NEWS

Integration Foundation supports national minority cultural associations

The Integration Foundation has launched the latest in its series of national culture society project competitions, which is designed to support the promotion of the languages and cultures of national minorities in Estonia. Non-profit organisations whose objectives as stated in their statutes meet those of the planned activities will be supported as part of the project. The applications submitted must be related to at least one of the following fields:

• raising people’s awareness of and keeping them informed about national minority culture associations and their activities in Estonia;
• recognising the multicultural nature of Estonia and introducing and learning about national minority cultures through public events (lectures, exhibitions, seminars, TV and radio programmes, leaflets and so on);
• developing cooperation between the national minority cultural societies which operate in Estonia.

The deadline for applications is 4.00 pm on 27 August 2008.

Estonian society is interesting and multicultural. The cultures of other nationalities enrich our everyday lives. People of 121 different nationalities live in Estonia, and there are more than 200 active national culture associations. Every year many of them organise a variety of events, concerts and lectures at which they promote their cultural heritage. The Integration Foundation has supported many of these events over the years.

For more detailed information please contact Kristina Pirgop from the Culture and Youth Work Unit.

Project for the development of teaching in Estonian in Russian-language vocational schools comes to an end

The Integration Foundation’s “Development of Teaching in Estonian and Relevant Study Materials in non-Estonian Vocational Schools” project reached its conclusion in June. Its aim was to create the conditions for high-quality Estonian language studies and to develop methodology for Estonian-language studies among Russian-speaking groups in vocational education institutions. The project was designed for language and specialty subject teachers of Russian-speaking groups in vocational schools, but steps were also taken to support the development of professional Estonian language skills by directors.

More than 300 teachers received training and 23 (e-)teaching materials and methodology books were issued as part of the project, which was financed by the European Social Fund. These materials are available from kutsekeel.ee.

For more detailed information please contact Helena Metslang from the Lifelong Learning Unit.

“Support for the Transition of non-Estonian General Education Schools to Bilingual Studies” project comes to an end

The “Support for the Transition of non-Estonian General Education Schools to Bilingual Studies” project was implemented so as to prepare schools with Russian as the language of instruction for the transition to Estonian-language studies starting from the 2007-2008 academic year. It represented the continuation of the “Enhancement of the Competitiveness of Teachers in non-Estonian Schools” project, beginning in February 2007 and ending in June 2008.

Both projects were carried out by the Integration Foundation in association with the Ministry of Education and Research.

For more detailed information please contact Ave Osman from the Lifelong Learning Unit.

Evaluation of results of ESF projects "Enhancement of the Competitiveness of Teachers in non-Estonian Schools", "Support for the Transition of non-Estonian General Education Schools to Bilingual Studies" and "Development of Teaching in Estonian and Relevant Study Materials in non-Estonian Vocational Schools" ends in June

The evaluation was designed to assess the effectiveness of the projects and to provide recommendations for the planning of subsequent integration-based activities.

The evaluation included an online survey conducted among those who took part in the projects and interviews with key figures, while assessment of the vocational school project also incorporated focus groups with members of the target group.

Evaluation revealed that there has been a significant change for the better in people’s attitudes to studying Estonian, particularly among students. Nevertheless, Estonian language skills remain largely dependent on consistency and the forms of study that are offered. Training on the methodology of teaching Estonian needs to be organised, predominantly in terms of methodology related to the teaching of functional language skills. In many cases there are few people in schools who can speak Estonian, and while the teachers do attend courses, they do not communicate in the language. One solution would be for several teachers from the same school to attend the courses so that they are then willing and able to practise using the language with each other in the workplace.

The evaluation also showed that the current language courses are provided with a thorough grammatical basis but not emboldening learners to communicate in the language. Summer language courses and camps should be arranged at which the teachers and students are in an Estonian-language environment, and a range of joint activities should also be promoted. Teachers could attend work placements for practice in schools with Estonian as the language of instruction, and students could also study certain subjects in other schools in Estonian. Language courses should be closely connected with real life in Estonia: examples should be provided which help learners to understand the cultural and physical environment around them. Interactive learning formats also need to be developed.

The recommendations made based on the evaluation of the results of the projects will be taken into account in the planning of the vocational studies activities of the “Language Studies Development 2007-2010” programme, which forms part of the “Lifelong Learning” measure, a priority of the “Human Resources Development Plan” of the “National Strategy for the Use of Structural Resources 2007-2013”.

For further information please contact Merlin Mägi from the Lifelong Learning Unit.

“Staff Excursions within Estonia for Language Practice” project comes to an end

June saw the conclusion of the “Staff Excursions within Estonia for Language Practice” project, whose aims were to support the formation of an open, democratic and multicultural society in which the people living in Estonia enjoy equal access to education and employment opportunities through improved language skills and social competence and to ensure that rescue workers and police officials working in the public sector who speak languages other than Estonian obtain the level of language skills required by law and for their work.

Four stages of language courses were held as part of the project, in which 447 rescue workers and police officials studied Estonian in Tallinn, Paldiski, Jõhvi, Kohtla-Järve, Narva and Sillamäe.

COMPETITIONS

Lifelong Learning Unit launches simplified public tender for “In-service training of language and specialist studies trainers from informal adult education institutions in the field of integrated language and specialist studies”

The tender is designed to boost the competence of language and specialist studies trainers from informal adult education institutions in order to carry out integrated language and specialist teaching. In-service training on the topics of “Different methods and ways of teaching languages”, “Language skill levels and determining them: Setting goals in learning” and “Integrated learning of language and professional skills” will be organised to this end. The deadline for submission of applications is 11 August 2008.

For more detailed information please contact Riina Ring from the Lifelong Learning Unit.

Lifelong Learning Unit launches simplified public tender for organisation of training on basics of multiculturalism and language learning for trainers of adult learners

The “In-service training of language and specialist studies trainers from informal adult education institutions on subjects related to the field of multiculturalism and language learning” tender is designed to boost the competence of language and specialist studies trainers from informal adult education institutions in order to teach people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. In-service training on topics related to multiculturalism and language learning will be carried out to this end.

The deadline for submission of applications is 1 August 2008.

For more detailed information please contact Riina Ring from the Lifelong Learning Unit.

Support for the studies of Estonian for non-Estonian speaking children in preschool institutions

In spring the Centre for Educational Programmes of the Integration Foundation organised the “Studies of Estonian for Non-Estonian Speaking Children in Preschool Institutions” project competition. A total of 1,359,580 kroons was allocated in support of Estonian language studies and related activities for preschool institutions as part of the competition.

39 kindergartens submitted applications for the competition, 27 of whom received funding. Ten were located in Harju County, ten in Ida-Viru County, five in Tartu, one in Võru and one in Kohila.

For more detailed information please contact Marje Sarapuu at the Centre for Educational Programmes.

Support for Estonian-language teaching

791,709 kroons is to be provided in support of the teaching of subjects in Estonian in basic schools during the 2008-2009 academic year. 20 applications were received as part of the “Support for Estonian-language subject teaching” competition. 14 schools received funding: six in Harju County, three in Ida-Viru County, one in Lääne-Viru County, one in Valga, one in Pärnu, one in Tartu and one in Haapsalu. As part of the project, Estonian-language teaching is being provided in the following subjects: art, music, work studies, physical education, nature studies, Estonian literature, social studies, history, people studies and geography.

For more detailed information please contact Tiina Kuurmaa at the Centre for Educational Programmes.

Training of national culture society teachers in their motherlands

As a result of the project competition organised by the Centre for Educational Programmes of the Integration Foundation this spring, six national culture society Sunday School language and culture teachers will be undertaking in-service training in their motherlands. The training courses will be held in Ukraine, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The total value of the grants issued is 366,093 kroons.

For more detailed information please contact Eda Silberg from the Centre for Educational Programmes.

NEWS

Russian vocational schools take steps towards Estonian-language studies

Estonian-language studies are not only important to students from general education schools: those studying in vocational education institutions also need to develop skills in the national language in order to get by on the labour market and in society. More than 130 vocational schools claim that there are many obstacles to them teaching in a second language, but the number of such schools where Russian-speaking students are able to study certain subjects in Estonian is nevertheless growing.

The series of teaching materials developed by the Integration Foundation in association with OÜ Miksike is designed for use in professional classes in vocational schools with Russian-speaking students. The materials, produced by teachers of such subjects in vocational schools, is meant to help students in Russian groups acclimatise to an Estonian-language working environment and to get to know professional terminology and texts.

All of the materials have been edited and comprise professional texts and figures, with the texts accompanied by translations of new terms and other words and related exercises. Reviewer Vladi Purro is full of praise for the visual impact of the materials: “The way it’s put together is great. The teaching material is clearly and comprehensibly illustrated, categorised and supplied with icons that aid in orientation.”

E-studies can be carried out with the help of the materials: the same texts with interactive exercises are available to everyone online at www.kutsekeel.ee. The reviews the series of seven textbooks have been receiving confirm their reliability: “It would be hard to make the content any better or any more in line with the mandatory modules the students have to take.” The materials are also suitable for use in the teaching of professional language in Estonian as a second language and to groups.

Published materials: Meelis Pääro: Standardi EVS 807:2004 kasutamine kinnisvara korrashoiu korraldamisel (Tallinn Kopli Vocational School); Tatjana Karaganova: Keevitus (Tallinn Industrial Education Centre); Irina Muravljova: Höövelspoon (Tallinn Kopli Vocational School); Edgar Hansen: Treimistööd (Tallinn Industrial Education Centre); Hergi Kruusimaa & Aare Helinurm: Joonestamine (Tallinn Polytechnic); Aleksei Sedjakin: Programmijuhtimine (Tallinn Industrial Education Centre); and Olga Popova & Natella Mihhailova: Diagrammi- ja skeemiloomine (Ida-Virumaa Vocational Education Centre).

The Integration Foundation and University of Tartu handbook Erialaõppe ja keeleõppe lõimimisest will also soon be published. An information day regarding the series of teaching materials and others developed as part of the European Social Fund’s “Development of Estonian-language teaching and study materials in vocational schools with languages of instruction other than Estonian” project will be held at 10.30 am on 4 June in the National Library. For further information please see www.meis.ee.

For further information please contact Helena Metslang from the Lifelong Learning Unit.

Working assignment project reaches final stage

June will see the end of activities forming part of the “Staff Excursions within Estonia for Language Practice” project, which was launched in May 2005 in order to implement the European Social Fund measure “An educational system that guarantees labour flexibility, coping and lifelong learning and is available to everyone” in Estonia.

The aims of the project were to support the formation of an open, democratic and multicultural society in which the people living in Estonia enjoy equal access to education and employment opportunities through improved language skills and social competence and to ensure that rescue workers and police officials working in the public sector who speak languages other than Estonian the level of language skills required by law and for their work.

Four stages of language courses were held as part of the project, in which more than 400 rescue workers and police officials studied Estonian in Tallinn, Paldiski, Jõhvi, Kohtla-Järve, Narva and Sillamäe.

The courses in Tallinn and Paldiski were organised by AS TEA Keeleõpetus and the NPO Eesti Keele Suhtlemiskool while those in Ida-Viru County were organised by AS Kesk-Eesti Arenduskeskus.

