the age limit used to be 30 years.

The Integration Foundation continues to organise experience-sharing meetings to provide the necessary information and support for better organising one’s life after returning to Estonia. Returnees also share their experience of adjusting in Estonia after returning and contacts can be made with people of similar backgrounds at the meetings. The free online meetings are organised twice a month and will be organised until June based on initial plans. Information and registration: www.integratsioon.ee/en/meetings.

The language house in Narva is offering diverse opportunities for learning and expanding to the Lüganuse rural municipality

In February, sixteen new groups with a total of 256 learners started their language studies at the Estonian Language House in Narva, with special courses of pronunciation and Estonian culture also provided. New courses language skills were added: playful grammar for beginners, journeys through Estonia, and a debate course.

In March, Signe Viilop, regional coordinator of Lüganuse rural municipality, joined the team of the Estonian Language House in Narva. She will be leading creating of an official branch of the Estonian Language House in Kiviõli. The house will be providing a custom-made language-learning solutions for free for 250 learners, as well as other activities for practising language skills in a pleasant atmosphere.

The Estonian Language House in Narva won the award of the best cultural event of the year for organising the ‘Sõida tasa üle silla’ sing-along party, as well as an award for implementing innovative ideas in language learning in a competition for the shapers of the reputation of the Estonian language. One example of the novel ideas are the podcasts which involve the teachers Julia and Pille discussing the nuances of spoken Estonian and comparing the peculiarities of the grammar and vocabularies of Estonian and Russian in a cheerful digital format, but also the activities of the second season of the Tandemkoor choir, which support language learning.

The Estonian Language House in Tallinn opened new communication channels and launched cooperation with the city of Maardu

The Estonian Language House of Tallinn has been working hard to get closer to our clients. Information about the activities of the language house has reached more people thanks to opening a Facebook page of the house, keeping a blog, and opening the self-service environment of the Integration Foundation.

In April, active cooperation begins with the educational leaders of Maardu to motivate the teachers of the kindergartens and schools of the city to take part in the activities of the Language House in Tallinn. Another larger-scale project, ‘School for Parents’ (‘Lastevanemate kool’) was launched with the Tallinn Kuristiku Gymnasium to support the parents of the children attending the language immersion class in their adjustment with the Estonian language and cultural space.

In the light of the Year of Libraries, the special course ‘Let’s write together’ (‘Kirjutame koos’) has been very well received and has involved exciting meetings with writers in libraries as well as other cultural institutions – get-togethers with David Vseviov at the Vabamu Museum of Occupations and Freedom, with Adam Cullen in the Black Ceiling Hall of the Estonian Writers Union, with Loone Ots in the Kännukuke library, and with Valdur Mikita in the Estonian Language House in Tallinn. There are different activities offered for practising Estonian language for learners with very different interests, though.

In the summer period, the Estonian Language Houses will be offering various different fun options for practicing the language

As soon as the warm summer days arrive, we will be offering more opportunities for practising language skills in the open air – trips, hikes, tours, as well as camps in Narva, Tallinn, and all over Estonia.

On 6 May, the Language House in Narva is already expecting everyone interested to attend the A Day of Science "River" in Narva, in which the best-known scientists in Estonia will be helping to study our surroundings, get to know the river Narva and its residents, as well as those living on the banks of the river: birds, bats, and people. Trips, lectures, and concerts will be taking place. Language learners are also welcome to take part in the language hikes introducing exciting places in Ida-Viru County and in the Estonian-Russian double camp, in which the participants will be helping one another to learn and practise Estonian and Russian.

In June, the Estonian Language House in Tallinn will be organising trips to the islands of Aegna and Prangli for language learners, as well as a language camp in Lahemaa, with the ‘Language learning at the Maritime Museum’ (‘Keeleõpe Meremuuseumis’) communication club taking the participants on a boat tour on the Tallinn Bay. Trips to enrich the spoken language will also be organised in August, an Estonian-English double camp will take place in Palamuse, and a trip will be undertaken to the rose garden and manors of Põltsamaa. The clients are also welcome to enjoy the summer weather while taking part in other follow-up activities, practising Estonian, and finding new friends.

The event calendar of the language houses can be found here: www.integratsioon.ee/en/kalender. The language-practising events can be registered to via the self-service environment where all events of the current month are open for registration and the events of the following month are displayed for making plans.

The exciting projects of the language houses can also be kept up with on Facebook: become a follower of the language houses of Tallinn and Narva!

We can recommend materials for learning Estonian independently!

For those who would like to learn Estonian independently, there are plenty of computer- and smart device-based learning materials to assist complete beginners, as well as advanced learners.

We have collected a selection of free materials for learning the Estonian language on our website: www.integratsioon.ee/en/independent-study-and-materials

Those applications and materials will assist in independent learning, support those taking part in language courses, and provide a good opportunity for keeping one’s language skills fresh during the summer holidays.

A film and book will be released on the initiative of the Estonian Language House in Narva

Two exciting projects were launched at the language house in Narva in March, which will result in the release of the short feature film Valik (Choice) about events in Narva in 1999 and 2017 by autumn, as well as a book to support language learning which tells a story of different cultures coming together.

On 27 March, the film academy of the Estonian Language House in Narva was launched, which will be providing the Estonian language learners knowledge on cinematography and acting and give them a good opportunity for practising Estonian. The participants will be able to practise expressing themselves under the guidance of professionals in the weekly meetings and finds new contacts among the people of Narva as well as the film scene. The best graduates of the school will be given roles in the short feature film Valik (Choice), which will be released this autumn. The main group is now closed for new learners, but those interested can still join as listeners.

We would also like to invite you to attend the ‘Let us write a book TOGETHER!’ (‘Kirjutame KOOS raamatu’) joint project and send us short, memorable stories about contacts between Estonians and representatives of other cultures. The stories will be complied into a compelling book of real-life situations which will also assist those learning Estonian. Both Estonians and people whose mother tongue is not Estonian are welcome to participate. The stories should be submitted by 15 May 2022.

The self-service environment of the Integration Foundation is now open

We opened a self-service portal on the website integratsioon.ee, through which users can conveniently plan their language-learning and register for Estonian language courses, events for practicing language skills, and other services.

