New conditions for support for those returning to Estonia
70 groups start their Estonian studies
Meet our newest team members!
Prime Minister becomes first guest at Estonian language café
Estonian Language Centre in Narva to show series of Estonian films
Upcoming procurements and application rounds
‘Ku-Ky’ fair coming in March

New conditions for support for those returning to Estonia

In accordance with a regulation of the Minister of Culture approved at the end of last year, support for those returning to Estonia will be paid out according to new terms and conditions as of 4 February 2019. The main change is that families experiencing socioeconomic difficulties can now apply for more than 2000 euros in support.

Applications for the support can be lodged by anyone with Estonian citizenship or ethnic Estonians with an Estonian residence permit who:

left Estonia at least 10 years ago or were born in a foreign country and who are coming (back) to Estonia with underaged children or to be with their underaged children; or

are up to the age of 30, were born in a foreign country, have permanently returned to Estonia and obtained their Master’s degree or doctorate abroad; or

left Estonia at least 10 years ago or were born in a foreign country and who suffer from total incapacity for work; or

permanently returned to Estonia no more than six months prior to lodging the application and whose place of residence and the place of residence of any children who returned with them is registered in the Population Register of the Republic of Estonia; or

due to their economic and social status require support to return to Estonia because the means their family has for coping on an everyday basis are below the limit valid in Estonia.

For more information about the support see here

70 groups start their Estonian studies

A total of 1120 people started their Estonian studies in 70 new groups around the country in February. Half of the groups are based in Ida-Viru County and the other half mainly in Tallinn, although two groups were also opened in Tartu and Pärnu. Studies of the national language are available at the A1, A2, B1, B2 and C1 levels.

In addition to courses, our language clubs and cafés give people the chance to learn and practise Estonian. A range of Estonian language learning options is also offered by the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund, and the language can be studied as part of the adaptation programme financed by the Ministry of the Interior.

Estonian language studies are financed by the Ministry of Culture and via the European Social Fund project ‘Terms and conditions of the provision of support for activities promoting integration in Estonian society’.

Meet our newest team members!

A number of new faces joined the Integration Foundation in December and January.

Taking up her post as the director of the Estonian Language Centre in Narva on 3 December was Margarita Källo, who has broad-ranging experience of leading projects and working with people from different cultural backgrounds in both Estonia and Finland. She obtained her higher education in social work and international relations and has worked in both business and banking. As a multilingual and multicultural person herself she is aware of the attitudes and approaches that different people can have, whatever their linguistic or cultural background might be.

Joining the Estonian Language Centre in Narva as a teacher on 17 December was Krismar Rosin. Born and raised in Pärnu, he says he never expected to end up teaching Estonian in Narva. He has previously involved himself in social work and tourism and worked for a time as a journalist. In his younger years he tried his hand at a number of jobs, the strangest of which he says was without doubt working in a lollipop factory. Prior to relocating to Narva he worked as an interest group leader and social studies teacher at Ahtme Gymnasium in Kohtla-Järve.

Starting work at the Estonian Language Centre in Tallinn on 14 January were consultant Liina Leetsi and assistant Maris Liiders.

Liina, who has teaching experience, mainly deals with English-speaking clients and Estonians returning to the country. She finds it easy to establish a rapport with those she consults thanks to the year she spent as a volunteer in Armenia. This allows her to sympathise with their concerns and share in their delight when it comes to cultural differences and learning a new language.

Maris, who has a degree in biology from the University of Tartu, has worked as a researcher, as a senior manager in a company and as the head of the Department of Education and Social Services of Harju County Government.

Prime Minister becomes first guest at Estonian language café

A new series of events was launched at the Estonian Language Centre in Tallinn on 5 February with the very first Estonian language café. Those taking part were not told in advance who the special guest would be, so they were all the more surprised to discover that it was none other than Prime Minister Jüri Ratas himself! The language cafés are held at the centre every Tuesday evening and everyone interested in attending is welcome to do so. Regular information about guests and registration can be found on the centre’s Facebook page.