The 120-hour courses, offered at elementary, intermediate and advanced levels, enabled the students to improve their reading, listening, speaking and writing skills with the guidance of a teacher and prepared them to take the state language exam.

30-day working assignments for language practice were undertaken by 82 employees of the Eastern, Southern, Western and Northern Police Prefectures, 52 workers from the Eastern Estonian Rescue Centre and one rescue worker from the Northern Estonian Rescue Centre. The language practice was preceded by training on how to survive in a foreign language environment. The staff excursions were carried out by AS Kesk-Eesti Arenduskeskus.

All of the activities forming part of the project are being financed by the European Social Fund and the Estonian state budget. Involved as partners in the project are the Police Board and Rescue Board as well as prefectures and rescue centres. The project was launched by the Integration Foundation.

For further information please contact Tea Kotkas from the Lifelong Learning Unit.

Teaching materials for Russian-language high schools about turning points in Estonian history set to be published

The Integration Foundation and publishers Argo are set to release a supplementary study kit of materials on Estonian history titled Turning Points in Estonian History: Documents and Materials for High Schools with Russian as the Language of Instruction and Turning Points in Estonian History: Additional Materials for Teachers. Both sets of materials were produced by the project team of Andres Adamson, Toomas Karjahärm, Mare Räis, Vjatšeslav Žiburtovitš and Einar Värä.

The following is an extract from the principle guiding the development of the study kits:

“The target group of the kits is students and teachers from general education schools with Russian as the language of instruction, and anyone else interested in the subject. The aims of the materials on Estonian history, which are designed for schools, classes and groups which study or teach in Russian, are to improve the level of teaching of history in schools with Russian as the language of instruction, and to assist in the transfer to studies in Estonian. We have tried to make the teaching of history more scientific, but also more exciting and engaging, and to help students manage better as part of the endless progression of history.”

Both study kits are to be published in Estonian and Russian, and will be distributed to general education high schools free of charge. Training days to introduce the materials to teachers will be held on 31 May in Tallinn, 2 June in Tartu and 4 June in Jõhvi.

The study kits are being published as part of the Integration Foundation’s “Support for the Transition of Non-Estonian General Education Schools to Bilingual Studies” project.

For further information please contact Ave Osman from the Lifelong Learning Unit.

Estonian in vocational schools

An information day about teaching materials forming part of the European Social Fund’s “Development of Estonian-language teaching and study materials in vocational schools with languages of instruction other than Estonian” project will be held at 10.00 am on 4 June in the National Library in Tallinn. The study materials published as part of the project will be introduced, including the following:

• Mare Kitsnik: Eesti keele õppekomplekti vene õppekeelega kutsekoolile (Ilo Kirjastus);
• Kristi Saarso & Elle Sõrmus: Kuidas õpetada erialakeelt: Metoodika käsiraamat (Eesti Ekspressi Kirjastuse AS)
• Tiina Kikerpill & Elle Sõrmus: Erialaõppe ja keeleõppe lõimimisest: Käsiraamat vene õppekeelega kutseõppeasutustele (Eesti Ekspressi Kirjastuse AS)
• The series of teaching materials on Estonian as a professional language (10 sets)
• Teaching materials for Estonian-language vocational classes (7 subjects)

At the end of the conference a brief overview of the development of the e-teaching materials website www.kutsekeel.ee will be presented.

The first part of the conference day will include a discussion studies of Estonian and studies in Estonian in vocational schools. Presentations will be given by Irene Käosaar, Maie Soll and Rita Siilivask, specialists from the Ministry of Education and Research.

For further information please contact Maria Ratassepp from the Lifelong Learning Unit.

Kindergarten Language Immersion Programme Summer School

Summer school will be held from 5 to 7 June in the Männisalu Training Centre in Võsu. 60 kindergarten teachers and directors will be in attendance. The main topic covered at the summer school will be language learning through drama, presented by the Open Mind Institute. Also presenting the results of their research will be Airi Kukk from Tallinn University and Maarika Mae from Tallinn Allika Kindergarten.

For further information please contact Svetlana Belova from the Language Immersion Centre.

Language immersion classes will be graduating from the following schools this year:

• Narva Pähklimäe High School
• Narva Old Town State School
• Tallinn Pae High School
• Tallinn Karjamaa High School
• Tapa Russian High School
• Kohtla-Järve Tammiku High School
• Lasnamäe High School
• Narva Humanities High School
• Narva Joala School
• Sillamäe Estonian High School
• Tartu Annelinna High School

The meeting of directors of educational institutions who have joined the language immersion programme will take place on 26 and 27 June in Rakvere. The main topic of discussion will be the language immersion strategy for 2009-2013.

For further information please contact Marju Randlepp from the Language Immersion Centre.

COMPETITIONS

National culture society project competition to be launched in June

The goal of the national culture society project competition is to support the promotion of the languages and cultures of national minorities through a range of events around Estonia.

Non-profit organisations whose objectives, as stated in their statutes, meet those of the planned activities will be supported as part of the project.

The deadline for submission of applications is the end of August.

For further information please contact Kristina Pirgop from the Culture and Youth Work Unit.

NEWS

“Estonian language study kit for vocation schools with Russian as the language of instruction” published

The Integration Foundation has worked in association with Kirjastus Ilo to publish Mare Kitsnik’s “Estonian language study kit for vocation schools with Russian as the language of instruction”. The web version of the kit will be available to everyone from June to use and download from kutsekeel.ee. The Integration Foundation’s information day, which will introduce the study kit to the public as well as other materials produced as part of the “Development of Estonian-language teaching and study materials in vocational schools with languages of instruction other than Estonian” project, will be held in the National Library on 4 June.

The study kit comprises a textbook, workbook, audio CD and teacher’s book. The volume of material in the study kit is sufficient for it to be used in vocational education institutions on compulsory courses of Estonian as a second language. All of the subjects it covers are youth-oriented and presented in an enjoyable way, while the school theatre sketches and songs by Ines and Hendrik Sal-Saller included on the CD make the kit even more engaging. Moreover, the author approaches the youth-based subjects from an unexpected and surprising angle. The study kit is also suitable for use in general education high schools.

Reviewer Hiie Asser (PhD, Director of Studies, Tartu Annelinna High School) had this to say of the study kit:

“My overall impressions of ‘Estonian language study kit for vocation schools with Russian as the language of instruction’ have been very positive. The best things about the textbook are the way the topics are presented at two different levels of difficulty and the structure, which is flexible and allows for variety. There are other strong points to the study kit, too. The material in the textbook dovetails nicely with the exercises in the workbook and the listening texts on the CD. There are a lot of different kinds of exercises in both the textbook and the workbook, with the author very imaginatively introducing some new takes on practice tasks alongside the more traditional. The emphasis with a lot of these tasks is on the need for students to express their opinions, and what also stands out is how topical and appropriate the discussion questions and material are for vocational students.”

The study kit was developed as part of the Integration Foundation’s “Development of Estonian-language teaching and study materials in vocational schools with languages of instruction other than Estonian” project (2005-2008). The project, financed through the European Social Fund, was implemented in response to the results of the Faktum survey “Development of vocational education in vocational education institutions with Russian as the language of instruction” (2004). The aim of the project was to create the conditions for high-quality Estonian language studies and to develop the methodology of Estonian-language studies among Russian-speaking groups in vocational education institutions. More than 300 teachers received training as part of the project and 23 (e-)teaching materials and methodology books were issued. These materials are available from kutsekeel.ee.

For further information please contact Helena Metslang from the Lifelong Learning Unit.

Minister approves language studies development programme

Minister of Education and Research Tõnis Lukas has approved a language studies development programme to be financed through the European Social Fund.

The aim of the programme is to guarantee all residents of Estonia, regardless of their native language, age or nationality, equal opportunities to learn Estonian and to be able to survive on the labour market.

More so than previously, the programme is based on individual needs and opportunities, which means a diverse range of language learning formats in addition to ordinary language courses, such as private studies with tutors (if required).

Apart from teaching, the programme also supports language learning by other means: through studies of a specialist nature or via working with young people of different nationalities. Greater attention is therefore being paid to young people studying in vocational education institutions, who have received less attention in the past than those studying in general education schools and on adult language courses.

The success of the programme depends on how quickly teachers and trainers take to the idea that although language studies are of value in themselves and a source of intellectual enrichment, the motivation of those studying them is often higher when they perceive the real connection that exists between language learning and some other activity. That is why both teachers and trainers should learn the skills that will enable them to teach languages through (for example) specialist studies or interest groups.

The total budget for the project, which is being implemented by the Integration Foundation, is more than 60 million kroons, 51 million of which is being provided by the European Social Fund.

For further information please contact Eduard Odinets from the Lifelong Learning Unit.

Source: BNS

Children with Estonian roots living elsewhere are coming to learn the language

This summer the Integration Foundation will be running a language camp for several dozen children with Estonian roots who live outside the country.

Eduard Odinets, the director of the foundation’s lifelong learning unit, told BNS that there will be three camps in total designed for 12 to 17-year-olds.

The first of these, the exact dates and location for which have yet to be announced, is planned for the end of June or early July, while the second is scheduled to run from 7 to 18 July and the third from 11 to 21 August at the Ojako tourism farm in Pärnu County.

The camps are being financed by the state as part of the national minorities programme.

Between 2000 and 2003 and again between 2005 and 2007 the foundation ran Estonian language camps for almost three hundred children with Estonian roots living in Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

Unlike in previous years, the chance to take part in this year’s camps will be offered to young people with Estonian roots wherever they live outside of the country.

For further information please contact Eduard Odinets from the Lifelong Learning Unit.

Source: BNS

“Estonian-language studies in schools with Russian as the language of instruction” conference

A conference on the topic of Estonian-language studies is to be held at the Rocca Al Mare Open Air Museum on 14 May, with the aim of reviewing the first year of the transition to Estonian-language studies. Describing their experiences will be representatives from a number of schools, while Minister of Education and Research Tõnis Lukas and Irene Käosaar, director of the Minorities Education Department of the Ministry of Education and Research, will also be presenting their views. Adding a splash of colour to the conference will be sample lessons given by renowned teachers of their subjects, and the best entries in the recent play competition will be performed. Schools will also have the opportunity to present their materials related to the transition to Estonian-language studies.

For further information please contact Ave Osman from the Lifelong Learning Unit.

"Reducing the risk of unemployment among young people who speak languages other than Estonian” project comes to an end

The “Reducing the risk of unemployment among young people who speak languages other than Estonian” project financed by the Ministry of the Interior and the European Social Fund has reached its final phase. Although the official end date of the project is 30 June 2008 and specialist training and work experience continue, the project team will be presenting summaries and thanking their partners on 8 May in Tallinn. The project was designed to help unemployed young people who speak languages other than Estonian to enter the labour market. A variety of training courses were carried out as part of the project: job search training, Estonian language courses and a range of specialist training based on the needs of the unemployed participants. One aspect of the project was organising work experience placements for the participants so as to enable them to get a feel for working life. All of these activities took place in Tallinn, Narva, Jõhvi and Sillamäe.

For further information please contact Daisi Sprenk from the Lifelong Learning Unit.

Training for teachers’ aides

The Language Immersion Centre will be launching training for kindergarten language immersion group teachers’ aides with a training session on 1 and 2 May. The training will be carried out by Nonna Meltsas and Hedi Minlibajeva from the Language Immersion Centre.