‘The self-service portal gives language learners the opportunity to better orient in the free Estonian language-learning opportunities offered by the Integration Foundation, to select those that match their language proficiency level, location, and time preferences, and to register at a time convenient to them. Automatic notifications of new services added are also available. The user will have an overview of the learning activities they have completed, their results, and upcoming events.

To enter the self-service portal, users have to identify themselves with an Estonian ID-card, Mobile-ID, or Smart-ID. The counsellors of the foundation can help customers who do not have access to the self-service portal choose language-learning opportunities and register for them – call 800 9999 free of charge or send an email to info@integratsiooniinfo.ee. Further information is available at: www.integratsioon.ee/en/iseteenindus. 

The Integration Foundation is looking forward to applications for integration awards

Applications are welcome to the Integration Foundation for receiving awards for projects carried out in the field of integration. The deadline for applications is September 1st.

The integration prize fund is EUR 4,000. The prizes will be awarded in four categories and the best project promoter of each category will receive a prize of EUR 1,000.

Applications for awards can be submitted in the following categories:

• The building blocks of integration (acknowledging the cultural diversity of Estonia and the targeted long-term activities to promote integration);
• Bridge Builder of the Year (implementation of cooperation projects between native Estonians and non-Estonian residents);
• Message Carrier of the Year (development of attitudes supporting integration through the media);
• Spark of the Year (implementation of outstanding activities in the field of integration).

Applications can be submitted in several categories, but in this case, different projects or activities must be proposed in each category. The competition is for the projects or activities which were initiated on or after 1 September last year and will be completed by the end of August this year at the latest; there are no time limits applicable to the category of ‘The building blocks of integration’.

The full information about the competition and application form can be found HERE (in Estonian)

The awards are funded by the Ministry of Culture. The names of the prize-winners will be published on the website of the Integration Foundation and the awards will be presented at the end of 2022.

Information days on migration, adjustment, and integration at county centres

From March, information days on migration, adjustment, and integration are being organised all over Estonia, at which the Integration Foundation, among others, introduces its counselling services and materials available to the employees of local authorities and the agencies governed by them.

The purpose of the information days is to support the employees of local authorities and their divisions in their daily work, introducing the activities and opportunities provided by the state to returnees, new migrants, and permanent residents who are not yet extensively integrated. For example, we will be speaking about the opportunities for learning Estonian, the adjustment programme, residence permits, and benefits and counselling services for specific target groups, as well as introducing the online environment Linda, where all those services come together.

Information days have already taken place in Põlva, Jõgeva, Võru, Valga, and Rapla Counties. Information days will be held in all counties this year.

The information days are organised by the Johannes Mihkelson Centre in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Culture and are co-funded by the European Union via the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and the Ministry of the Interior.

There are several ongoing public procurements and calls for proposals

The public procurements ‘Estonian constitution and citizenship training’, ‘A1-level Estonian studies for beneficiaries of temporary protection’ and ‘Estonian language courses for the little-integrated permanent residents and new migrants living in Estonia’ have been opened to organise language studies. The purpose of the public procurements is to find partners for ordering the service of organising an international conference on integration and for organising a language camp for foreign Estonian youths. Today is the deadline for submitting applications in the call for proposals entitled ‘Sports and cultural events promoting entrepreneurship in Ida-Viru County’.

Information on the announced calls is published on the Integration Foundation's website.

Our calendar

Information on events that take place by our organisation, participation or support, can be found in the calendar published on our website.

Our news

You can read the latest announcements of the Integration Foundation in the news section of our website and on the Facebook page of the Integration Foundation or the Estonian Language House.

Table of Contents:

Irene Käosaar: 2021 was the year of looking in the mirror

Registration for the free Estonian language courses will start on February 2nd

The Estonian Language Houses in Narva and Tallinn invite you to practice the language

We are looking for voluntary mentors to help Estonian language learners

The Estonian Language House in Tallinn celebrated its birthday and opened a Facebook page

The ‘Discover Culture in Your Own Language’ campaign is currently ongoing

It will soon be possible to register for the services of the Integration Foundation in the self-service environment

Open calls for tenders and calls for proposals

Irene Käosaar: 2021 was the year of looking in the mirror

We have successfully made it to 2022. The beginning of the year is the best time to look back and think about the future.

In 2021, the Republic of Estonia celebrated its 30th anniversary of restored independence. We looked back at these 30 years both at our international conference in November and at the singing party held in Narva on 20 August. It was a festive and important year, but also a year of introspection.

We have been constantly changing and developing since 2018. In 2017, the government decided to establish Estonian Language Houses in Tallinn and Narva. This important and challenging task was trusted to the Integration Foundation in 2018. In 2019, we moved to the head office of the Integration Foundation to Narva, and opened Estonian Language Houses in Narva and Tallinn. 2020 was the first year we were able to work in our own offices all year round. In addition, we had put together the best possible team and set the targets and we were ready to do whatever needed to be done.

Three years of hard work have borne fruit, and 2021 was a year of looking in the mirror for us – it was time for an interim assessment.

• In 2021, an integration monitoring report was published, the results of which are, on the one hand, an assessment of our work and, on the other hand, an indicator for the entire field of integration.
• We conducted a satisfaction survey among our partners – we received positive feedback for being a pioneer and centre of competence in the field and an open and caring organisation. Additionally, the relocation of the office to Narva was considered an important step by our partners in Ida-Viru County.
• We also conducted an internal satisfaction survey – we received confirmation that our employees are motivated and caring and associate their values with those in the field. The foundation has a collaborative and goal-oriented work culture.
• We conducted an impact analysis of the Estonian Language Houses – we received confirmation that people who participated in the activities of our language houses feel more confident in communicating in Estonian, have more contacts with people who speak Estonian as their mother tongue, and are more socially active.

These surveys reassured us that we were on the right track, but also helped us realise what else needs to be done to meet the expectations of our partners and the people who use our services.

In addition to the usual activities, in 2021, our tasks included leading the citizens’ agreement programme and expanding the scope of activities related to compatriots and returnees.

At the end of 2021, the new development plan for the field of integration Sidus Eesti 2030 (Coherent Estonia 2030) was approved. In addition to the guidelines of the new development plan, 2022 is the last year of funding for the current European Structural Funds, as well as the year for planning the new period. We will continue with all our activities and plan new ones that we can implement from 2023 onwards.