Estonian Language Centre in Narva to show series of Estonian films

The Estonian Language Centre in Narva is marking the Year of the Estonian Language with special film screenings. The aim of the evenings is on the one hand to promote the many facets of modern Estonian cinema to visitors to the centre, while on the other hand it is an excellent opportunity for the audience to brush up on their Estonian listening skills. As a rule the films have subtitles in both Russian and English, so the evenings are also suited to less proficient users of Estonian. There will be a warm-up game with the audience before each film, and afterwards a discussion on its themes.

At 18:00 on 27 February everyone is invited to Narva’s Apollo cinema to watch the comedy caper Sangarid, which takes viewers back in time to the 1980s. Three young Estonians escape from the Soviet Union and go abroad in search of the kind of life for themselves that they have seen in such shows as Miami Vice, Knight Rider and Santa Barbara. They are met as true heroes in Sweden for having broken free from the Iron Curtain. But once media interest in them dies down, they discover that they have become little more than troublesome immigrants. To make a living they have to start doing something as ridiculous as work! But the lads are not quitters by nature and put a series of crazy plans into action to make their breakthrough in the West.

Upcoming procurements and application rounds

The Integration Foundation will be launching a number of procurements and application rounds in the near future, two of which we will be organising for the first time. Namely, we will be opening an application round for the organisation of sports and cultural events all over Estonia being funded by the Ministry of Finance. We will also be launching a procurement to find a partner to teach Estonian and English to entrepreneurs and key employees of companies in Ida-Viru County. In February we will also be launching a procurement for the organisation of language camps for young foreign Estonians, and on 25 February opening a round of applications for support for foreign Estonian cultural associations. You can find out more about the competitions we are organising at here.

‘Ku-Ky’ fair coming in March

The ‘Ku-Ku’ Estonian Language fair will shortly be held once again. In Narva the fair will take place in Narva College of the University of Tartu from 11:00-16:00 on 9 March, while in Tallinn it will be held at the Song Festival Grounds from 11:00-17:00 on 23 March.

The fair is designed to promote different ways of learning Estonian. As part of the event you can:

take a look at the latest study materials;

play brand new language-learning games;

find the right learning format for you;

obtain advice on preparing for the state language exam;

find out all about language immersion;

attend a language café; and

take part in a workshop highlighting the differences between language-learning methods and showing you how to choose the method that is right for you and how to use everyday objects and opportunities to improve your language skills.

Adult learners with different levels of Estonian and different learning needs are welcome to attend the fair.

There will be a prize draw on the hour, every hour. Plus there will be a café, and fun activities will be organised for children. At the Narva fair there will be entertainment from the folk dance group ‘Päikeseratas’, the Hot Arabian Show and the Snake Show. In Tallinn visitors will be entertained by the ‘Fox’ roller-figure skating club, the ‘Leigarid’ folk dance association, fire-wielding magician Maikl and the AN2M acrobats.

Admission to the fair is free of charge.

Organisation of the language fair is being financed by the Ministry of Culture and via the European Social Fund project ‘Terms and conditions of the provision of support for activities promoting integration in Estonian society’.

For further information please contact:
https://www.integratsioon.ee/en/ku-ky

Registration for Estonian language courses is going to be open soon
National minority umbrella organisations can now apply for support
Tallinn Estonian language house has opened
Integration Foundation moves to Narva
Estonian Language Centre in Narva invites students and their friends to the movies
Estonian Language Centre teachers receive diplomas

Registration for Estonian language courses is going to be open soon

The registration period for Estonian language courses will open soon and will be available twice a year - January and August.

The registration for the Estonian language courses, organized by the Integration Foundation, begins on Thursday, 31st January at 10am. Additional information about these new, free of charge Estonian language courses is available on our website HERE.

As from 29th February, there will be 69 courses available and 1104 people will have the opportunity to study Estonian. Fifty per cent of the courses will be held in different cities found in the Ida-Virumaa region and the rest in Tallinn. Two different courses are planned to start in Tartu and Pärnu. The Integration Foundation offers an opportunity to study Estonian at levels A1, A2, B1, B2 ja C1.

To register, please fill in the online registration form found at HERE. We strongly advise you to test your Estonian language skills, test found at HERE, prior registration in order to choose the most appropriate course for you.