For further information please contact Svetlana Belova from the Language Immersion Centre.

Guests from Helsinki

In October 2007 local government representatives, kindergarten directors and immersion group teachers visited Helsinki to see how language immersion is promoted in Sälen kindergarten. On 9 May the Language Immersion Centre will be hosting the Finns on a reciprocal visit. Finnish kindergarten teachers will be given an overview of the implementation of the language immersion kindergarten programme in Estonia, and they will visit Vindi kindergarten with programme director Svetlana Belova to observe language immersion group activities.

For further information please contact Svetlana Belova from the Language Immersion Centre.

COMPETITIONS

Ongoing competitions

“In-service training of national culture society Sunday school teachers in their motherlands”

Competition closes on 20 May 2008.

Applications can be made for the funding of in-service training for national culture society Sunday school teachers in their motherlands.

The competition will help finance such things as travel and visa costs, accommodation and the cost of purchasing study materials. The amount of the grants that can be applied for from the foundation is 80,000 kroons per teacher.

National culture society Sunday schools who would like their teachers to take part in further training must submit confirmation from the university or higher education institute in the motherland that they will accept the teacher. More detailed conditions can be found in the competition guidelines.

For further information please contact Eda Silberg from the Centre for Educational Programmes.

Concluded competitions

“New immigrants in Estonian general education schools”

The competition was designed to support the teaching of new immigrant students in general education schools with Estonian as the language of instruction. Financed as part of it were the organisation of extracurricular activities and special events, cooperation with parents, the acquisition of study materials and equipment and more. The total amount of grants came to 249,415 kroons. Four general education schools received grants as part of the competition, with a total of 26 new immigrant students who have come to Estonia from Belgium, Italy, Germany, South Africa, Egypt, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

For further information please contact Ulvi Müürsepp from the Centre for Educational Programmes.

“New immigrants in Estonian preschool institutions”

The aims of the competition was to support the Estonian language studies of new immigrant students in preschool institutions with Estonian as the language of instruction and to develop a system for the teaching of Estonian as a second language in which a range of methodology would be implemented and contemporary teaching materials used.

Financed as part of the competition were the activities of preschool institutions with Estonian as the language of instruction, the acquisition of teaching materials and equipment, the salaries of teachers and in-service training.

Seven applications were received. Five kindergartens (three municipal and two private) were issued with grants to a total value of 280,776 kroons.

For further information please contact Marje Sarapuu from the Centre for Educational Programmes.

NEWS

Estonian Integration Plan 2008-2013 reached the Government

What is it?

The national programme Integration in Estonian Society 2000-2007 ended in 2007. For the next six years, integration policy in Estonia will be based on the Estonian Integration Plan 2008-2013.

The integration plan is an action plan for government agencies and other institutions in the area of integration.

How was it prepared?

Preparation of the integration plan started in December 2005, when Minister Paul-Eerik Rummo gave the terms of reference for the integration plan to the Government of the Republic. Minister Urve Palo has been responsible for integration issues in the Government and for the completion of this development plan since April 2007.

Approximately 100 people took part in the preparation of the new plan and its implementation plan on different levels.

A 25-member expert committee was created for the preparation of the development plan at the initiative of the Office of the Minister of Population in spring 2006. The committee consisted of specialists from different areas of integration, members of Riigikogu and representatives of employers, employees, research institutions, non-government institutions and organisations of ethnic minorities. The task of the committee was to collect data and perform background checks in order to ascertain the target group, primary and secondary goals, realisation principles and plan, assessment criteria and required completion tools of the intended integration plan.

A 7-member work group was created to assist the expert committee. The work group gathered and analysed the proposals submitted by ministries and their agencies and used them as the basis for the preparation of the working version of an area development plan. Russian-speaking experts from different areas of integration were also involved in discussions of the working version of the development plan.

A supporting consortium consisting of Centre for Policy Studies PRAXIS, University of Tartu, Baltic Research Institute, Hill & Knowlton Estonia and Geomedia joined the preparations of the development plan in May 2007. The task of the consortium was to support the development of the integration plan with research, strategic consultations, a communication plan and study travel.

The target groups and social partners of the integration plan have had the opportunity to present their own proposals in respect of the integration plan in order to achieve a consensus in the society about the goals and activities of the development plan. The development plan was approved by the Government of the Republic of 25 January 2007 and published on the homepage of the Office of the Minister of Population. On 1 August 2007, the official working version of the national programme was published on the involvement website www.osale.ee. In addition to this, the draft of the integration plan and all relevant questions were sent for review to almost 1000 social partners (incl. local governments, schools, universities, ethnic culture associations, youth associations, business organisations, etc.).

Three public information and feedback seminars about integration were held in Tallinn and Jõhvi in the beginning of September 2007. The priorities of the integration plan were discussed at these seminars with the representatives of associated groups. Participants had the opportunity submit specific amendment proposals about the working version of the development plan. In addition to the research conducted in summer and autumn of 2007 (both in the format of public opinion polls and group discussions), more than 200 amendment proposals have been received in the course of a public discussion. All amendment proposals were studied by the representatives of ministries and the expert commission and they were an important input for the preparation of the national programme.

What is integration?

Integration is a friendly and safe coexistence based on mutual acceptance and respect between different social groups.

Integration will occur when all people living in Estonia have equal interest, desire and opportunities to contribute to the development of the state and participate in community life regardless of their nationality and native language.

What are the bases of the integration plan?

Preparation of the integration plan was based on the following principles:

• The core values of Europe (democracy, a state based on the rule of law, an individual’s right to self-determination, cultural diversity);
• Constitutional values (Estonian as the official language of the state and everyone’s right to preserve their national identity);
• Guarantee of equal opportunities regardless of nationality and native language;
• Avoiding separation on the grounds of nationality;
• Strengthening the identity of the state

What are the objectives the integration plan?

The integration plan will be realised in three different areas:

• educational and cultural,
• social and economic,
• legal political integration.

What is the expected output of integration?

The integration plan stipulates the measures and activities that will be taken and realised on the national or local level, but also though the civil society.

Integrating the population of Estonia is a long-term process and its objective is to create a culturally diverse society that gives a strong identity to the state of Estonia and consists of people who share common democratic values and communicate in the Estonian language in the public sphere. The integration plan supports this proceeding from the principles and obligations of a democratic state based on the rule of law.

The objective of the integration plan is to emphasise to every permanent resident of Estonia that they belong in our society through shared values and command of the official language of the state. As a result of successful integration, everyone will be able to realise themselves and feel safe as they participate in the economic, social, political and cultural lives of the society. Estonia has created the opportunities for speaking other languages and developing ethnic cultures.

The integration plan sets itself the goal that by 2013, the country is in a situation where, when compared to 2007:

• command of the Estonian language among people for whom Estonian is not their native language has improved on all levels;
• contacts and communication between people with different native languages have become more frequent and the differences in the participation of people who do and do not speak Estonian in citizens’ associations and the public sphere have decreased;
• the share of persons with undefined citizenship among the population of Estonia has decreased constantly;
• the majority of people living in Estonia trust people of other nationalities and vice versa;
• the majority of people whose native language is not Estonian receive regular information through Estonian language media and trust this information;
• the differences in the employment and income between people of different nationalities have decreased.

Structure of the integration plan

The integration plan consists of two parts: the strategy that stipulates the objectives of the plan and the implementation plan that gives an overview of planned activities and their cost.

The integration plan will be submitted to the Government of the Republic for approval within the next few weeks.

For further information please contact Mart Soonik from the Support Unit

Information events and information materials for people taking part in Estonian language courses

The Procurement of Communication Services for the National Examination and Qualification Centre organised within the framework of the Support for the Implementation of the National Integration Programme and for the Capacity-Building of Integration-Related Institutions project was won by Alfa-Omega Communications OÜ.

The goal of the procurement is to strengthen the system of examinations in Estonian language proficiency in the National Examination and Qualification Centre and to increase the awareness of the non-Estonian-speaking part of our population of the requirements and organisation of language proficiency examinations and examinations in the knowledge of the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia and the Citizenship Act through communication activities associated with such the examinations. All communication activities support transition to the language proficiency levels defined in the European Language Learning Framework Document prepared at the initiative of the Council of Europe, which is expected to be completed in July 2008.

These communication activities involve informing the public of any changes in the Estonian language proficiency examinations in Estonian and Russian language media, organisation of information events in Tallinn and Ida-Virumaa and preparation and printing of a total of 60,000 copies of different information materials.

The target group of the training consists of persons who must be proficient in the Estonian language pursuant to Section 5 of the Language Act and its implementation acts, but who at the time of the activities lack the Estonian language proficiency required for working in their position, and applicants for the citizenship of the Republic of Estonia, who have to take an Estonian language proficiency examination and an examination in the knowledge of the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia and the Citizenship Act. A more indirect target group consists of language training companies, employers and the whole Estonian and non-Estonian language public.

The project is being funded from the resources of EU Transitional Support and the Ministry of Education.

For further information please contact: Citizens Education Unit, Inna Pusikova

Big books for kindergartens

In the beginning of April, the Language Immersion Centre of the Integration Foundation will send out invitation to tender in order to find contractors who will print 14 picture books and deliver them to different counties.

The 2008 implementation plan of the Estonian Integration Plan 2000-2013 stipulates the distribution of a series of large format books written for language immersion kindergartens to all Estonian kindergartens. The set of picture books is aimed at children aged 5 to 7. The books provide the following: material for practicing vocabulary and developing speech; material and examples for revision of certain expressions; impulses for reproduction and development of words and texts; joy of improvisation for kindergarten teachers in presenting example and listening texts.

The format of the books allows groups of up to 20 children to read them together (and describe the pictures). The books should reach kindergartens by the start of the new study year.

Training in new language immersion methods about to being

In April, the Language Immersion Centre of the Foundation will start offering training in language immersion methods, which will take place in four groups. In addition to two groups where the working language is Estonian, there will be another two groups where the working language is Russian, but which offer the opportunity to practice Estonian. The training is meant for teachers of immersion classes, but teachers of ordinary schools that work with non-Estonian language children can also participate by agreement.

Training will take place according to the curriculum of language immersion methods and its total volume is 80 hours. The training consists of four sessions. The training will be organised by trainers of the Language Immersion Centre and certificates will be issued to everyone who has passed the training.

COMPETITIONS

Competition for extracurricular language learning projects

The goal of the competition for extracurricular language learning projects is to support young people who do not speak Estonian as their native language in acquiring Estonian through extracurricular activities and by the peer training method.

Invitations to participate in the competition were sent to non-profit organisations that plan extracurricular activities for young people up to 18 years of age for the period of 1 May to 20 September 2008.

The application deadline was 11 am on 14 March 2008. 22 applications were received by the deadline. The results of the competition will be announced in the second week of April.

For further information please contact: Culture and Youth Work Unit, Lianne Ristikivi

Base financing of culture associations of national minorities in 2008

The purpose of the application stage is to support preservation of the languages and culture of ethnic minorities through reimbursement of the current expenses of the umbrella organisations of national culture associations and/or art collectives (hereinafter support).