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of online activities. A significant proportion of our language courses have taken place online. Our Language Friends Programme (Keelesõber) has brought together almost 500 pairs communicating in Estonian (more than 1,000 people in total), and more than 700 people have participated in the Language Roulette (Keelerulett). In addition to contact activities, we will definitely continue to offer some services online in 2022.

The web environment for adaptation and integration services LINDA, which was completed last year, was well received by all regions in 2021. We will continue to introduce it and keep the information there relevant. Our customer management programme was also completed at the end of last year, which will allow us to launch web-based self-service this year.

In 2022, we will celebrate the fourth birthday of Estonian Language Houses with the expansion into new areas – close co-operation with Lüganuse and Lääne-Harju rural municipalities is ahead. In addition to our old friends from Jõhvi, Kohtla-Järve, Sillamäe, Tartu, and Pärnu, we have found good partners in Maardu and Valga.

Finally, in 2022, we will focus on libraries. We are even more actively involving libraries in our work and partnering with libraries in their initiatives. Our partners and friends from libraries in different regions have embraced the themes of integration and are contributing in any way they can.

Happy 2022 to everyone – make time for yourself and read at least one book every month (it can even be a thin poetry book) – and the world will be clearer and brighter again!

Registration for the free Estonian language courses will start on February 2nd

On February 2nd at 10 a.m., registration for the free Estonian language courses will start on the website of the Integration Foundation. Registration is open to adults from the age of 18 using their ID card, Mobile ID or Smart ID.

For those interested in the Estonian language, the Integration Foundation offers 160 places in A1–C1 level online courses and 784 places in A1–C1 level contact language courses in classrooms. Contact language language take place in Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu, Maardu, Narva, Jõhvi, Kohtla-Järve, and the Ahtme city district. A total of 944 people can apply through public registration.

You can get acquainted with the course schedule and the rules for registering for courses, as well as test your language skills, on the website of the Integration Foundation. A COVID certificate is required to participate in contact language courses.

In addition to the A1–C1 level language courses, the Integration Foundation offers the opportunity to participate in events supporting language learning in the Estonian Language Houses in Tallinn and Narva (integratsioon.ee/kalender) and special language proficiency courses in the first half of the year.

We also recommend participating in the counselling sessions at the Estonian Language Houses of the Integration Foundation, where we analyse the needs and experiences of each person, determine their language proficiency level, and prepare a language learning plan. To register for counselling, please contact us by email at info@integratsiooniinfo.ee or call 800 9999 (free of charge).

The Estonian Language Houses in Narva and Tallinn invite you to practice the language

The Estonian Language Houses in Narva and Tallinn have launched exciting activities which support the learning of the Estonian language and provide an opportunity to get acquainted with Estonian culture.

The Estonian Language House in Narva, for example, continues the tradition of film nights and the social club of parents. The new series of language trips takes Estonian language learners interested in travel on nature hikes in Ida-Viru County. A floristics workshop is now offered in Jõhvi and the meetings of the Museum Day will continue. In spring, there will be a scooter trip and a visit to Tagavälja Farm. In Kohtla-Järve, Estonian is practiced on game nights.

The multilingual tandem choir has started its season at the Estonian Language House in Narva. There are still some spots (for men) available in the choir. The new pilot project Estonskad is aimed at upper secondary school students in honing their communication skills in Estonian in an open and developing environment.

The Language House in Tallinn will continue to organise calligraphy workshops, the Forest Game, visits to the Estonian Art Museum, the Culinary Club, and culture-focused study visits in Tallinn. In addition, language learners will be introduced to the history of Estonian maritime, visit the E. Vilde and A. H. Tammsaare House Museum, meet with contemporary Estonian writers, and take trips to the islands when the days get warmer. Language learners in the Pärnu region can take part in the social club in both Sindi and Pärnu.

Several series of online activities have started or are about to take place, where people from all over Estonia or all over the world can practice Estonian, be it the Mokalaat talking-shop, Language Roulette, Cultural Meetings, or Playground. You can read more about all language training options that are already available or will soon be available in the calendar of events.

We are looking for voluntary mentors to help Estonian language learners

Integration Foundation is inviting people who speak Estonian as their mother tongue or other fluent Estonian-speakers to register as voluntary mentors to help Estonian language learners practice their spoken language by conversing with them via online channels or over the phone.

‘The purpose of the Language Friends programme ‘Keelesõber’ is to provide Estonian language learners further opportunities for practising communicating in Estonian and to encourage them to use the language on a daily basis. Within the two years after launching, the programme has brought together 1,837 language friends: 979 language learners have been able to hone their language skills with the help of 858 voluntary mentors. We are once again inviting volunteers to contribute to the programme – language learners are looking forward to the opportunity to talk to you in Estonian,’ said Ave Landrat, head of the Language Friends Programme of the Integration Foundation.

The foundation will start registering those interested in learning the language with the help of the Language Friends Programme on 10 February. Matching of the language friends will begin on Valentine’s Day, 14 February.

The Estonian Language House in Tallinn celebrated its birthday and opened a Facebook page with its own name

The Estonian Language House in Tallinn turned four years old in the middle of January. This important milestone was celebrated by inviting partners and opening the annual exhibition of the calligraphy workshop.

Hedvig Evert, Head of the Estonian Language House in Tallinn, ‘I was very happy to celebrate the birthday of the Tallinn House together with our language learners, teachers, partners, dancers, and colleagues from the Integration Foundation and the Ministry of Culture. This kind of a celebration reminds us of how important one conversation, one contact, one language lesson, or one casual meeting can be for new friendships, new challenges, and new cooperation plans. Somebody wrote in the guestbook of the Tallinn Estonian Language House, which was completed for our birthday, that having a lot of money does not make you rich; being curious and always being ready to learn something new does. To find out who the author of the idea was and what was the exact quote, come visit us! We are looking forward to seeing you here!’

In order for Facebook users to have a better overview of the activities of our language houses in different regions of Estonia, a new Facebook page Facebook.com/tallinnaeestikeelemaja was opened for the birthday of the Estonian Language House in Tallinn.