In addition to the Estonian language courses there is also a possibility to study the Estonian language in our language cafés and clubs. Eesti Töötukassa also offers different possibilities for language learning. Also within the framework of the Welcoming programme, financed by Ministry of the Interior, it is possible to study Estonian.

Estonian language studies are financed by the Ministry of Culture and for the period from 2014-2020 from the European Social Fund project ‘Activities which promotes integration within the Estonian society.

National minority umbrella organisations can now apply for support

As of 23. January 2019, the umbrella organisations of national minority cultural associations can apply for support for their activities. The application round is designed to contribute to the sustainable operations and systematic development of the umbrella organisations and their members in Estonia. This year’s application round, financed by the Ministry of Culture, is valued at €457,000. Applications can be submitted to the Integration Foundation until 25 February.

There are 18 active umbrella organisations in Estonia for national minority cultural associations, of which there are around 260 in total. The activities of the umbrella organisations represent an important resource for the country, as they have the potential to significantly boost inclusivity among national minorities and to promote stronger ties to Estonia, thus enriching society and cultural life in the country.

The 2017 study conducted by the Integration Foundation entitled ‘The impact of participating in the national cultural activities of national minorities in Estonia on their ethnic identity’ revealed that such participation increases interest in the cultures of all of the people living in the country, including Estonian culture itself. “People also tend to keep a closer eye on cultural life in the country and in the place where they live, there’s greater involvement in social and political activities, a more tangible connection’s created with Estonia and a stronger national identity emerges,” explained Irene Käosaar, the director of the Integration Foundation.

The activities of the umbrella organisations of national minority cultural associations promote cultural diversity within Estonian society and contribute to the development of a more cohesive society. Applications are open to legal entities registered in Estonia and operating under private law which have at least five members that are involved in the promotion and development of the cultural heritage of national minorities in Estonia.

Applicants must have been operating as umbrella organisations for at least two years prior to applying.

Additional information:
Kristina Pirgop
Head of Partnership Relations
+372 659 9024
kristina.pirgop@integratsioon.ee

Tallinn Estonian language house has opened

On January 15th the Integration Foundation has opened the long-awaited Tallinn Estonian language house, were people of various backgrounds with different native languages can learn and practice Estonian as well as receive practical advice about living, learning and working in Estonia.

The opening ceremony of the Estonian language house, which has started its work on Rävala Boulevard in Tallinn, featured the ringing of the First Bell, a tongue twister competition, guided tours and inspiring speeches. Various activities to support the Estonian language learning will be going on in the new building starting next week.

The Minister of Culture Indrek Saar, who took the floor as the patron of the opening speeches and the tongue twister competition in Tallinn Estonian language house said, “Every person who speaks Estonian is important and valuable as someone to pass on our culture. The community of people who speak our beautiful language does not necessarily have to be restricted to the ones living in Estonia. The goal has to be larger, and why not make what Mart Meri, a member of the board of the Estonian Institute, once said our next major goal: a dream of increasing the number of Estonian speakers in the world to at least 1.5 million,” minister Saar noted.

Head of the Integration Foundation Irene Käosaar said that the Estonian language house welcomes people with any other native languages regardless of their ethnicity or the Estonian language skills who would like to learn, practice or just listen to the Estonian language and faster adapt to living here. “The Estonian language house is a place where one can receive advice, support and language practice, which is the basis for people of various ethnic backgrounds and native language in finding a common language and mentality,” Käosaar noted.

“We would also like to provide a new level of the Estonian language acquisition quality in the language house we are opening today: to broaden the scope of learning methods and practice options. In addition, we will be counselling those who need it for better coping with daily life, for example, starting one’s own business or getting a doctor’s appointment. At the same time, the Estonian language house does not intend to limit its operation to the spaces we have opened today: we will gladly go out to various locations of the country,” Käosaar added.

Olga Selištševa, the head of Tallinn Estonian language house, pointed out that its functions will certainly not be limited to those of a place for formal language instruction; it is to become a cosy place for getting together. “A major share of people who have relocated to Estonia have a passive language command, and our goal is to provide them with as many opportunities for practicing Estonian as possible. We intend to organise language cafés, tandem learning and other events for faster and more intensive development of language skills,” Olga Selištševa said. “We also welcome Estonian native speakers who would like to learn some other language through tandem learning,” she added.