The submitted applications must contribute to the achievement of at least one of the following objectives:

1. texpansion of knowledge of the cultures of national minorities and informing the society of Estonia of the activities of culture associations of national minorities;
2. acknowledgement of the multicultural nature of Estonia and introduction of the aspects of the cultures of national minorities to the society of Estonian via cultural projects aimed at the public (public events, lectures, exhibitions, seminars, TV and radio programmes, leaflets, etc.);
3. development of cooperation with the culture associations of other national minorities (public events, lectures, exhibitions, etc.);
4. development of cooperation with Estonian culture associations (public events, lectures, exhibitions, etc.);

The application deadline was 4 pm on 4 March 2008. 43 applications were received by the deadline and they consisted of the documents of 231 organisations. The results of the competition will be announced in the second week of April.

For further information please contact: Culture and Youth Work Unit, Iris Järv

Competition of integration development grants

Development grant is a public grant allocated by the Integration Foundation to persons who completed the projects supported in 2007. Grants are given in three categories (public law agencies, third sector organisations and national culture associations), they amount to 20,000 kroons each and their aim is to support the development of integration work.

The grants are allocated by a committee created by the Integration Foundation, which assesses all applications proceeding from the content of the project, innovation, the opportunity to use experience, the number of different target groups involved and the opinions of the persons who participated in the project.

Recipients of the 2007 development grants will be announced at the 10th birthday of the Integration Foundation in Salme Culture Centre on 3 April 2008. A certificate that confirms receipt of the grant will be issued to all recipients.

For further information please contact: Culture and Youth Work Unit, Kristina Pirgop.

    

DISPATCHES

Overview of the decisions of the supervisory board of the Integration Foundation and its plans for the year

In 2008 the foundation will be launching more than one hundred different activities which will contribute to better integration in Estonian society. The Integration Foundation’s key activities in 2008 are as follows:

Educational and cultural integration

• PA project competition will see support for Estonian language teaching activities in 23 kindergartens and for the acquisition of teaching materials and resources;
• 150 teachers will be taking part in in-service training;
• The studies in general education schools of 50 new immigrant children will be supported;
• A total of 120 teachers will undergo training on the teaching of new immigrant children;
• A total of 1200 young Estonians and young speakers of other languages as their native language will take part in extracurricular summer language study projects;
• Through a project competition and base financing, 170 national minority culture associations will receive funding, with 3 training sessions arranged for them;
• 12 national minority native language and culture teachers will undergo in-service training in their motherlands;
• 8 educational institutes will join the language immersion programme, making a total of 62 members by the end of the year;
• The language immersion consultation system will be completed;
• A total of 480 school and kindergarten teachers will receive training on language immersion methodology;
• An international language immersion conference will be held in October 2008;
• 80 students from higher education institutions will undergo further studies of Estonian;
• 160 teachers who will be teaching subjects in Estonian will take a 10 CP training course, including:
  • 40 geography teachers
  • 40 music teachers
  • 40 social studies teachers
  • 40 history teachers
• An online environment bringing together the teaching and methodological material for vocational education institutes will be set up at www.kutsekeel.ee.

Social and economic integration

• 129 public sector employees from the police and rescue services who speak languages other than Estonian as their native language will take part in free language courses;
• 262 officials will take part in working assignments to improve their skills in the national language;
• Additional training will see 150 teachers of Estonian to adults boosting their competence to work with the target groupa.

Legal and political integration

• 350 people will attend free language courses;
• 2200 people will take courses on the constitution and citizenship laws of the Republic of Estonia;
• Awareness-raising campaigns will be launched to boost people’s awareness of the conditions for obtaining citizenship, tolerance and equal treatment.

The projected 2008 budget comes to a total of 117,859,448 kroons, which may change depending on the funding decisions made by the European Migration Network and the European Social Fund.

For the purpose of simplification, the supervisory board took the decision to shorten the foundation’s name from the Non-Estonians Integration Foundation to the Integration Foundation. The new name will take effect when the registry details are changed.

The Integration Foundation was established on 31 March 1998 by the Estonian government with the aim of initiating, supporting and coordinating projects designed to promote integration in Estonian society. These projects are funded from the state budget as well as from external sources. The Ministry of the Interior held founder’s rights until 31 December 2007; these have now been assumed by the State Chancellery.

For further information please contact Mart Soonik from the Support Unit

New print-run of Citizen’s Handbook completed

Reaching users in the coming weeks will be 5000 copies of the Citizen’s Handbook, the updating of which was supported by the Ministry of the Interior. The book is published by the Integration Foundation.

The Citizen’s Handbook is designed to provide as many people as possible – including those who do not use the Internet on an everyday basis – with information in a convenient format about the running of the state and dealing with state institutions.

New to this edition of the handbook are links to institutions and organisations from which more information can be obtained if required. The book also includes more practical advice on coping in particular situations. A significant addition compared to previous publications is a list of key terms, which makes using the handbook much easier.

In terms of content, the new edition goes into greater detail on issues related to the labour market and legal matters. There are overviews of all state institutions and a brand new chapter on Estonia’s defence policy and national defence.

The handbook was first published in 2004 with the support of the Embassy of the United States of America. The new edition is the fourth to be published, having been updated to reflect changes in the law and to include new topics.

The print-run is being distributed free of charge to citizens associations, local governments, libraries, vocational schools and county development centres. The handbook will also be published this year in Russian.

For further information please contact Ülle Kraft at the Transition Facility Support Unit

Competition launched for the funding of extracurricular language study projects

Extracurricular language studies are conducted on the basis of age-appropriate teaching methods with the aim of developing the skills, knowledge, values and attitudes of young people for the use of Estonian.
Applications can be submitted by non-profit organisations, foundations and public law organisations and institutions. The competition documents and application forms are available from the Integration Foundation website at www.meis.ee. The deadline for applications is 11.00 am on 14 March 2008. Further information will be available from the project manager until 5 March by e-mailing lianne.ristikivi@meis.ee.

In her 2007 reports, Kristi Tamm, responsible for the monitoring of language study projects, highlighted the fact that “studies of the national language in schools have improved markedly over the years, as can be seen in the way the language skills and willingness to communicate of children from schools with Russian as the language of instruction are getting better every year.” Thus all kinds of language learning-based activities involving children are supporting their language use and skills, be they excursions, camps, plays, handicraft, hiking or role-playing, Tamm added.

The Integration Foundation has supported the participation of around 24,000 children in language camps, family studies and other extracurricular language study activities over the last 10 years as part of the extracurricular language study projects.

For further information please contact Lianne Ristikivi from the Project Unit

Dozens of children with Estonian roots able to study the language in Estonia again

Dozens of children whose families have roots in Estonia will again have the chance to come to Estonia this summer to study Estonian in language camps, get to know Estonian culture and the country and meet their Estonian peers.

Language camps for young people with Estonian roots are organised in the country by the Integration Foundation in accordance with the state’s countrymen programme, which is designed to support Estonians living outside of Estonia and mutual cooperation.

Between 2000 and 2003 and between 2005 and 2007 the foundation organised Estonian language and life camps for children and young adults with Estonian roots living in the CSI states, Latvia and Lithuania. Almost 300 young people from different parts of the former Soviet Union have taken part in such language camp projects.

Unlike in previous years, the chance to take part in the 2008 language camp will be offered to young people with Estonian roots wherever they live outside of the country. Integration Foundation project manager Eduard Odinets says that this means summer should see the arrival of young Estonians wishing to study the language in the country from further afield than merely Russia or Ukraine. “The only restrictive factor here might be the budget, as the cost of getting the kids here will vary widely depending on whether they’re from St. Petersburg, Sweden or Canada,” he added.

The activities of language camps to date have been funded by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Education and Research. In 2008 the camps will be financed by the State Chancellery.

For further information please contact Eduard Odinets from the Administrative Unit of the Structural Funds

Competition launched for integration-based development grants

The Integration Foundation has launched a competition for three integration-based development grants valued at 20,000 kroons each. The grants are awarded in recognition of the development of integration work. Applications are open to all funding recipients with whom the Integration Foundation entered into project support agreements as part of project competition in 2007 and whose agreement has come to an end by the time they apply.

Applications can also be made by institutions and organisations who submitted and carried out projects and the people who took part in them.

The grants will be awarded in three categories:

1. Public law institutions (including those under the jurisdiction of state or local governments);
2. Third sector organisations;
3. National culture associations.

Written applications will be accepted by the foundation until 12 March 2008. A committee will be formed for the allocation of the grants which will evaluate the applications based on the content of a project, how innovative it is and the opportunities to use experience. They will also assess how many target groups were included and what the participants thought of the projects. The winners of the 2007 development grants will be announced at the beginning of April during the tenth anniversary celebrations of the Integration Foundation.

For further information please contact Kristina Pirgop from the Project Division

National minority culture societies can apply for base financing

The Integration Foundation has launched the round of applications for the base financing of national minority culture societies. Applications can be made until 4.00 pm on 4 March 2008.

These associations are supported through the application round in covering their running costs, thereby increasing the stability of their development of culture and educational life. Other goals are raising awareness of the multicultural nature of Estonia, introducing people to the unique natures of national minority cultures and developing cooperation between cultural associations.

Since 2006 the State Chancellery and the Integration Foundation have worked together in distributing more than 7 million kroons in support of more than 150 national culture societies.

The budget for the 2008 application round is 4 million kroons, including information days and training for societies. This year the foundation is paying closer attention to training for the improvement of the administrative sustainability of these societies in terms of both their actual and financial operations. The accountants from the societies’ umbrella organisations will also continue to be trained as part of the programme which began in 2007. The foundation would also like to provide training on project writing and management for the directors and project leaders in these societies.

In addition to the base financing of minority group cultural societies, the Integration Foundation organises annual project competitions for national culture associations to implement culture projects such as exhibitions, seminars, concerts, festivals and newsletters. The foundation also supports national culture association Sunday schools and the in-service training of their teachers both in Estonia and their motherlands. It is also with the support of the foundation that the Rahvused Eestis /Nationalities in Estonia/ book series and Etnomosaiik /Ethnomosaic/ television series are produced. The foundation supported the promotion of minority education and culture in 2007 with 6,350,000 kroons of funding.

For further information please contact Iris Järv from the Project Unit

Book on Uzbeks published

March will see the publication of The Uzbeks as part of the Nationalities in Estonia series by AS Kirjastus Ilo. The book provides an overview of Uzbekistan and its peoples’ traditions, food and more. The book will be distributed to all schools throughout March.

For further information please contact Eda Silberg from the Centre for Educational Programmes

Seminar-camp for geography teachers from schools with Russian as the language of instruction

A seminar-camp for geography teachers from schools with Estonian and Russian as the languages of instruction will be held from 13 to 15 March. The camp is designed to give Russian-speaking teachers the chance to improve their willingness and ability to speak Estonian, to promote cooperation between teachers from Estonian-language and Russian-language schools and to allow their knowledge on matters related to school life and the education system to be shared. In addition to the seminar work, the camps will also include excursions and study trips to southern Estonia.

For further information please contact Ave Osman from the Administrative Unit of the Structural Funds

Final of the student play competition

The grand final of the short play competition based on Estonian literature will take place on 29 March. Participating are students from schools with Russian as the language of instruction in two age groups: those in years 7 to 9 and those in years 10 to 12. The three best plays in each age group will be selected by a panel of judges in a preliminary round to compete in the final, which will decide the overall winners. Details are available from http://www.meis.ee/est/uudised/index.php?newsID=1540.