The new page provides information about the language learning and practice opportunities offered in Tallinn, Harju County, and Pärnu County. We will introduce what is happening in Narva and Ida-Viru County on the page we currently use (facebook.com/eestikeelemaja) – this page will become the page of the Estonian Language House in Narva. Information on language-learning opportunities in all regions will be published on both pages.

The ‘Discover Culture in Your Own Language’ campaign is currently ongoing

This campaign of the Integration Foundation highlights the fact that Estonian cultural institutions offer their content translated into various different languages via simultaneous interpretation as well as translated exhibitions.

Adverts in Russian and English can be seen on TV and heard on the radio and are also visible on social media and on the streets. The singer Elina Nechayeva is the voice and face of the campaign. Anyone can take part in the campaign on the kultuurijaht.ee website until the end of February where information can be found about the translated content of cultural institutions and an exciting prize game can be participated in to test one’s skills.

The campaign involves fifteen museums and performing arts institutions which were supported in 2016–2020 in the course of the European Social Fund’s ‘The criteria for granting aid for activities which support integration in the Estonian society’ project in acquiring technical translation solutions.

It will soon be possible to register for the services of the Integration Foundation in the self-service environment

The self-service of the Integration Foundation is being completed, which will create a convenient opportunity for customers to register for various Estonian language courses and language practice events online.

Through this environment, all customers of the foundation can see the services and activities offered, make choices based on their language level, region, or interests, and register for the services and activities. Instead of separate registration links, a place will be created where customers can both register and view an overview of the services they have used and will use. In addition, other convenience features have been developed, such as offering personalised services or reminders of an upcoming event.

The services are already being entered into the self-service environment and we will announce the opening of the environment soon.

There are several ongoing public procurements and calls for proposals

We launched several public procurements and calls for proposals in the beginning of the year. Applications are welcome for the calls for proposals titled ‘Cultural and sports events which facilitate integration’, ‘Payment of return support’, ‘Operational support for family education partner organisations’, ‘Support for foreign Estonian cultural societies’, and ‘Support for the cultural societies of ethnic minorities’. A public procurement titled ‘Introduction of the Estonian cultural space to the permanent residents and new immigrants who have not been integrated to a great extent’ was announced recently.

Information on the announced calls is published on the Integration Foundation's website.

Our calendar

Information on events that take place by our organisation, participation or support, can be found in the calendar published on our website.

Our news

You can read the latest announcements of the Integration Foundation in the news section of our website and on the Facebook page of the Integration Foundation or the Estonian Language House.

Table of Contents: 

Irene Käosaar: Happy Diversity Day! 

If you plan to start studying Estonian this autumn, come in for a consultation today!

New language-learning opportunity for third-country citizens 

Integration Foundation assists and offers language-learning opportunities to applicants for Estonian citizenship

Estonian Language Centres to launch diverse language and culture study programme for summer

Students with mother tongues other than Estonian get a taste of working for the state

Training and discussion days on integration services to be held in counties starting from 4 May 

The Integration Foundation is looking forward to applications for integration awards

Join our Facebook game! 

Open calls for tenders and calls for proposals

Our calendar

Our news

Irene Käosaar: Happy Diversity Day!

The month of May is all about spring. It’s about the leaves appearing on the trees, the hundred different shades of green the forests take on, the changes and differences we notice around us, and not just in nature, but in society as well.

May in Europe is Diversity Month, and today in Estonia is Diversity Day. All of us who live in Estonia are different, whether that be in terms of our age, our gender, our views or our interests, what we do, what skills and abilities we have or what our cultural background is. It’s thanks to these differences that we all give something valuable, something unique, to our country. The different stories we have to tell, the different skills and knowledge we have, the different things we’ve experienced all fit together like the pieces of a puzzle to reveal a bigger picture: our Estonia. The more we talk to one another, the better we understand one another and the more likely we are to find a common language, regardless of our differences.

May is an exciting month in the field of integration, too. It’s already seen the publication of the results of integration monitoring, from which it’s clear that Estonian society is moving in the right direction. The Estonian language skills of those living in the country are improving, the divisions on the labour market are growing smaller, there are fewer and fewer people who still have no citizenship, and in terms of education we are on the path towards a single school system in which the majority of Estonian residents view everyone learning together as the best solution. There are challenges, of course – differences still exist within our society that call the image of a unified Estonia into question. For example, people’s socio-economic ability to cope continues to be marked out by ethnicity-based differences: the average income among other nationalities is lower than that of Estonians, and their positions on the labour market are more vulnerable when the economy comes under pressure.

More worryingly, people of other nationalities sense greater inequality and intolerance towards themselves today than in previous years. There’s been no significant increase in everyday contact between Estonians and people of other nationalities in recent years: where they do interact, it’s mostly at school, university or work. Most contact, however, is limited to people’s local communities. The coronavirus pandemic has naturally played a big part in this, since there’s been an enormous increase in online communication. We can only hope that once we’re able to return to ‘real-life’ interaction, the amount of contact between people will also increase.

The efforts the Integration Foundation has gone to and the feedback we’ve received to date reassure us that the differences that separate us can be overcome. Joint activities and events and shared impressions help people from different backgrounds establish friendly contact and get to know one another better. We contribute to this every day, encouraging youngsters to do things together, supporting sports and cultural events that bring people together, helping to set up cooperation projects involving national minority cultural associations and Estonian cultural organisations, advising people on the most effective ways for them to learn Estonian, offering free Estonian language studies and practice, introducing Estonian culture to people from other national backgrounds and finding native-speaker friends for language learners to practise their Estonian with.

We know that there are a lot of wonderful people in our country who, despite their differences, want to feel at home here and make Estonia a stronger and closer-knit place. Happy Diversity Day!

Irene Käosaar, Integration Foundation director

If you plan studying Estonian this autumn, come in for a consultation today!

The Integration Foundation offers counselling services to adults who want to learn Estonian, helping them choose the options that are best suited to them.

Our consultants help to analyse each person’s needs and experience, clarify their current language level and draw up a suitable language-learning plan. As a result, the person has the opportunity to join one of the free Estonian courses offered by the foundation if it is found to be the most suitable form of study for them. In this case, they no longer have to apply online for a place on the course.