The participants to put their Estonian language skills to the test in the tongue twister competition held during the opening ceremony were telecom operator Mustafa Çelik, comedian Stewart Johnson and start-up owner Evgenia Trofimova. They competed in speed-reading complicated Estonian elocution exercises and reciting the most beautiful words. The patron of the competition Indrek Saar acknowledged the participants’ courage and competitive spirit and noted that anyone could master the language if there is a will, initiative and also versatile opportunities for language acquisition. It is understanding one another which is important and not how fast you speak.”

Tallinn Estonian language house will be providing a variety of language learning opportunities: language courses at different levels, tandem learning with Estonian native speakers, participation in language cafés, digital learning and practical language in the form of meetings of the Estonian language club or café. Those looking for advice will be able to request assistance in filling out documents, finding information or communicating with government agencies.

Tallinn Estonian language house located on the 6th floor of the building at 5 Rävala Boulevard is open to visitors on business days from 9:00 to 16:00. Anyone interested can contact the organisation by writing an e-mail to eestikeelemaja@integratsioon.ee or calling 6599 022.

In addition to the one in Tallinn, there are plans to open new offices of the Estonian language house in Narva at 2 Linda Street. Estonian language houses are established by the Integration Foundation, and their operation is financed by the European Social Fund and the Ministry of Culture.

Photo gallery

Integration Foundation moves to Narva

Since 2 January 2019 the Integration Foundation has been based in Narva.

Irene Käosaar, the director of the foundation, says that moving to the border city fulfils three of the organisation’s strategic goals.

“First of all, it brings the state closer to the people of Narva,” she explained. “I like it when state agencies and public departments are dotted about a country, as they are in Estonia. And with Narva now being home, that means the state is in much more tangible reach of the people who live here.

“Another of our objectives was to offer well-educated people work opportunities in their own neck of the woods. For Narva that means 20 new highly qualified jobs, because that’s how many positions we’re opening up in the city. As things stand at the moment we have 16 people in our Narva office, the majority of whom are from Ida-Viru County. Competition for our posts has been fierce, all told, which shows that people are happy for us to be coming here.”

Käosaar says that the third and most important change that the move will bring about is the increased availability of high-quality Estonian language studies and much-needed integration support in the region, which is home to many people who speak a language other than Estonian.

“These people need greater support from the state not just in terms of learning Estonian, but in other areas of life as well, and that’s what we’re offering them in Narva,” she remarked. “The Estonian Language Centre opening in the city in summer will make our day-to-day work even more effective, and I hope people from all over Ida-Viru County will make a beeline for us!”

The main office of the Integration Foundation is on the 3rd floor of the building at Kerese 3 in Narva. “It’s a temporary home at the moment while we all eagerly await the opening of the language centre, which will be right in the heart of the city (at Linda 2) and serve not only as a place to promote Estonian but also as a proper home for the foundation,” Käosaar said. The Estonian Language Centre in Narva is scheduled to open this summer.

The foundation’s Tallinn office, which for many years was situated in Ülemiste City, relocated at the end of December to a space it shares with the Tallinn Estonian Language Centre at Rävala pst 5.

Estonian Language Centre in Narva invites students and their friends to the movies

There is no better sight than an entire room full of people from Narva with their eyes glued to a cinema screen wondering whether the Tondikaku family will save the forest. Will the owls hoot happily ever after while the lynx frolics in the crisp white snow? Half the audience were biting their nails as they waited anxiously to find out, and some were even brought to tears!

The delightful film “Eia’s Christmas at Phantom Owl Farm” speaks to you even if you don’t understand all of the words. The film night held on 3 January by the Estonian Language Centre in Narva ended with almost endless professions of thanks and appreciation. The 85 movie-goers, young and old alike, left the cinema highly satisfied with what they had seen. “Luckily the forest got saved after all!” “Did you see how cute those beavers were!” “Those kid actors were so good!” These were just some of the reactions to the film, expressed in a mix of Estonian and Russian. “Super, super, super!” said the last audience member to leave.