For further information please contact Ave Osman from the Administrative Unit of the Structural Funds

Methodology training

A second group will commence training on language immersion methodology for teachers from schools with Russian (or English) as the language of instruction on 28 and 29 March. The training will be held in Russian and primarily directed at teachers who give lessons to language immersion classes. The 80-hour course is to take place in the Language Immersion Centre on the basis of its study programme. Participants will gain an overview of the history and principles of language immersion, team work, the creation of the learning environment and teaching materials, active learning methods and children’s development. The course will be led by Liina Norit and Anna Sele.

For further information please contact Marju Randlepp from the Language Immersion Centre

COMPETITIONS

Support for Estonian-language subject teaching

For the fifth year running, the Integration Foundation’s Centre for Educational Programmes is organising a competition designed to support Estonian-language subject teaching in schools with Russian as the primary language of instruction.

The target group this time is basic, municipal and private school projects which contribute to consistent and systematic Estonian-language subject teaching in schools with Russian as the language of instruction.

For further information please contact Tiina Kuurmaa at the Centre for Educational Programmes

In-service training of national culture society Sunday school teachers in their motherlands

Applications can be made for the funding of in-service training for national culture society Sunday school teachers in their motherlands.

The competition will help finance such things as travel and visa costs, accommodation and the cost of purchasing study materials. The amount of the grants that can be applied for from the foundation is 80,000 kroons.

National culture society Sunday schools who would like their teachers to take part in further training must submit confirmation from the university or higher education institute in the motherland that they will accept the teacher. More detailed conditions can be found in the competition guidelines.

For further information please contact Eda Silberg from the Centre for Educational Programmes

In-service training for teachers in kindergartens with Russian as the language of instruction

The general aim of the tender is to offer additional training to teachers who are involved in the teaching of Estonian in kindergartens so as to make them better prepared to teach Estonian.

The direct goal of the tender is to broaden the knowledge and experience of the participants in the following areas:

1. Children’s linguistic development;
2. Teaching methodology for Estonian as a second language;
3. Producing individual study programmes.

For further information please contact Marje Sarapuu at the Centre for Educational Programmes

  

NEWS

In-service training for language teachers

The “National Examination and Qualification Centre Training Services Tender” public procurement competition organised as part of the “Support for the Implementation of the National Integration Programme and for the Capacity-Building of Integration-Related Institutions” project has been won by Bradley Dunbar Associates Estonia OÜ.

The activities of the tender will support the transition in July 2008 to the language skills levels defined in the European language studies framework document produced on the initiative of the Council of Europe. The course will provide 150 language teachers with in-service training related to language teaching methodology, information about the Council of Europe’s language skills levels system and practical knowledge for the assessment of language skills.

The aims of the tender are, via the training course, to bolster and contribute to the development of the Estonian language level examination system in the National Examination and Qualification Centre, and to raise language teachers’ awareness of the principles of assessment of language skills and of the latest developments in language policy in Europe’s big institutions (European Commission and Council of Europe).

The target groups for the course are teachers of Estonian as a second language from both general education schools and language companies, teachers of foreign languages, and those responsible for producing curriculums and study materials.

The project is being funded from the resources of the EU’s Transitional Support and the Estonian Ministry of Education.

For further information please contact Inna Pusikova from the Transition Facility Support Unit

Preparatory courses for Estonian constitution and citizenship examinations continue

The preparatory courses being organised as part of the “Support for the Integration of Individuals with Unspecified Citizenship in Estonia” project will be carried out from the new year by Bradley Dunbar Associates Estonia OÜ.
Courses for up to 1200 participants will be run over six months. Starting from the new year, citizens of third countries who are motivated to apply for Estonian citizenship will also be able to take part in the courses, which are free for all participants.

The latest information about when and where the courses will be taking place can be obtained by phoning the free national number 800 9999. You can also phone this number to register for courses. Advisory centres for citizenship applicants operate in Tallinn, Narva and Jõhvi:

Tallinn advisory centre:

Tallinn, Tõnismägi 2
BDA Estonia OÜ rooms
Advisor Reet Valing
Telephone: 627 4412

Open in February on the following days at the following times:

5 February 10.30 am-12.30 pm
7 February 1.00 pm-3.00 pm
12 February 10.30 am-12.30 pm
14 February 1.00 pm-3.00 pm
19 February 10.30 am-12.30 pm
21 February 1.00 pm-3.00 pm
26 February 10.30 am-12.30 pm
28 February 1.00 pm-3.00 pm

Jõhvi advisory centre:

Jõhvi, Tartu mnt 2
Kersti Võlu Training Centre
Advisor Kersti Võlu
Telephone: 800 9999
Open Monday-Friday 10.00 am-4.00 pm.

Narva advisory centre:

Narva, Kerese 14
Eesti Kodu Narvas
Advisor Maritsa Ort
1st floor, room 118
Telephone: 356 1985
Open Monday-Friday 10.00 am-4.00 pm.

Further information about courses and the terms and conditions of applying for citizenship are available from www.meis.ee/kodanik.

For further information please contact Ülle Kraft at the Transition Facility Support Unit

Teachers teaching subjects in Estonian receive new methodology materials

The Integration Foundation has signed a contract with AS Kuma for the production of new methodology materials for teachers teaching at schools with a language of instruction other than Estonian. In addition to textbooks and workbooks, teachers teaching geography, music and social studies in Estonian will receive worksheets and lesson plans.

Sets of the materials will be delivered to schools in summer 2008. Contributing to the development of the methodology material are teachers from schools in Tartu who have experience teaching the Estonian-language subjects. The total value of the contract is 1.5 million kroons.

Partial teaching in Estonian has been mandatory in schools at the high school level with languages of instruction other than Estonian since September 2007. 63 such schools introduced studies of Estonian literature in Estonian in 2007. In the coming years it will be joined by geography, music, social studies and history.

For further information please contact Ave Härsing from the Administrative Unit of the Structural Funds.

“How to Teach Business Language” handbook published

The language methodology handbook for vocational education institutions is the first attempt to bring methodological guidelines and advice for teachers of Estonian together in one publication. It is targeted at teachers of business language from vocational education institutions, but the majority of the advice it provides is useful for language teachers generally.

The authors of the handbook, which is to be distributed free of charge to schools, are Tallinn University lecturers Kristi Saarso and Elle Sõrmus, who worked closely with teachers of Estonian from vocational schools before beginning the writing process. May 2008 will also see the release of a series of business language mini-textbooks and audio CDs designed for the Russian-speaking groups in vocational schools, as well as a handbook covering the relevant subject syllabi.

“How to Teach Business Language” was developed as part of the Non-Estonians Integration Foundation’s “Development of Estonian-Language Teaching and Study Materials in Vocational Schools with Languages of Instruction other than Estonian” project (2005-2008). The project, financed through the European Social Fund, was implemented in response to the results of the Faktum survey “Development of Vocational Education in Vocational Education Institutions with Russian as the Language of Instruction” (2004).

In today’s world of business, science and technology there remain few fields in which workers can make do with one language: it has become almost impossible for people in Estonia and abroad to get by in their working lives without international and intercultural communication. Not only do they need general language skills, but also specific business language skills, because the scope of professional vocabulary and texts is enormous. Business language courses are provided by Estonia’s vocational schools, colleges and language companies in a wide range of subjects, from technology and business to construction and cookery.

The online version (PDF) of the handbook can be found here.

For further information please contact Helena Metslang from the Administrative Unit of the Structural Funds.

News from the “Support for the Transition of Non-Estonian General Education Schools to Bilingual Studies” project:

Training for history teachers from schools with Russian as the language of instruction

• The fourth and final cycle of the series of seminars on turning points in Estonia’s history designed for history teachers from schools with Russian as the language of instruction will be held from 4 to 6 February in Tallinn. This cycle will look at the deportations that took place in Estonia in 1941 and 1949 and the new awakening. The seminars are being organised by the Open Mind Institute.
• Methodology training for history teachers from schools with Russian as the language of instruction will be held on 14 and 15 February in Tallinn and Narva, with visits to classes being delivered in Estonian and discussions of the methodology involved in teaching subjects in Estonian. The course is being organised by the Open Mind Institute.

Training for teachers and subject coordinators from schools with Russian as the language of instruction and education officials

• Training will be held for teachers and subject coordinators from schools with Russian as the language of instruction on 6 February and on 28 and 29 February and for education officials and school management on 21 February. The courses will examine issues related to the transition to studies in Estonian. The training is being organised by Koolituse Korralduskeskus OÜ.

A short play competition has been launched for students from schools with Russian as the language of instruction. Students from years 7 to 12 are invited to submit short plays based on Estonian literature. Further information about the rules of the competition can be found at http://www.meis.ee/est/uudised/index.php?newsID=1540.

February will also see two excursions for journalists and students from schools with Russian as the language of instruction. Students from Tallinn schools will visit the Mustvee Russian High School, while those from schools in Ida-Viru County will visit Annelinna High School in Tartu. Discussions will be held during the visits regarding studies in Estonian, with experts from the Ministry of Education and Research taking part.

For further information please contact Ave Osman from the Administrative Unit of the Structural Funds.

“In-Service and Language Training for Non-Estonian Speaking Unemployed People” – 2007 in review

A number of training courses were organised in 2007 as part of the “In-Service and Language Training for Non-Estonian Speaking Unemployed People” project for unemployed speakers of languages other than in Estonian registered with the Harju and Ida-Viru County departments of the Labour Market Board.

Job search training was provided to 5 groups with a total of 66 participants; Estonian language training commenced with 7 groups, of which 5 – a total of 48 participants – completed the course; and the participants received vocational and psychological counselling on around 500 occasions.

The surveys carried out by the organisers of the training and the results of the language tests show that the participants acquired the necessary elementary knowledge and skills and improved their language skills.

As part of the project in 2007 the Non-Estonians Integration Foundation began working with SALO Baltic International OÜ, who provide job search training and professional and psychological counselling, and Edukool Grupp OÜ, who arrange Estonian language training. The project is supported by the European Social Fund and the Estonian Ministry of the Interior.

For further information please contact Riina Ring from the Administrative Unit of the Structural Funds.

ADDITIONAL STUDY & TEACHING MATERIALS

“How Cultural Differences are Construed in the Media”

The authors of these new media-based study and teaching materials believe that discussion in class as to why journalists present news and why readers, viewers and listeners in turn interpret news in different ways will lead to a better understanding of cultural diversity among students.

“How Cultural Differences are Construed in the Media,” a CD and booklet produced by the Centre for Education Programmes of the Non-Estonians Integration Foundation in association with the department of journalism and communication of the University of Tartu, is designed for high schools with Estonian and Russian as the languages of instruction.

The CD includes 6 examples and analysis of television news stories which will illustrate the way in which journalists play up an event. The authors of the material – Halliki Harro-Loit, Kristina Veidenbaum, Kadri Ugur, Valeria Jakobson and Mare Räis – also conducted an experiment in which they showed television news to students from high schools with Estonian and Russian as the language of instruction and looked at how those from different socio-cultural backgrounds and those with different knowledge, attitudes and experiences interpreted the same stories. The interviews conducted with them and analysis of the interviews is included among the study materials.