Counselling is aimed at those who wish to:

• start or continue studying Estonia but who need advice on the formats and options that are available and most likely to suit them;
• enrol in one of the free Estonian language courses offered by the Integration Foundation, for which groups are put together two or three times a year; or
• study Estonian independently and need information on what options are available to them.

Consultations take place not just in our offices but also over the phone or on Skype.

In addition, our consultants can provide guidance and advice on other issues related to adaptation and integration, including relevant services and support.

To register for counselling, contact our consultants by e-mailing info@integratsiooniinfo.ee or calling the free hotline 800 9999.

The next round of online registration for courses opens on 25 August. Anyone who speaks to one of our consultants before then can select a suitable form of study when doing so and will not have to apply for a course during the registration period.

Answers to general questions about language-learning opportunities and basic information about living in Estonia can also be found on our CONSULTATION SITE.

Our counselling services are financed via the European Social Fund project ‘Terms and conditions of the provision of support for activities promoting integration in Estonian society’.

New language-learning opportunity for third-country citizens

The Integration Foundation offers citizens of third countries the opportunity to study Estonian free of charge. This includes people without citizenship and those who are citizens of countries other than Member States of the European Union and the European Economic Area or Switzerland. Estonian language courses at the B1 level start in September. In order to register, applicants must first speak to one of our consultants.

The courses are designed for those who wish to be able to speak and understand Estonian at the B1 level. Each course lasts for 8-9 months, spread out over 200 academic hour, and includes guided learning, independent work, trips to museums and cultural events and excursions to different parts of the country. Estonian-speaking volunteers support the students by providing them with language practice.

Students can choose between ordinary courses and online versions. Face-to-face courses will be offered in Harju and Ida-Viru counties; elsewhere in the country they will be available online. Each course ends with a language exam, and a certificate of completion is issued to every student who passes.

The language courses are offered to citizens of third countries who are at least 18 years of age, reside in Estonia on a legal basis (or are in the process of obtaining the right to do so) and already speak and understand Estonian at the A2 level.

You must attend a free consultation at one of the Integration Foundation’s Estonian Language Centres (in Tallinn or Narva) in order to enrol on a course. Call the free hotline 800 9999 or e-mail info@integratsiooniinfo.ee to register for counselling free of charge.

This project is being co-financed by the European Union via the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and by the Estonian Ministry of the Interior. More detailed information can be found here.
 

Integration Foundation assists and offers language-learning opportunities to applicants for Estonian citizenship

The Integration Foundation can provide advice and guidance on applying to become an Estonian citizen and offers free Estonian studies to those who wish to attain the level of Estonian required for citizenship (B1). Courses take place around the country and are open to those who have fulfilled the other requirements for obtaining citizenship.

Those who wish to apply for Estonian citizenship and who meet the conditions for obtaining it can study Estonian at the A1, A2 and B1 levels free of charge. To this end, the Integration Foundation enters into a language-learning contract with the applicant, giving them the opportunity to study Estonian free of charge and obtain state benefits for study leave, while obliging them to apply for citizenship upon completing their studies.

Language studies take place in towns and cities around the country. The final timetable is determined depending on the number of applicants and how full each group is. The length of studies depends on individual needs. Courses at all levels last for at least 120 academic hours.

In order to participate in language studies you must submit an application, indicating thereon when, where and in what format you wish to take part in the courses. Once we receive your application, we will send you further instructions within five working days. The Integration Foundation’s consultants will be happy to help if you call them on the free hotline 800 9999 or e-mail them at info@integratsiooniinfo.ee. Be sure to seek advice and instructions before submitting your application.

More detailed information and the application form can be found here.

Applications to take part in free Estonian language studies are open to anyone aged 15 or older who has resided in Estonia on a legal basis for at least five years, who has not participated in state-funded Estonian studies at the desired level in the last two years and in regard to whom there are no obstructions to applying for Estonian citizenship (see § 21 1) of the Citizenship Act).

Free Estonian language studies based on language-learning contracts are financed by the Ministry of the Interior.
 

Estonian Language Centres to launch diverse language and culture study programme for summer

The Estonian Language Centres in both Tallinn and Narva are planning a range of exciting language-learning and culture-promoting activities for this summer. However, since the coronavirus situation and related restrictions will determine whether face-to-face events can go ahead, plans will be finalised on an ongoing basis.

The Estonian Language Centre in Tallinn is planning an Estonian-English literature and film camp in Palamuse, an excursion to the island of Prangli, farm visits in Kuusalu and Vargamäe, an Estonian food culture club at Fotografiska, a culinary voyage around Pärnu County, an architectural tour, literary walks, a song club, a photography club at the Botanical Garden, museum visits (during the day and at night) and a journey of discovery through Tallinn’s urban space.

The big summer projects which the Estonian Language Centre in Narva has planned are the traditional and popular Estonian-Russian tandem camp (pencilled in for 10-14 August) and a song festival to be held in Narva on the 30th anniversary of the restoration of Estonia’s independence on 20 August.

Because these summer events going ahead depends on restrictions, it is a good idea to keep an eye on our web calendar and the Estonian Language Centre’s FB page for the latest updates. The events will take place in accordance with any restrictions in place at the time. More detailed information and the chance to register will be made known on the calendar at the end of May.
 

Students with mother tongues other than Estonian get a taste of working for the state 

April saw the end of a work placement programmed offered by the Integration Foundation whose aim was to showcase employment opportunities in state agencies to students with mother tongues other than Estonian and to encourage them to apply for positions in the public sector in the future. As part of the programme, a total of 13 students discovered what it is like to work in the Government Office, the Office of the Chancellor of Justice and a variety of ministries.

In cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Finance, the Integration Foundation launched a programme in the course of which a variety of state agencies offered work placements to students with mother tongues other than Estonian who were in their final year of Bachelor’s studies or undertaking Master’s studies. Opening their doors to the students were the Government Office, the Office of the Chancellor of Justice and seven ministries: the Ministry of Education and Research, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Social Affairs.

The programme was offered in cooperation with Tallinn University, TalTech, the Estonian Academy of Arts and the University of Tartu. A total of 36 students with seven different mother tongues applied to take part, among whom the 13 available placements were filled by 10 Russian-speaking students, one Estonian-Russian bilingual student, one German-speaking student and one Turkish-speaking student.