However, this was more than just a night of cinema: it was a night of beauty. The Estonian language in the film resounded like the gentlest drop of rain, falling like a snowflake, and gesturing to the Russian-speaking members of the audience: Come on, come with me, don’t be afraid. Of course, adding to the warm atmosphere at the event were the welcome given to the audience ahead of the film by Margarita Källo, the director of the Estonian Language Centre in Narva, and the language practice led by Estonian language teacher Pille Maffucci.

Would you be able to pronounce sentences like Nari voodi moodi voodi viidi voodi poodi or Kas ma võin või ei või võid võtta? or Kuu-uurijad on töö-ööl jää-äärel properly? Even Pille herself got tongue-tied!

Another game which was played at the cinema was familiar to many of the participants from their childhood – Chinese whispers. Not that anyone had to speak Chinese, but rather Estonian! The first person in each row whispered into the ear of the person next to them words like metskits, lumevaip, looduskaitse and maakodu, which were then passed down the line until they reached the last person. Everyone did very well: only in one row did the word piimasupp get shortened simply to piim. In the meantime, young Maria lent Pille a helping hand, asking the students questions related to the themes of the movie they were about to watch. Who had seen a real-life bear? Who had seen an elk?

“It was so lovely to kick the year off with people we’ve been teaching Estonian to since autumn,” Pille said. “It really gave the kids the chance to use the knowledge they’ve gained in their lessons in a different context. It’s the sort of opportunity we’re hoping to continue to offer our friends at the language centre in the future.”

It truly was a beautiful evening. More than that, it made for a beautiful start to the new year. (And yes, thankfully the owl was saved!)

Estonian Language Centre teachers receive diplomas

A special ceremony held on 15 December saw the Estonian Language Centre’s first 10 teachers awarded with diplomas for completing a special training programme devised by the Integration Foundation in cooperation with the Institute of Estonian and General Linguistics of the University of Tartu. The programme, which started in August and ended in December, included almost 200 hours of classroom-based learning and more than 350 hours of independent work.

Irene Käosaar, the director of the Integration Foundation, says that the lack of qualified language teachers represents one of the greatest restrictions on the teaching of Estonian to people of other nationalities living in the country. “Interest in learning the language is growing all the time,” she explained. “So far the Integration Foundation’s been outsourcing all of its Estonian courses, but in 2019 we’re opening Estonian Language Centres in Tallinn and Narva, and in order to boost the number of people studying we’ll be starting to organise language courses ourselves as well. That’s why we worked with the University of Tartu to develop a special training programme that focuses on the specific nature of teaching Estonian as a second language to adults. I’m really glad that the 10 teachers we chose from among the dozens of candidates last spring have now all been awarded their diplomas!”

A number of the recipients have already been teaching since September. The training course examined linguistically and pedagogically important issues and it forms the basis for the teachers to start working. All 10 graduates will be putting their new skills to the test at the Estonian Language Centres in Narva and Tallinn in 2019.

Follow a conference via a live broadcast
Dates confirmed for Estonian language fairs
Language school teachers to continue getting together after completing training course
Actors from Russian Theatre prepare to take on Estonian-language roles
Interested in Estonian language and culture?
Integration Foundation receives recognition
Make a note in your calendar: Citizen’s Day Quiz is from 19 to 29 November
Simultaneous translation into Russian now available for performances at Rakvere Theatre
Take a look at Estonia through the eyes of other nationalities
 

Follow a conference via a live broadcast

The international integration conference ‘My Home, Our Home: What Unites Us in a Multicultural Society’ being held in Tallinn on 15 & 16 November will feature on its second day a fiery debate on the topic of ‘The Influence of Media Blitzes on Integration and How to Cope with It’. Starting at 14:05, the debate will involve representatives of Estonian political parties.

The debate will be led by journalist Urmas Vaino (photo).

All of the places at the conference have been filled, but you will be able to follow the debate online at www.integrationconference.ee and via the Postimees portal at www.postimees.ee.

The politicians taking part in the debate are:
- Mihhail Kõlvart, Eesti Keskerakond
- Jaak Madison, Eesti Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond
- Laine Randjärv, Eesti Reformierakond
- Neeme Kuningas, Eesti Vabaerakond
- Jevgeni Ossinovski, Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond
- Viktoria Ladõnskaja-Kubits, Isamaa
- Züleyxa Izmailova, Erakond Eestimaa Rohelised
- Helen Lemming, Elurikkuse Erakond
- Kristina Kallas, Eesti 200

The debate will be held in Estonian.