The authors hope that the chance to look at and compare how the people around them interpret everyday events and the news stories based on them will foster a deeper interest in the reasons for and effects of the differences found therein.
Teachers are also provided with methodological guidelines on working with their students to analyse the news and examine how it is received, as well as information on (television) news and reception theories.

The sample material encourages classes to look at the news as constructions; the differences in their own and other students’ interpretations; and how different background knowledge or a lack thereof can affect interpretation of the news.
The materials will be sent to regional educational offices at the beginning of February. The CDs and booklets will be distributed to schools free of charge.

For further information please contact: Toivo Sikk or Kristina Veidenbaum at the Centre for Educational Programmes.

COMPETITIONS

The Centre for Educational Programmes will be launching the following competitions in February:

“New immigrants in Estonian education institutions”

The competition is designed to support the teaching of new immigrant students in educational institutions with Estonian as the language of instruction. The acquisition of study materials, additional fees and in-service training for teachers, the salaries of support teachers and the organisation of events designed to meet the objectives of the competition shall be financed as part of it.

This year there will be two separate competitions: the first will provide support for the teaching of new immigrant children in kindergarten and the second for new immigrant students in general education schools.
For further information please contact: Külli Vollmer from the Centre for Educational Programmes.

“Studies of Estonian for Non-Estonian Speaking Children in Preschool Institutions”

The aim of this competition is to support the Estonian language studies in preschool institutions of children who speak languages other than Estonian as their native language. The operations of local governments and preschool institutions will be supported within the framework of the competition, as will the carrying out of teaching activities, the acquisition of study materials and resources, and the salaries and in-service training of teachers.

Information days will be held in Tallinn and Jõhvi in February. Further information is available from the website of the Integration Foundation: www.meis.ee.

For further information please contact Marje Sarapuu at the Centre for Educational Programmes.

DISPATCHES

Base financing training for accountants from national culture association and art collective umbrella organisations

On 15 November 2007 the Project Division of the Non-Estonians Integration Foundation held a training session on accounting for accountants from the umbrella organisations of national culture associations and art collectives. The rules and laws and regulating the accounting of non-profit organisations and foundations were discussed at the training session, as were the reporting requirements of the “Base Financing of National Minority Culture Associations” competition being organised by the Integration Foundation.

For further information please contact Iris Järv from the Project Unit.

Language immersion worksheets and teaching materials

The training course for compilers of Estonian language-based worksheets came to a conclusion on 30 November and 1 December. While support for language learning is already offered by the subject-based worksheets that are currently available, worksheets for targeted language learning remain few and far between. A dozen teachers of Estonian as a second language have obtained new computer skills and knowledge of Estonian-language teaching methodology and simple language rules and have entered into agreements on the format of worksheets. Those produced in the course of the training are available from the website of the Language Immersion Centre at www.kke.ee.

On the last day of the course on 1 December, the teachers of Estonian were joined by the authors of the language immersion teaching materials, teachers from schools with Russian as the language of instruction. Together they looked back on the development of teaching materials over the last 15 years for children with Russian as their home language, from a Russian-language alphabet book to materials for studying different subjects in Estonian.

For further information please contact Kai Võlli from the Language Immersion Centre.

5 years of language immersions in kindergartens

The 5th anniversary of the language immersion programme in kindergartens will be marked on 8 December. Nine kindergarten groups adopted the early immersion programme in 2003. Today 41 groups from 24 kindergartens are part of the programme. The birthday celebrations will be opened by Minister for Population Affairs Urve Palo. Attendees will be given an overview of the current state of the programme and of the challenges facing it in the future. Tallinn University will also be introducing its scientific study titled The Preparedness for School and School Performance of Pupils from Language Immersion Kindergartens at the 1st Stage of Study.

For further information please contact Svetlana Belova from the Language Immersion Centre.

Methodology training

Methodology training for teachers from the 2nd and 3rd stages of study will be held at Jüri Upper Secondary School on 6 and 7 December. 32 language immersion teachers are registered to take part. The training session will focus on the implementation of active learning methods in language immersion lessons, with the chance to compare and analyse such things as open classes.

For further information please contact Maire Kebbinau and Aivar Liivrand from the Language Immersion Centre.

Organisers of language courses for police officers and rescue workers announced

The tender competitions organised as part of the “Staff Excursions within Estonia for Language Practice” project in order to open additional groups for Estonian-language courses for police officers and rescue workers have been won by AS Kesk-Eesti Arenduskeskus and AS TEA Keeleõpetus.

The courses to be run by AS Kesk-Eesti Arenduskeskus in Ida-Viru County between December 2007 and April 2008 will involve a total of 75 rescue workers and police officers who speak languages other than Estonian. The courses to be run by TEA Keeleõpetus in Tallinn and Paldiski will be attended by 54 rescue workers and police officers. The aim of the courses is to improve the participants’ listening and speaking skills in Estonian and to prepare them for the basic, intermediate and advanced level state exams in the language.

Three stages of the course have been completed as part of the project since December 2005, with 127 police officer and rescue workers from Tallinn and Harju County and 158 from Ida-Viru County taking part. Anyone who participates in the course can, if they wish, be sent to police and rescue units in other districts of Estonia for 30 days of language practice. The project is being financed through the European Social Fund (measure 1.1) and the Estonian state budget.

For further information please contact Liilika Raudhein from the Administrative Unit of the Structural Funds.

News from the “Support for the Transition of Non-Estonian General Education Schools to Bilingual Studies” project:

• A training day will be held for teachers and teaching directors from schools with Russian as the language of instruction on 5 December on topics related to the transition to Estonian-language studies. The training is being organised by Koolituse Korralduskeskus OÜ.
• Training in the methodology of bilingual teaching for history teachers from schools with Russian as the language of instruction will be held on 3 December in Tallinn and 12 December in Narva.
• A state tender competition titled “The Publishing of History-Themed Teaching Materials” is to be launched.
• A competition is to be launched for Estonian literature-based plays for students from schools with Russian as the language of instruction. It is to be organised in association with the Ministry of Education and Research and the public relations firm Alfa-Omega Communications.

For further information please contact Ave Osman from the Administrative Unit of the Structural Funds.

Citizen’s Day Quiz launched

The 2007 Citizen’s Day Quiz will be held until 2 December. The Internet-based quiz, designed for school students, can be entered through our website at www.meis.ee.

The results of the quiz will be announced online on the same site on 10 December.

The Citizen’s Day Quiz, which is traditionally held around Citizen’s Day, is designed for students in years 7 to 12 from general schools with Estonian and Russian as the languages of instruction and students from vocational schools. Its purpose is to improve the students’ knowledge of the constitutional institutions of the Republic of Estonia, human and civil rights, freedoms and duties, and issues associated with the European Union. The quiz is in Estonian, with links to laws and other sources of information able to be used to some extent when answering the questions.

Winners will be named in six categories – students in years 7 to 9, secondary school students (years 10 to 12) and vocational school students from schools with Estonian as the language of instruction; and students in years 7 to 9, secondary school students and vocational school students from schools with Russian as the language of instruction. Prizes will also be awarded to the schools with the largest number of participants. The winners will receive their prizes in January 2008. In previous years an average of 3000 students have taken part in the Citizen’s Day Quiz each time, and active involvement is expected this year too.

The quiz questions will also be able to be used as teaching materials once the quiz is over.

For further information please contact Toivo Sikk at the Centre for Educational Programmes.

“How Cultural Differences are Construed in the Media” teaching material completed

Additional teaching material titled “How Cultural Differences are Construed in the Media” supports social, media, native language, people, history and foreign language studies, providing students with the opportunity to understand how cultural differences (including opposing views and misinterpretations) are produced and reproduced through analysis of media material. The central focus is on television news (with newspaper news also included to a lesser extent).
The teaching material is to be issued on CD and is designed for the 3rd and 4th stages of school study. A seminar introducing the materials will be held in December.

The working group convened to develop the materials was led by Kristina Veidenbaum.

For further information please contact Toivo Sikk at the Centre for Educational Programmes.

CONCLUDED COMPETITIONS

National Culture Society project competition

The aim of the competition is to support the preservation of the language and culture of ethnic minorities through the activities of national culture societies and art collectives.

The projects submitted needed to accord with one of the following topics:

1. extending the knowledge of national minority culture associations and informing Estonian society of the activities such societies;
2. acknowledgement of the multicultural nature of Estonia and the introduction of the aspects of the cultures of national minorities to Estonian society via cultural projects aimed at the public (public events, lectures, exhibitions, seminars, TV and radio programmes, leaflets, etc.);
3. developing cooperation between the cultural societies of national minorities.

The total amount of grants is 350,000 kroons, with 13 projects receiving funding.

For further information please contact Kristina Pirgop from the Project Unit.

DISPATCHES

Non-Estonians Integration Foundation and Eesti Ekspressi Kirjastuse AS enter into agreement for publication of study materials series and four handbooks

Eesti Ekspressi Kirjastuse AS has begun publication of the textbooks and handbooks of the Universities of Tallinn and Tartu designed to support Estonian studies in Russian-language vocational schools. The series includes study materials for Estonian business language in ten subjects. Tiina Kikerpill from the University of Tartu and Elle Sõrmus and Kristi Saarso from the University of Tallinn were involved in the development of the handbooks. The first handbook to be published, about the teaching of business language in vocational education institutions, will appear in December.
Spring 2008 will see the publication of both Estonian and Russian-language handbooks on the organisation of Estonian-language studies in vocational education institutions. The teachers from these institutions are the authors of the handbook on Estonian business language subjects, which is also due for publication in spring.

The materials to be published will be primarily used by teachers of Estonian as a second language in Russian-language and bilingual vocational schools, as well as other subject teachers and students and by people generally connected to the field of education. All of the study materials developed as part of the project will also be available from spring as e-learning materials on the Internet.

The Development of Estonian-Language Studies and Learning Materials in Vocational Schools with Other Teaching Languages project is being carried out in order to implement measure 1.1 of the European Social Fund in Estonia.

For further information please contact Helena Metslang from the Administrative Unit of the Structural Funds.

News from the Support for the Transition of Non-Estonian General Education Schools to Bilingual Studies project:

1. A seminar-camp for history teachers from schools with Estonian and Russian as the languages of instruction was held during the autumn school holidays. Its aims were to give Russian-speaking teachers the chance to practise their Estonian and actively involve themselves in the language environment, as well as to promote cooperation opportunities between Estonian and Russian-speaking teachers through discussion of relevant education issues.
2. The second day of a training series designed for directors of schools with Russian as the language of instruction will be held in the Dzingel Hotel on 8 November. The theme for the day will be the transition to Estonian-language studies. The training is being organised by Koolituse Korralduskeskus OÜ in association with the Integration Foundation and the Ministry of Education and Research.
3. The second cycle of the series of seminars on turning points in Estonia’s history designed for history teachers from schools with Russian as the language of instruction will be held from 19 to 21 November. The seminars are being organised by the Open Mind Institute in association with the Integration Foundation and the Ministry of Education and Research.
4. On 12 and 13 November excursions to Palamuse will be held for school students from schools in Ida-Viru County to visit the Oskar Luts Parish School Museum, while students from Russian-language schools in Tallinn and Harju County will be taken on field trips to Vargamäe on 14 and 15 November. The goals of these excursions are to involve the students in active and entertaining pursuits and to educate them, through Estonian literature, on the future and positive influence of bilingualism. The trips are being organised by Alfa-Omega Communications in association with the Integration Foundation and the Ministry of Education and Research.
5. A trip is planned to Mustvee at the end of November for journalists and others interested in visiting schools with Russian as the language of instruction and meeting education specialists. The trip is being organised by Alfa-Omega Communications in association with the Integration Foundation and the Ministry of Education and Research.