More detailed information can be found here.
 

Training and discussion days on integration services to be held in counties started from 4 May 

The Integration Foundation is organising a series of 15 training and discussion days in order to introduce local governments to integration and adaptation services, the online integration consultant tool and other recent innovations developed by the state. The best cooperation solutions will be sought for each region in the course of the discussions.

These meetings of representatives of the Integration Foundation and the Ministry of Culture with local government employees will start in Harju County before continuing in Lääne-Viru County, then Järva County and so on around the country, with the final meeting being held in Rapla County in early September. Depending on the COVID situation, the events will either be held in person or online.

Together, the participants will seek solutions to pressing integration issues in their own county and discuss which of the adaptation and integration services offered by the state are (or are likely to be) of the greatest help to them. They will also be introduced to a variety of services designed to make adapting easier, to the journey of users from one service to another and to the new online integration consultant tool LINDA.

Completed in early 2021 under the aegis of the Integration Foundation, the LINDA online environment makes the work of integration consultants both quicker and easier. It brings together general information about integration services and enables users to find out about the support services offered in other countries and to create a service journey for every client.
 

The Integration Foundation is looking forward to applications for integration awards 

Applications are welcome to the Integration Foundation for receiving awards for projects carried out in the field of integration. The deadline for applications is September 13th.

The integration prize fund is EUR 4,000. The prizes will be awarded in four categories and the best project promoter of each category will receive a prize of EUR 1,000.

Applications for awards can be submitted in the following categories:

• Cultural Introducer of the Year (introduction of the cultures of national minorities living in Estonia to the Estonian public);
• Bridge Builder of the Year (implementation of cooperation projects between native Estonians and non-Estonian residents);
• Message Carrier of the Year (development of attitudes supporting integration through the media);
• Spark of the Year (implementation of outstanding activities in the field of integration).
   

Projects with the implementation period between 23.09.2020 - 12.09.2021 can be submitted to the competition.

Applications can be submitted in several categories, but in this case, different projects or activities must be proposed in each category. The competition is not open to legal or natural persons who have already received an integration award in the last three years.

To participate in the competition, you must fill in the application form available on the Integration Foundation’s website. The Competition Guide can be found on the same page. The completed application must be sent to the Integration Foundation’s address taotlus@integratsioon.ee by 13 September 2021.

The names of the prize-winners will be published on the website of the Integration Foundation and the awards will be presented at the end of 2021.

The full information can be found here (in Estonian)
 

Join our Facebook game!

Today, 12 May, is Diversity Day. And there’s plenty for us to celebrate! The approximately 200 different nationalities represented in Estonia spoke a total of 231 mother tongues in 2020, each of them enriching our cultural space in their own way.

To mark this occasion, we’ve launched a game in which you can win gift vouchers to discover the culinary delights on offer in restaurants around the country. You’ll find the game (which runs through to lunchtime on 19 May) on the Integration Foundation’s FB page.
 

Open calls for tenders and calls for proposals

Information on procurements and application rounds that are currently open is available on the website of the Integration Foundation in Estonian. In the near future we will be making another call for proposals for the running of further integration-based cooperation activities.

Since the start of 2021, the Integration Foundation has organised six rounds of application with the aim of supporting and implementing a range of projects in the field of integration.

As a result, 22 projects being run by the cultural associations of fellow Estonians in other countries are being supported, as well as 22 projects showcasing national minority cultures, 10 sports and cultural events taking place in Ida-Viru County, four projects for the organisation of family studies and 13 sports and cultural events around the country designed to foster integration. A call for proposals has led to 14 ideas being selected for the organisation and running of integration-based cooperation activities.

The procurements resulted in partners being found for the running of camps for young foreign Estonians and for the organisation of a song festival dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the restoration of Estonia’s independence that is to be held in Narva on 20 August.
 

Our calendar

Information on events that take place by our organisation, participation or support, can be found in the calendar published on our website.
 

Our news

You can read the latest announcements of the Integration Foundation in the news section of our website and on the Facebook page of the Integration Foundation or the Estonian Language House.

Table of Contents:

Irene Käosaar: Flexibility and a fresh outlook are the keywords for 2021 – a year of hope

Registration for free Estonian language courses opens on 20 January

Let one of our advisers help you on your language-learning journey

Language Roulette: Estonian language environment at your home

Language Friends to help learners once again

Language clubs are open to new members

Language learners practise their Estonian and Russian by singing in a mixed choir

Experience sharing meetings help returnees to adapt more quickly to Estonian life

Integration Foundation awarded Volunteer’s Friend Label

Open calls for tenders and calls for proposals

Our calendar

Our news

Irene Käosaar: Flexibility and a fresh outlook are the keywords for 2021 – a year of hope

The Integration Foundation gained a proverbial new lease on life in 2018 when it was tasked with establishing Estonian Language Centres in Tallinn and Narva by the government. Two years of hard work in building up these centres – physically and in terms of staff and services – have now started to pay off. Both centres opened their doors in 2019, with classes launched shortly afterwards. Everyone and everything soon settled into place, and things were going very smoothly...

...until last spring, during which we were planning to launch a raft of new activities for our students and recruit and train extra teachers. Whereas previously we’d been all about bringing people together in one place, now we had to take a different tack, which we promptly did: within just a few weeks we’d transferred all of our main activities (which is to say Estonian lessons and consultation) online, supported by our partners in making the transition to digital learning.

We’re happy we were able to adapt to the situation without having to abandon almost any of our activities – we launched application rounds as planned, we supported a range of organisations and projects in the field of integration, we continued to give Estonian lessons (offering them online for the first time), we provided our consultation services via e-channels, we found new web-based ways for students to practise their Estonian and we recruited a remarkable number of volunteers to help them hone their skills.

Because of the ongoing situation in Estonia and around the world, we’re continuing to adapt and to tailor our activities and services, since as things stand none of us knows when or indeed if we’ll ever be able to ‘go back to normal’. We’re starting the year, as we’ve done many times before, by opening registration for our free Estonian courses – where the majority of the learning this time will take place online. We’ll be offering students the support of our volunteer mentors, with whom they’ll get the chance to practise their Estonian as part of the Language Friends and Language Roulette programmes. We’ll also be continuing to offer opportunities for language practice that have proven popular, plus we’ll be introducing new ones, both virtually and (once circumstances allow) face to face. Throughout the year we’ll be taking a flexible approach to supporting projects aimed at boosting integration, fostering contact between people and promoting Estonian and national minority culture.