Further information about the conference programme is available online at www.integrationconference.ee.
 

Dates confirmed for Estonian language fairs

The dates for the ‘KU-ky’ Estonian language fairs have now been locked in. In Narva the fair will take place in Narva College of the University of Tartu on 9 March 2019. In Tallinn the fair will take place at the Song Festival Grounds on 23 March 2019.

The fairs are designed to introduce Estonian language learning methods and resources to residents, to share advice and recommendations on how to start or continue learning the language and pass tests and exams and to teach people how to use learning materials and resources. The 2019 fair will shine the spotlight on the newly opened Estonian Language Centres and their activities. Organisations whose everyday work involves providing and/or promoting Estonian language studies are welcome to attend the fair.

Anyone interested should contact the foundation’s senior adviser Kätlin Kõverik on +372 659 9032 or at katlin.koverik@integratsioon.ee.

Language school teachers to continue getting together after completing training course

The Integration Foundation, in cooperation with the University of Tartu, is training Estonian language teachers for the Estonian Language Centres and language schools. While the course for the teachers from the Estonian Language Centres will carry on until the end of December, the additional in-service training for existing teachers came to an end on 22 October.

The training for language school teachers focussed on getting adult learners to take an active role in language lessons, support for teachers in their professional development, how teaching materials can be put together and how to deal with representatives of different cultures. The course lasted for 78 hours and involved 26 teachers.

Birute Klaas-Lang, the chief organiser of the training and a professor of Estonian as a foreign language at the University of Tartu, says that they managed to get some of the most competent staff from the university itself as well as from outside of it involved as trainers. ”We decided right at the start that we’d try and find Estonia’s best trainer for each course and subject,” she explained.

Jana Tondi, the Head of Language and Cultural Immersion with the Integration Foundation, says that the participants themselves came up with the idea of continuing to get together and share their experiences after the course. She awaited their suggestions until 4 November, after which more specific plans can be made.

For further information please contact: Jana Tondi, Head of Language and Cultural Immersion | Telephone: +372 659 9069 | E-mail: jana.tondi@integratsioon.ee

Actors from Russian Theatre prepare to take on Estonian-language roles

This October the Estonian Language Centre in Tallinn has started attending the Russian Theatre.

Namely, two teachers from the centre – Pille Maffucci and Pille Veisserik – have been teaching Estonian at the A2 and B1 levels to the theatre’s resident actors since 10 October. Who knows what amazing roles the troupe will be playing in Estonian in the years to come?

Interested in Estonian language and culture?

Mitteldorf OÜ is inviting anyone interested in practising their Estonian and taking part in cultural events to sign up for Estonian language and culture clubs. Burning issues, cultural events, public figures, history, architecture, literary classics, new works, the magic of cinema and day-to-day concerns and delights are what those attending the club meetings share their thoughts on.

Together they choose museums and exhibitions to visit to later exchange views on. Excursions so far have seen them visit churches and cathedrals in the Old Town, Kadriorg Palace and park, KUMU art museum, the Estonia National Opera, the Estonian Drama Theatre and the Estonian National Museum. They’ve also visited the Estonian parliament, the Bank of Estonia, the ETV studios and offices, a tourism & health fair and lots of other places in Tallinn and Ida-Viru County. You’d be hard-pressed to find a museum our club members haven’t visited.

How useful the club meetings are depends on each person taking part, but getting the ball rolling on the whole thing is the team behind it, who have a wide range of interests and who are dedicated and very friendly.

Participation helps improve your language skills, emboldens you to use the language in conversation, could give you a leg up on the career ladder and may spark an interest in cultural events you’ve never really noticed before. Quite a few members have said their Estonian has improved with every get-together and that they’ve had doors opened to them that were closed before.

One of the most important rules of the clubs is that old refrain ‘all for one and one for all’: you don’t laugh at anyone, you laugh with them, about amusing and absurd situations. The atmosphere at meetings is friendly, constructive and stress-free.