For further information please contact Ave Osman from the Administrative Unit of the Structural Funds.

Training begins for unemployed speakers of other languages

The second half of October saw the launch course as part of the In-Service and Language Training for the Non-Estonian Speaking Unemployed project for 120 unemployed speakers of other languages found through the Harjumaa and Ida-Virumaa Departments of the Labour Market Board.

Within the framework of the project, the Non-Estonians Integration Foundation has begun working with SALO Baltic International OÜ, who are providing job search training and professional and psychological counselling, and Edukool Grupp OÜ, who are arranging Estonian language training.

Two groups have commenced job search training and there are three Estonian-language study groups. The courses are being held from October 2007 to May 2008. Anyone still interested in taking part is asked to contact their local department of the Labour Market Board.

For further information please contact Riina Ring from the Administrative Unit of the Structural Funds.

The Advice in Support of the Professional Development of Teachers advisor training programme

The Advice in Support of the Professional Development of Teachers advisor training programme ordered by the Non-Estonians Integration Foundation’s Language Immersion Centre will come to an end in November. A total of 48 language immersion programme candidate advisors have taken part in the 80-hour training course. Over three sessions they examined the principles of advice and counselling and practised creating contacts, actively listening, observing and much more. The home assignments between sessions helped the participants prepare to guide their colleagues in thinking more deeply about their work and finding new solutions without being directly advised.

The training is being carried out by Ene Kulasalu, Ene Velström and Koidu Tani-Jürisoo from the Open Mind Institute.

For further information please contact Marju Randlepp from the Language Immersion Centre.

Immersion methodology training for teachers of Russian

Immersion methodology courses for teachers of Russian will continue in November. The training will take place in accordance with the language immersion methodology curriculum. The courses are to be carried out by trainers from the Language Immersion Centre.

For further information please contact Maire Kebbinau from the Language Immersion Centre.

Strategies for Recruiting and Holding on to Teachers: the annual conference of the language immersion programme

The annual conference of the language immersion programme, Strategies for Recruiting and Holding on to Teachers, will be held at the National Library on 22 and 23 November. The speakers will present a number of ways in which teachers can be recruited and held on to. Sharing their own experiences will be guest speakers from Latvia and Spain. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss their experiences and set out their proposals for forming strategies at the levels of individual institutes, local government, the language immersion programme and nationally to recruit and hold on to teachers.

The title ‘Friend of the Language Immersion Programme 2007’ will be awarded at the conference: an honorary title for work done in influencing the development of the language immersion programme during the year or in previous years.
The conference is being organised by Koolituse Korralduskeskus OÜ in association with the Language Immersion Centre.

For further information please contact Marju Randlepp from the Language Immersion Centre.

In-service training for class teachers

The fifth module of in-service training for class teachers from general education schools with Estonian as the language of instruction who are involved in teaching new immigrant students will take place from 13 to 15 November with a trip to Finland. Native language lessons for immigrant children – in Albanian, Arabic, English, Mandarin, French, German, Somali, Thai, Estonian, Farsi and Kurdish – will be visited, as well as adapting classes and ordinary lessons involving these students. The latter will primarily examine the work of support teachers. The trip will take the teachers to schools in Kirkkojärve, Keski-Espoo, Katajanoka, Roihuvuori, Pirkkaanpuisto and Ruusutorppa. One of the events they will participate in is the annual meeting in Espoo of teachers of children who speak other languages. The six study sessions that make up the training course are being run by the University of Tartu, with 25 teachers taking part. The project is being led by Kadri Sõrmus.

For further information please contact Külli Vollmer from the Centre for Educational Programmes.

Seminar for class teachers

A seminar for class teachers who are involved in the teaching of new immigrant students will be held on 29 and 30 November in Jõhvi Concert Hall and Mäetaguse Manor. A visit will also be made to Mäetaguse Elementary School, where studies are carried out in both Estonian and Russian. The seminar will introduce study materials that support the language and cultural studies of new immigrant children.

For further information and registration please contact Külli Vollmer from the Centre for Educational Programmes.

Free national training

All those who wish to be naturalised as Estonian citizens are invited to take part in the November preparation courses for the constitution and citizenship exam. NB! Courses are free for all participants! Information and registration is available from the free information line 800 9999 and at advisory centres. Advisors can also provided more detailed information about the terms and conditions of and procedure for applying for citizenship.

Advisory centres are open at the following addresses:

Tallinn, Tõnismägi 2
BDA Estonia OÜ rooms
Advisor Reet Valing
Telephone: 627 4412

Open in November on working days at the following times:

• 1 November 12.00 pm-4.00 pm
• 6 November 10.00 am-12.00 pm
• 9 November 2.00 pm-4.00 pm
• 13 November 10.00 am-12.00 pm
• 16 November 2.00 pm-4.00 pm

Jõhvi, Tartu mnt 2
Kersti Võlu Training Centre
Advisor Kersti Võlu
Telephone: 800 9999
Open Monday-Friday 10.00 am-4.00 pm.

Narva, Kerese 14
Eesti Kodu Narvas
Advisor Maritsa Ort
1st floor, room 118
Telephone: 356 1985
Open Monday-Friday 10.00 am-4.00 pm.

Further information about courses and the terms and conditions for applying for citizenship are available from www.meis.ee/kodanik.

CURRENT COMPETITIONS

Estonian-Language Courses for Police Officers and Rescue Workers in Tallinn and Paldiski tender

The aim of this tender is to organise Estonian-language courses for police officers and rescue workers in Tallinn and Paldiski as part of the European Social Fund’s Staff Excursions within Estonia for Language Practice project.

The deadline for submission of applications is 8 November 2007 at 11.00 am.

Estonian-Language Courses for Police Officers and Rescue Workers in Ida-Viru County tender

The aim of this tender is to organise Estonian-language courses for police officers and rescue workers in Ida-Viru County as part of the European Social Fund’s Staff Excursions within Estonia for Language Practice project.

The deadline for submission of applications is 8 November 2007 at 11.00 am.

Simplified public tender ordering bilingual and Russian-language television programmes

The result of this tender will be the production of a series of television programmes supporting the integration of non-Estonians within an open, democratic and multicultural Estonian society. The aim of the series of programmes is to create a stronger shared space and active and positive dialogue between the Estonian- and Russian-speaking communities in the country.

The deadline for submission of applications is 9 November 2007 at 11.00 am.

Preparatory Courses for the Examination Testing Knowledge of the Law tender

The aim of this tender is to carry out preparatory courses for at least 1200 applicants for citizenship.
Legal entities who have experience in carrying out large-scale training and working with the target group are invited to take part in the tender. Private individuals may not participate.

The deadline for submission of applications is 19 November 2007 at 11.00 am.

DISPATCHES

The following agreements were entered into with new partners as part of the “Support for the transition of schools with a language other than Estonian as the language of instruction to bilingual studies” project:

1. Training related to the partial transition to Estonian-language studies for managers and teachers from schools with Russian as the language of instruction and education officials and seminar camps for history and geography teachers from schools with Estonian and Russian as the languages of instruction will be organised by Koolitus Korralduskeskus OÜ. Training for school managers and teachers and education officials will deal with possibilities and issues related to the transition to bilingual studies, the production of development plans, the supervision of bilingual studies and cooperation between schools. The aim of the seminar camps is to give Russian-speaking teachers the chance to practise Estonian and to promote cooperation between teachers from Estonian-language and Russian-language schools. In addition to seminar work, the training and camps will also include school visits and/or excursions.
2. The training series based on Estonian history and bilingual subjects for history teachers from schools with Russian as the language of instruction will be carried out by the Individual School Development Centre’s Open Mind Institute. The goal of the series of lectures examining seminal points in Estonian history is to improve awareness of Estonian history among history teachers from schools with Russian as the language of instruction and to increase the opportunities for study work to be organised outside of the school (each seminar including at least two field trips – to museums, archives et al). The goal of bilingual subject methodology training is to raise teachers’ awareness of the methodology involved in bilingual subject teaching and to improve the opportunities they have to implement it in their work. Methodology training will include lesson visits alongside seminar work.
3. Russian-language study materials related to turning points in Estonian history will be developed for schools with Russian as the language of instruction by a team of authors from Argo publishers. Two different sets of material are being prepared: an anthology of source materials illustrating these important moments in the country’s history (for students) and an anthology of translated history-themed texts (for teachers). The anthology of source materials illustrating the seminal events in Estonia’s history is designed to be additional material for schools with Russian as the language of instruction so as to support Russian-speaking students’ studies of Estonian, European and world history. The anthology will include source extracts, illustrative material and exercises. The anthology of translated history-themed texts is designed for teachers and will include, amongst other things, methodology notes alongside the history-themed materials.
4. Information activities regarding the transition to partial Estonian-language studies will be organised by Alfa-Omega Communications OÜ. As part of information activities, journalistic materials and leaflets dealing with questions related to the transition will be compiled and published; information events will be arranged for students from schools in Tallinn and Ida-Viru County; introductory excursions for journalists and other interested parties will be organised; a conference on bilingual education will be held; and a national competition of students’ work will be run (a play contest based on Estonian literature subjects).

For further information please contact Ave Osman from the Administrative Unit of the Structural Funds.

Advisor training programme: “Advice in support of the professional development of teachers”

The “Advice in support of the professional development of teachers” advisor training programme ordered by the Language Immersion Centre continues. A total of 48 language immersion programme candidate advisors are taking part in three groups. The training is being carried out by Ene Kulasalu, Ene Velström and Koidu Tani-Jürisoo from the Open Mind Institute.

For further information please contact Marju Randlepp from the Language Immersion Centre

Teacher training: “The teacher’s role as an authority figure”

A training session titled “The teacher’s role as an authority figure” will be held for the first teachers from language immersion pilot schools on 11 and 12 October. It is designed to raise teachers’ awareness of their role in the school and to gain new ideas for their everyday work. The training session will be carried out by Ene Kulasalu from the Open Mind Institute.

For further information please contact Maire Kebbinau from the Language Immersion Centre

In-service training for kindergarten teachers

From 15 to 17 October, the Centre for Educational Programmes, in association with education officials from Finland, will be organising a field trip for kindergarten teachers to Finland. The trip is designed to introduce the participants to the Finnish education system, including the programmes that have been implemented in order to integrate children who speak other languages into education establishments. During the field trip the teachers will visit schools and kindergartens in Central Espoo and take part in English, Russian and Estonian lessons. At Ruusutorppa school they will see how teaching works with immigrants in their native language, among them Arabic, Mandarin and Somali. The training will be attended by 25 teachers from both Estonian and Russian-language kindergartens, and five education officials.

For further information please contact Marje Sarapuu at the Centre for Educational Programmes

Kindergarten directors in Finland

From 17 to 19 October, directors of language immersion kindergartens and representatives of local governments will be visiting Finland. The aim of the trip is to find out what experiences Finland has had in the area of language immersion. There will be meetings with kindergarten carers, teachers and education officials and visits to the Finnish Board of Education and language immersion kindergartens and schools.