The integration monitoring report which is due to be published this year will offer a fresh outlook on the impact of the work done by organisations contributing to the field of integration and show the way in the planning of further developments. To broaden our outlook further, we’ll be focussing more on getting feedback from our language learners, service users and partners and, as a result, on our development as an organisation. We’ll also be conducting an impact analysis this year on the activities of our Estonian Language Centres, as well as satisfaction surveys among our staff and partners – because it’s very important to us that we do the right things and that we do them well and with proper consideration for others.

‘Quality in everything we do’ is the objective we’re aiming to achieve, this year as in any other. Our teachers will be offering language learners studies that are based on the latest methods, in regard to which we’re providing our teachers with regular in-service training. To ensure even higher quality in consultation, we’ll be tweaking our client and consultation management system, and we’ll be working to improve the solution we use to allow people to register for web-based courses. For the transparent and objective evaluation of the applications and offers submitted in application rounds and procurements, we’ll be bringing on board assessment committees put together as a result of a competition. And last but not least, we’ll also be developing our info channels so that all of our target groups have better access to the information they need.

We’re constantly evolving. Every day we learn from what we do and from our partners and students, and we’re flexible in taking events in society and around the world into consideration.

Irene Käosaar, Integration Foundation director

Registration for free Estonian language courses opens on 20 January

Public registration for free Estonian language courses will open on the website of the Integration Foundation at 10:00 on Wednesday 20 January. Registration is open to adults from the age of 18 using their ID card, Mobile ID or Smart ID. A total of 1344 people will be commencing or continuing their free studies of Estonian in January and February.

The Integration Foundation is offering 285 places in online courses at the B1, B2 and C1 levels and 375 places in face-to-face classes at the A1-C1 levels, meaning that 660 people in total will be able to study by registering. Also studying the national language will be a further 684 people who were either recommended for a course during their consultation with the Integration Foundation in 2020 or who will be continuing their studies having successfully completed the previous level. Overall, this means that 1344 people will be commencing or continuing their free studies of Estonian in January and February.

“There are two ways of taking up studies of Estonian on the free courses offered by the Integration Foundation,” explained Head of Language Studies Jana Tondi. “One is by registering online, which you can do twice a year, and the other way is by coming in for a free consultation at one of our offices. During one of these consultations we look at your learning background and your language needs and offer options to get you on one of the courses offered by our Estonian Language Centres or one of our partners as quickly as possible. Anyone who’s unable to or misses out on registering online should contact our advisers and find out what other opportunities there are for them to take up Estonian studies.”

Registration is open using your ID card, Mobile ID or Smart ID. Those registering with their ID card should bear in mind that they will need a card reader and must be able to recall their PIN-1. They will also need to check that their card certificate is still valid and that ID software has been installed on their computer.

Course timetables are available on the Integration Foundation’s website. The registration rules can likewise be found on the site, on which you can also take a placement test.

To register for a consultation, contact our advisers by e-mailing info@integratsiooniinfo.ee or calling the free hotline 800 9999.

The next registration round for the Integration Foundation’s free Estonian language courses will take place in August 2021.

Estonian language studies on courses run by the Integration Foundation are financed by the Ministry of Culture.

Let one of our advisers help you on your language-learning journey

The Integration Foundation offers advisory services to adults who wish to learn Estonian, helping them choose the options that are best suited to them.

Such consultations are primarily geared towards those who are:

• looking to start or continue studying Estonia but who need advice on the formats and options that are available and most likely to suit them;
• hoping to enrol on a free Estonian language courses that take place 2-3 times per year; or
• looking to study Estonian independently and need information on what options are available to them.

The advisers at the Integration Foundation’s Estonian Language Centres help to analyse each person’s needs and experience, determine their current language level and draw up a suitable study programme. As a result of such a consultation, the person has the chance to join one of the free Estonian courses offered by the foundation if it is felt that this is the learning format best suited to them. In this case, the person does not have to register for the course as part of the public online registration round.

Our advisers can also be contacted over the phone or on Skype.

In addition, our advisers can provide information and guidance on other issues related to integration and adaptation, including relevant services and support.

To register for a consultation, contact our advisers by e-mailing info@integratsiooniinfo.ee or calling the free hotline 800 9999.

Answers to general questions about language-learning opportunities and basic information about living in Estonia can also be found on our councelling web.

Our advisory services are financed via the European Social Fund project ‘Terms and conditions of the provision of support for activities promoting integration in Estonian society’.

Language Roulette: Estonian language environment at your home

Language Roulette is a series of virtual meetings coorganized by teachers and mentors of the Estonian language houses of the Integration Foundation, which brings together people who want to practice Estonian in a new format of short conversations in the Zoom environment.

Participants of the Language Roulette can chat for a limited time in Estonian on a given topic in a random group. After that, the group will be changed and a new conversation on the new topic will begin. Both language learners and mentors who speak Estonian at the level of native speaker will participate in the conversations.

All conversations will be taking place in the Zoom environment. During the first half of this year, everyone can participate in the Language Roulette on January 26, February 9, February 23, March 9, March 23, April 6, April 20, May 4 and May 18 at 6 p.m.

Registration information will be rountinely added to the Estonian language house Facebook page and the Calendar of Events of the Integration Foundation.

We will send the Zoom meeting address to the participants after registration.

Language Friends to help learners once again

February will see language lovers being assisted once more as part of the Language Friends programme of the Integration Foundation, with mentors volunteering to help learners practise their spoken Estonian by regularly chatting to them on a wide range of topics via e-channels.

Last spring saw the launch of Stage 1 of the Language Friends programme, which ran until mid-May, bringing 885 people together with the aim of learning and practising Estonian. A total of 410 volunteer mentors, responding to a call on social media, helped 475 learners of the national language hone their communication skills by engaging them in virtual conversations. The programme helped a lot of learners improve their Estonian and emboldened them to use the language.