So, are you interested? If you are, take the plunge and join the club!

Participation is free of charge.

In Tallinn the new club will be opening its doors on Thursdays from 17:30-20:45 starting on 6 December 2018 at Pärnu mnt 21 (4th floor). The get-togethers will be led by Irina Rüütel and Piret Norvik.

Register here: https://klubiuudised.ee/registreeru/

Club activities are financed from the European Social Fund project ‘Activities promoting integration in Estonian society’.

The clubs are being organised in Ida-Viru County, Tartu and other places in Estonia by Change Partners OÜ, the NPO Atlasnet, OÜ Mitteldorf, OÜ Keelepisik and ImmiSchool - Uusimmigrantide Koolituskeskus OÜ in cooperation with the Integration Foundation.

To register, simply choose a suitable club. You’ll find the times and venues here:
https://keeleklubid.weebly.com/uued-klubid.html
http://www.keelepisik.ee/meist/keeleoppe-klubiohtud/
http://www.immischool.eu/keele-ja-kultuuriklubi.html
https://klubiuudised.ee/registreeru/
http://www.atlasnet.ee/klubid

To get an idea of how the clubs work, take a look at https://keeleklubiblog.wordpress.com/, http://eestikeeleklubid.blogspot.com.ee/, http://keeleklubid.weebly.com/ and http://www.immischool.eu/keele-ja-kultuuriklubi.html

For further information please contact: Jana Tondi, Head of Language and Cultural Immersion | Telephone: +372 659 9069 | E-mail: jana.tondi@integratsioon.ee

Integration Foundation receives recognition

19 October was a fantastic day for the Integration Foundation, as we received recognition on a number of fronts.

On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the Union of Estonian School Student Councils thanked those who had long been contributing to education in the country. Decorations were presented to the Integration Foundation and the Open Estonia Foundation, an honourable mention to Eiki Nestor and the ‘Q-Tegija’ title to Anett Veske.

The Ministry of Education and Research also thanked us for our outstanding contribution to Estonian-Russian non-formal education and its development.

Make a note in your calendar: Citizen’s Day Quiz is from 19 to 29 November

This year, the quiz will be in a smaller volume. There will be one questionnaire, i.e. 50 questions in Estonian. Everyone who has completed the quiz will receive a personal link with the results of the quiz to their e-mail address immediately after the end of the quiz on 30 November.

he quiz held in the same month as Citizen’s Day is the sixteenth in succession. In earlier years the Foundation has drawn up several different questionnaires for the quiz that have been aimed at students of different age groups. Over the years, the quiz was successfully completed by approximately 75,000 students. From 2015 to 2017, the Foundation also offered the possibility to complete the quiz to adults and, as a result, 10,000 persons tested their knowledge in the quiz.

The Citizen’s Day Quiz is held with the support of the Ministry of Culture.

Simultaneous translation into Russian now available for performances at Rakvere Theatre

Rakvere Theatre offers translation into Russian for a number of its productions. Those wishing to make use of the option are provided with a tablet computer on which the simultaneous translation is presented throughout the performance. At the moment three plays are running at the theatre for which Russian translations are available: See kõik on tema, Lendas üle käopesa and Kuni ta suri.

The next performance with simultaneous translation will take on 23 November starting at 19:00 in the main hall of the theatre: the world-famous drama Lendas üle käopesa or “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest”. The play is set in a mental institution in the United States in the 1960s. Main character Randle McMurphy (played by Üllar Saaremäe) is not merely some hooligan who ends up in the madhouse rather than being sent to prison – he’s a reprobate who always lands on his feet. Unexpectedly he meets his match in the form of ruthless Nurse Ratched (Ülle Lichtfeldt), who rules the secure psychiatric ward with an iron fist.

The following are comments made by audience members:

"What a performance! It’s definitely worth seeing. To me it’s one of the best and one of the most well-balanced productions of the year. The main actors are fantastic in their roles. Everyone is, actually. The story itself is engaging as well. Time just flies as you’re watching it.”

"It’s a story the audience plays a part in – not deciding what happens on stage, but reacting to it, recognising it and to some extent opposing it, all of which influences the way the actors play it. It’s a production that develops and evolves along with the audience."