For further information please contact Svetlana Belova from the Language Immersion Centre

Training for teachers of social studies

A two-day study trip titled “In the footsteps of famous fighters” will be held on 6 and 7 October for history and social studies teachers, during which visits will be made to a range of historical sites in southern Estonia and northern Latvia associated with Estonia’s War of Independence. Commenting on the war will be Ago Pajur. There are plans for 90 Estonian and Russian-speaking pedagogues to take part in the training.

For further information please contact Toivo Sikk at the Centre for Educational Programmes

In-service training for class teachers

The fourth module of in-service training for class teachers from general education schools with Estonian as the language of instruction who are involved in teaching new immigrant students will take place on 29 and 30 October. The six study sessions that make up the training course will be run by the University of Tartu and be attended by 25 teachers.
Lecturers and subjects:
Kristina Praakli – Support studies and Appraisals;
Madis Arukask – Cultural differences;
Meeme Liivak – Singing games in language and cultural studies;
Hiie Asser – Producing individual curriculums;
There will also be lesson visits in October in schools with new immigrant students.

For further information please contact Külli Vollmer from the Centre for Educational Programmes

In-service training for teachers of Estonian as a second language

From 30 October to 1 November, the autumn school will be held in Pärnu for teachers of Estonian as a second language from general education schools with Russian as the language of instruction. During the course the teachers will receive additional methodology training. 40 teachers will be attending the course.

For further information please contact Evelin Müüripeal and Tiina Kuurmaa at the Centre for Educational Programmes

Presentation of the “New immigrants in Estonian education institutions” survey

The presentation of the “New immigrants in Estonian education institutions” survey will take place in the Tartu Catholic School on 30 October. The aims of the survey were to analyse the readiness of local administration and the possibilities of the region to integrate the children of new immigrants into the Estonian education system. The survey was financed by the European Union through the European Refugee Fund and the Ministry of Education and Research and carried out by OÜ Mindpark. The survey is available from the website of the Integration Foundation.

For further information please contact Külli Vollmer from the Centre for Educational Programmes

New study materials

The manuscript for the fourth publication in the Nationalities in Estonia series of booklets designed for basic schools will be completed in October and introduce students to the culture and traditions of the Uzbeks. The booklet will be published in winter 2007 and be distributed to every school and library in Estonia. Its authors are Sulfia Nurmanova, Lola Sahnibnazarova and Ita Serman.
The previous three booklets in the series, which featured Lithuanians, Kazaks and Russians, are available from the website of the Integration Foundation.

For further information please contact Evelin Müüripeal at the Centre for Educational Programmes

Estonian language courses begin again after the summer break as part of the European Social Fund project “Reducing the risk of unemployment among youth who speak other languages”

29 people began studying Estonian again in three groups in Tallinn on 3 September. Courses began in Narva on 10 September, with 22 young people taking part in two groups. The courses are 120 hours in length. The next groups will begin their studies in the second half of October.

For further information please contact Daisi Sprenk from the Administrative Unit of the Structural Funds.

Free courses

Free preparatory courses for constitution and citizenship examinations continue to be provided. The courses will be held on the following dates in October and November:

• Tallinn:
  15-24.10.2007, Tallinna Tõnismäe Reaalkool (25 hours, evening times)
  27.10.2007 (5 hours, Saturday)
  19-28.11.2007 (25 hours, evening times)
• Jõhvi:
  15-24.10.2007, Kersti Võlu Koolituskeskus (25 hours, evening times)
  27.10.2007, Kersti Võlu Koolituskeskus (5 hours, Saturday)
  19-28.11.2007 (25 hours, evening times)
• Narva:
  15-24.10.2007, Eesti Kodu Narvas (25 hours, evening times)
  19-28.11.2007 (25 hours, evening times)

You can enrol for courses free of charge by phoning 800 9999 or at the Kersti Võlu Koolituskeskus, Tartu mnt 2, Jõhvi; Eesti Kodu Narvas, Kerese 14 (room 118), Narva; and BDA Estonia, Tõnismägi 2, Tallinn

Further information about courses is available from www.meis.ee/kodanik.

CONCLUDED COMPETITIONS

Estonian language courses for pedagogues from educational institutions in Ida-Viru and Harju Counties with Russian as the language of work and instruction

The goal was to organise Estonian language courses for 350 pedagogues from educational institutions in Ida-Viru and Harju Counties with Russian as the language of work and instruction in order to improve the level of their skills in the national language.
As a result of the tender, the training is being organised in Harju County by OÜ Sugesto and in Ida-Viru County by the non-profit organisation Open Education Union’s Kohtla-Järve Study Centre.

For further information please contact Ave Szymanel from the Project Unit

Round 2 of base financing of national minority culture societies

The main aims of the competition were to increase people’s awareness of the multicultural nature of Estonia, to introduce the unique cultures of different national minorities, to increase knowledge of national minority cultures and to inform Estonian society of the activities of the cultural societies of national minorities.
The activities of 63 cultural society projects are being supported to a total of 1.4 million kroons.

For further information please contact Iris Järv from the Project Unit

CURRENT COMPETITIONS

Ordering of bilingual and Russian-language television series

The aim of this tender is to produce a series of at least 10 episodes which will create a stronger shared space and active and positive dialogue between groups speaking different languages in Estonia.
The tender will be launched at the start of October 2007.

For further information please contact Lianne Ristikivi from the Project Unit

DISPATCHES

In-service training of National Culture Society Sunday school teachers in the motherland

Summer saw the end of a project competition designed to support the in-service training of national culture society Sunday school teachers in their ethnic homelands. The competition funds the cost of a course, the acquisition of literature and study materials in the native language and travel costs.

Eleven teachers from six different national culture society Sunday schools received grants through the competition. Support for in-service training was issued to Ukrainians (two schools), Armenians, Azeris, Chuvashis and the Dagestan Cultural Association.

The total amount of the grants came to 608,039 kroons.

For further information please contact Evelin Müüripeal at the Centre for Educational Programmes.

Improvements in access to youth-related data

In order to ensure the better availability of youth-related data, the new version of the Estonian Youth Institute’s website will be completed in September in association with the Centre for Educational Programmes of the Non-Estonians’ Integration Foundation, as a result of which:

1. existing information will be systematised;
2. the central information base will be updated, including the database of studies;
3. access to youth-related information will become quicker and more convenient for users.

The new site will feature information about everything related to youth. For example, how many young people are studying and where they are studying, the kind of interest areas they can be involved in, and the contact details of youth advisory centres. Information is available in both Estonian and Russian.

For further information please contact Toivo Sikk at the Centre for Educational Programmes.

Estonian language courses for 130 vocational school teachers and directors come to an end in Tallinn and Ida-Viru County

The 240-hour courses were held at the Ontika Training Centre of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation and at Multilingua Language Centre. The courses focussed on professional language, general communication training and Estonian culture. In addition to everyday language lessons, participants were also given practice in teaching their subjects in Estonian, with mathematics, plastering and aerobics proving very popular! It emerged that many of the ‘students’ knew nothing of the more intriguing details of their colleagues’ work. The groups from Ida-Viru County were particularly satisfied with the main test of their communicative language: the study day held at the Tartu Vocational Education Centre, during which the teachers were able to form contacts and share experiences for the first time with Estonian colleagues. They were also very pleased with their cultural field trips to Palamuse, the Lahemaa tourism farm, the open air museum and other places. Such a connection with Estonian culture gave the participants in the project a lot of self-confidence and represents a very positive stimulus for language learning.

126 teachers and staff from vocational schools successfully completed and were certified for the course. They were from the Narva Vocational Studies Centre, Sillamäe Vocational School, Tallinn Building School, Tallinn Kopli Professional School, Tallinn Lasnamäe Mechanics School, the Tallinn School of Service, Tallinn Transport School, the Tallinn Industrial Education Centre and the Ida-Viru County Vocational Education Centre.

For further information please contact Helena Metslang from the Administrative Unit of the Structural Funds.

Training of language immersion programme advisors

The Non-Estonians’ Integration Foundation continues to train advisors from the Language Immersion Centre as part of the ‘Advice in Support of the Professional Development of Teachers’ programme. Six training days will be held in September in two-day cycles for three groups. A total of 48 candidate advisors for the language immersion programme will take part. In the future they will support and advise language immersion teachers in schools throughout Estonia.
The training sessions will be carried out by Ene Kulasalu, Ene Velström and Koidu Tani-Jürisoo from the Open Mind Institute.

For further information please contact Marju Randlepp from the Language Immersion Centre.

Excursion to Latvia for parents of children in the Language Immersion Programme

From 27 to 29 September, 25 members of the Language Immersion Programme’s Parents Association will have the chance to learn more about the experiences of Latvian schools with bilingual studies. Meetings with parents, teachers and education officials are planned along with visits to the Daugavpils bilingual education centre and kindergartens and schools in Riga.

Organisation of the excursion is being financially supported by the Ministry of Education and Research.

For further information please contact Svetlana Belova from the Language Immersion Centre.

In-service training of teachers of Estonian as a second language

A training day for teachers of Estonian as a second language in Russian-language kindergartens entitled ‘Good Kid, Impossible Behaviour?!’ will be held in Tallinn on 10 September and in Kohtla-Järve on 12 September. A range of topics will be looked at during the day, including the emotional nature of children, ‘difficult’ children as inspiration for the personal and professional development of teachers and bilingual children. The trainer is Viktoria Saat.

For further information please contact Külli Vollmer at the Centre for Educational Programmes

In-service training for class teachers

A field trip to Greece will take place from 15 to 21 September for educational officials, trainers, school directors and class teachers who deal with new immigrant pupils. The trip is designed to introduce the participants to the Greek education system and to the teaching of immigrants in kindergartens and schools. Greece was chosen as an example country because of the multicultural background of the children that must be integrated into its education system.

For further information please contact Külli Vollmer from the Centre for Educational Programmes.

Free national training

Free preparatory courses for constitution and citizenship examinations continue to be held for individuals with undefined citizenship status. Information and registration is available from the free information line 800 9999 and at advisory centres.

The addresses of these advisory centres changed in August. They are now located at:

Tallinn, Tõnismägi 2
BDA Estonia OÜ rooms, adviser Reet Valing
Telephone: 627 4412
Open Monday-Friday 10.00 am to 2.00 pm.

Jõhvi, Tartu mnt 2
Kersti Võlu Training Centre, adviser Kersti Võlu
Telephone: 800 9999
Open Monday-Friday 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.

Narva, Kerese 14
Estonian House in Narva, adviser Marista Ort
1st floor, room 118
Telephone: 356 1985
Open Monday-Friday 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.

Further information about courses and the terms and conditions for applying for citizenship are available from www.meis.ee/kodanik.

ONGOING COMPETITIONS

Project competition for national cultural societies

The aim of the competition is to support the preservation of the culture and language of ethnic minorities through the activities of national cultural societies and arts groups.

The deadline for submitting applications is 19 September, 2007 at 4 pm.

Open competition for integration projects

The aim of the applications to be submitted to the competition should be to support integration activities that meet the objectives of the program “Integration in Estonian Society 2000-2007” and the Articles of the Non-Estonians Integration Foundation.

The deadline for submitting applications is 2 October, 2007 at 4 pm.