“Since the results of the first stage were even better than we’d anticipated, we’re continuing to bring language friends together this year,” explained Ave Landrat, the Coordinator of Cooperation Activities at the Integration Foundation’s Estonian Language Centre in Tallinn. “A lot of the mentors and learners stayed in touch through summer and autumn and are still chatting now, but quite a few others have put up their hands and said they’re interested in joining the programme as well. That’s why we called on our mentors at the end of last year to see whether they were still willing and able to help learners practise their Estonian. So far, 130 have volunteered again, and we’ll be offering their help to language learners in February.”

The Integration Foundation will be providing information on opportunities to take part in the Language Friends programme on its website and Facebook page.

Language clubs are open to new members

Estonian language and culture clubs represent an additional opportunity for those interested in learning the national language to hone their skills and practise the spoken language. The list of the clubs that are set to open is being constantly updated, with registration on the Integration Foundation website.

The clubs are designed primarily for those who already speak Estonian at the Intermediate or a more advanced level but who need more practice and encouragement in order to communicate in the language more freely. They are ideal for those who want to practise their Estonian so as to better speak it at the B2 or C1 levels or to prepare for the spoken part of the B2 or C1 exams.

The clubs are open to anyone aged 18 and over who has passed the state exam in Estonian at the B2 or C1 level or at the Intermediate or Advanced level (see §39 of the Language Act) and has a certificate to prove it.

The Integration Foundation organises language and culture clubs as part of the European Social Fund project ‘Terms and conditions of the provision of support for activities promoting integration in Estonian society’.

Language learners practise their Estonian and Russian by singing in a mixed choir

A mixed choir brought together by the Integration Foundation’s Estonian Language Centre in Narva is giving 45 people the opportunity to hone their language skills by singing in both Estonian and Russian. Most of the chorists are from Ida-Viru County, but there are also those from as far afield as Tallinn and Tartu.

The idea to establish the choir arose at a mixed camp held last summer, at which Estonian and Russian speakers got the chance to spend time together and help one another with their respective languages.

A competition was held in autumn to choose the singers for the choir, with the many candidates being narrowed down to 45 people from one of the two linguistic backgrounds to sing and learn the languages together.

The choir got together for the first time in late December. Due to the coronavirus restrictions on gatherings, the chorists met online, with their choir masters testing their range and the singers getting their first chance to practise their fellow chorists’ languages by chatting in small groups about themselves and music.

“The singers were really happy to be given the opportunity to get to know one another better and to start down quite a different sort of language-learning path,” remarked Pille Maffucci, a teacher at the Estonian Language Centre in Narva and the project manager behind the mixed choir project. “They’re all really looking forward to chatting and singing together in person, which we hope we’ll be able to do at some point this year! As soon as circumstances allow, we’re planning not only to get together and sing, but also to take the group on a range of excursions around the country to explore Estonian history and culture in more depth.”

At this stage, the choir’s activities are entirely virtual: the sheet music and their particular parts are being e-mailed to them by the choir masters, who are also instructing them from a distance.

The final aim of the project is for the choir to take part in a joint song festival that is planned to be held in Narva on 20 August 2021.

Experience sharing meetings help returnees to adapt more quickly to Estonian life

Since October last year, the Integration Foundation has organized meetings supporting the adaptation of returnees to Estonia, where more than 150 returnees and compatriots living in other countries were able to share their experience and practical information in adapting to a new life in Estonia. The meetings for sharing experiences will continue this year as well.

During the meetings, the participants had the opportunity to listen to how other returnees have managed to adapt in Estonia, receive the necessary information and support to better organize their lives, share their experiences, joys and worries, and make new friends.

"Returnees from very different countries participated in the meetings with their very exciting stories. For our part, we partnered with the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund's Career Centre - a couple of meetings took place with them, discussing labour market opportunities and career choices," said Kaire Cocker, Head of the Integration Foundation's Compatriots Counselling Service.

"Unfortunately, due to the spread of the coronavirus, many contact meetings were cancelled, but at the same time, it provided an opportunity to hold online meetings and involve people planning to return worldwide from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, etc. All of them were interested in Estonian life and wanted to meet other Estonians," Kaire Cocker added.

The next experience sharing meeting of returnees will take place on 21 January in Zoom. Additional information is available on the website of the Integration Foundation. At the meeting, we will share information on administration and state aid regarding returns. Marta Traks, a specialist at the Unemployment Insurance Fund, will give an overview of the labour market situation and benefits.

We will soon inform you about the dates of the next experience sharing meetings via our website.

The Integration Foundation advises people who have an interest and desire to return to Estonia, as well as those who have already started a new life in Estonia. Our counsellors help to plan smoother returns to Estonia. Additional information about counselling is provided HERE.

You can also apply for socio-economic return support from the Integration Foundation to alleviate the costs of your return.

Integration Foundation awarded Volunteer’s Friend Label

In early January, Minister of Population Affairs Riina Solman presented the Integration Foundation with the prestigious Volunteer’s Friend Label in recognition of its well-planned inclusion of volunteers in line with best practice in voluntary work.

Work with volunteers at the foundation took off when it launched the Language Friends programme. Last spring, it put out a call for mentors to work with Estonian language learners and help them hone their communication skills. More than 400 people volunteered to do so, helping almost 500 learners practise the national language by regularly chatting with them online about a wide range of issues relevant to their lives.

Based on the feedback received from the learners, the mentoring has given them the courage to speak Estonian more often and to continue to study the language. Both they and the mentors remarked that the Language Friends programme brings people from different linguistic backgrounds closer together.

A big thank you to all of our volunteers! The Volunteer’s Friend Label inspires us to keep working with people all over the country to make Estonia a more cohesive place and to get more people speaking its language.

We will be continuing to bring language friends together this year. Find out more about the Language Friends programme HERE.

The Volunteer’s Friend Label is awarded by the ‘Kodukant’ Estonian Village Movement in association with the Ministry of the Interior.

Open calls for tenders and calls for proposals

Information on the announced calls is published on the Integration Foundation's website at integratsioon.ee/konkursid.

Our calendar

Information on events that take place by our organisation, participation or support, can be found in the calendar published on our website.

Our news

You can read the latest announcements of the Integration Foundation in the news section of our website and on the Facebook page of the Integration Foundation or the Estonian Language House.