Anyone wishing to make use of the translation software should contact the theatre’s box office at kassa@rakvereteater.ee or on +372 329 5444. Should anyone wish to attend a performance on another day with a large group, feel free to contact the theatre to find out what options are available.
 

Take a look at Estonia through the eyes of other nationalities

An exhibition entitled ‘Who Are We? Portraits of People in Estonia’ was opened at the Estonian Open Air Museum on 20 October.

The exhibition showcases eight nationalities living in Estonia through the personal stories of their representatives. In the video interviews conducted with the Udmurt, Russian, foreign Estonian, Ukrainian, Armenian, Pakistani, Jewish and Moldovan subjects the interviewees talk about how and when they came to Estonia and how they have been received in the country. How important do they consider their homeland and relations with people of their own nationality? What do they miss the most? What do they believe in? What problems do they see in Estonia and where do they see themselves in the future? Personal stories help us find similarities and understand differences.

With the help of the relevant communities, background material has been compiled about each of their countries of origin – how many people live there, what the national language is, what the predominant religion is, who the head of state is, what the country’s history has been like and what its everyday cuisine is influenced by. National instruments are used to introduce traditional music, with the spotlight being shone on world-famous artists from the country. A series of pictures is presented reflecting the history, people and natural environment of each country, adding further background to the personal stories.

A roleplay-based educational programme also forms part of the exhibition, giving people the opportunity to step into the shoes of a representative of a particular nationality and insert themselves into a variety of situations to which they are then required to respond in accordance with their cultural background.

This year, with the support of the Integration Foundation, the Estonian Open Air Museum is offering 20 free educational programmes to 20 different groups. In 2019, anyone with a ticket for the museum’s educational programme can take part in programme events.

The exhibition can be viewed by anyone with an ordinary museum ticket. The exhibition and participation in the programmes are open until 10 June 2019.

Support for the organisation of the exhibition was provided by the Ministry of Culture and the Estonian Cultural Capital.

For more detailed information on the exhibition contact: Dagmar Ingi, Head of Exhibitions Department, Estonian Open Air Museum, dagmar@evm.ee 

RUS: Интeгрaционный календарь – май 2009
ENG: Integration Calendar - May 2009

• Üldinfo
• Maikuised hanked ja konkursid
• Lähiajal tulemas – hanked ja konkursid

• Üldinfo
• Aprillikuised hanked ja konkursid
• Lähiajal tulekul – hanked ja konkursid

Jätkub keelekümblusprogrammi areng
15.–16. jaanuaril on Tallinnas koos õpetajate nõustajad. Koos arutatakse läbi keelekümblusprogrammi  nõustamiskontseptsioonist tulenevad ülesanded ja kavandatakse 2009. aasta tegevusi. Jätkatakse ka 2008. a suvel alustatud  DISC-koolitust. Koolitajad on Avatud Meele Instituut ja Inscape.

Uued ettepanekute esitamise voorud täiendava eesti keele õppe korraldamiseks kutseõppeasutustes
Programmi “Eesti keelest erineva emakeelega kutseõppurite eesti keele täiendava õppe korraldamine“ raames oodatakse kutsekoolide ettepanekuid  oma õppuritele täiendava eesti keele õppe korraldamise kohta. Eesmärk on, et võimalikult paljud kutseõppeasutused saaksid erineval viisil arendada eesti keele õpet, lähtudes just oma õppurite vajadustest ja võimalustest. Õppetöö vormid ja maksumus ei ole ette antud. Mõni kool võib soovida ettevalmistuskursusi, mõni suvekooli, mõni täiendada praktikaprogrammi või ühildada eriala- ja keeleõpet. Kõik ettepanekud on teretulnud.

15.–16. detsembril arendavad keelekümblusõpetajad oma õppematerjalide koostamise oskusi. Koos vaetakse ka tunnikavade koostamise põhimõtteid. Õpetajate koostatud materjalid tehakse kättesaadavaks keelekümbluskeskuse kodulehel.

Lisainfo: Made Pandis ja Svetlana Belova, Keelekümbluskeskus

Keelekümblusprogrammi nõustajad põhikoolituse lõpusirgel