Starting from 2009 people who have studied Estonian can apply for a refund
In January 2009 a new activity “Refunding Estonian Language Learning Fees” financed under the European Social Fund’s “Language Studies Development 2007-2010” program will be implemented. It means that every person who does not apply for citizenship or has not been sent to the language examination by the Language Inspectorate can apply for the refund of language studies fees.
To get a refund, the person must have taken language courses in an institution granted with an education licence and must have passed the Estonian language proficiency examination at A2, B1, B2 or C1 level as set in the Common European Framework of References for Languages. The tuition fee paid for learning Estonian will be refunded to each person in the maximum amount of 6,000 kroons per proficiency examination passed with positive results.
In order to apply for a refund one has to submit an application form with documents proving the payment of tuition fees to the National Examination and Qualification Centre for verification. Next the application and expense receipts will be forwarded to the Integration Foundation and it will pay the refund to the applicant’s bank account.
Further information on refund terms and conditions will soon be available on the websites of the Integration Foundation at www.meis.ee and the National Examination and Qualification Centre at www.ekk.edu.ee.
For further information please contact: Merlin Mägi, Lifelong Learning Unit
Professional language learning kits for vocational schools under way
The Integration Foundation has closed a public service contract with Pro Lab Group OÜ for compiling professional language learning kits for vocational educational institutions.
The object of the contract is to develop professional Estonian language learning kits for non-Estonian students of vocational educational institutions who will qualify as electricians or pastry chefs. The study kits will advance the students’ professional language proficiency and will support vocational schools graduates whose native language is not Estonian in taking their professional examination in Estonian and finding a job in an Estonian-speaking environment.
There will be a video (study videos for learning professional language), plus an electronic part (interactive textbook and workbook) as well as printed materials (textbook and workbook) and an electronic teacher’s book complied for every learning kit.
The learning kits will be ready by December 2010 and are designed to be used in the classes of Estonian as a second language and/or in the classes of professional Estonian language to teach electricians and pastry chefs.
For further information please contact: Reet Kallo, Lifelong Learning Unit
New training events for vocational school teachers
The Integration Foundation launched a cooperation project with the BDA Consulting LLC to draw up a 4 CP in-service training program for vocational schools teachers, compile study materials and arrange countrywide training courses. The aim of the training is to inform the participants of the possibilities of connecting professional studies with language learning, e-learning, development of language skills and to prepare teachers for traineeship in the vocational educational institution where the language of instruction is different from their own school.
The training events are meant for professional subject teachers as well as for general subject teachers and are scheduled to commence in February 2009.
For further information please contact: Kristina Johannes, Lifelong Learning Unit
The 3-session training for teachers who teach in another language to start soon
There will be a briefing held on 20 January in Tallinn that will give an overview of integrated subject and language teaching, present the good practice of learning in Estonian based on the example of the Language Immersion Program and introduce the principles of advising to support teachers’ professional development. The briefing will be an introduction to the 3-session training of teachers who teach in another language.
For further information please contact: Maire Kebbinau, Multicultural Education Unit
Estonian language learning kit to nursery schools almost finished
The national curriculum of preschool child care institutions establishes that every child whose domestic language is not Estonian should learn it starting from the age of three. The Integration Foundation has arranged for the Estonian language learning kit to be compiled to support non-Estonian preschool child care institutions in organising the Estonian language studies for children aged from 3 to 7. The Estonian language learning kit includes 4 CDs with children’s song recordings in Estonian, series of pictures to illustrate the songs and a teacher’s book. The project is funded by the Ministry of Education and Research.
The Estonian language learning kit will reach non-Estonian nursery schools and kindergartens in the autumn of 2009.
For further information please contact: Ave Härsing, Multicultural Education Unit
Language Immersion Program to develop further
The advisors of teachers will meet in Tallinn from 15 to 16 January. The agenda will focus on the tasks arising from the advisory activities concept of the Language Immersion Program and on planning activities for 2009. The DISC training that was first provided in the summer of 2008 will continue. The training will be delivered by Avatud Meele Instituut and Inscape.
For further information please contact: Made Pandis, Multicultural Education Unit
On 6 January the Multicultural Education Unit and the Narva College of the University of Tartu will organise an event for sharing experiences in language immersion. Presentations will be given by the representatives of stakeholders and there will be workshops held on how to support learners, increase performance and promote cooperation.
For further information please contact: Maire Kebbinau, Multicultural Education Unit
From 9 to 10 January there will be a seminar held in Tallinn for the educators of early language immersion program in nursery schools to summarise the activities in 2008, discuss the training needs in 2009 and plan measures to support nursery school teachers. The seminar will be attended by 12 educators from Tallinn, Jõhvi, Sillamäe, Kohtla-Järve and Narva.
For further information please contact: Svetlana Belova, Multicultural Education Unit
New training courses for youth workers who work in multicultural environment
The training aims at improving the skills of existing and future youth workers on the methods of intercultural learning, on how to work with young people in a multicultural working environment (that includes people of different linguistic and cultural backgrounds) and foster the integration of young people – including people from third countries and without citizenship – to European and Estonian society. The target group consists of 40 youth workers and 40 youth work students. The training will comprise 40 hours of studies and a field trip to a European country.
The training will be provided by University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy.
The project is funded by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-country Nationals that was established under the European Union’s framework programme “Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows” and by the State Chancellery.
For further information please contact: Silver Pramann, Culture and Youth Work Unit
“The Future City game” in Lasnamäe District
On 16 and 17 January the Future City game that is supported by the European Social Fund and the Ministry of Education and Research will take place in the Lasnamäe District. The method was developed by the British Council and is designed to involve local residents in the development of local community. Young people whose native languages may be different will seek feasible solutions to current social issues with the town officials.
For further information please contact: Lianne Ristikivi, Culture and Youth Work Unit
COMPETITIONS
Simplified open tender for “Activities in support of the professional Estonian language learning and traineeship in the Estonian language working environment”
The aim of the procurement is to prepare the students who are trained to work as shop assistants, hairdressers, beauticians, chefs or waiters and waitresses as well as adults working in these specialities to take their Level 1 language proficiency examination in Estonian. For this purpose, the tenderer has to arrange the courses of professional Estonian language lasting for 120 academic hours and support the learners’ traineeship in Estonian-speaking working environment.
The training events will take place in Tallinn, Jõhvi and Narva from September 2009 to November 2010.
The tender competition is arranged under the “Language Studies Development 2007-2010” program (financed by the European Social Fund under the “Lifelong learning” priority axes of the “Operational Programme for Human Resources Development”; “Language Studies Development” action line).
The tender competition is open until 2 February 2009.
For further information please contact: Merlin Mägi, Lifelong Learning Unit
Simplified open tender for “Developing and piloting an adaptation program for adult third-country nationals”
The object of the procurement is to develop and pilot an adaptation program for third-country nationals so they integrate in Estonian society better. The procurement will be carried out by financial support provided by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-country Nationals that was established under the European Union’s framework programme “Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows.”
So far the activities that focused on the integration of third-country national were not coordinated centrally and tended to be project-based. In the coming years there will be measures developed and implemented to foster the more successful adaptation of third-country nationals.
The competition for submitting tenders for the development of the adaptation program is open until 26 January 2009.
For further information please contact: Riina Ring, Lifelong Learning Unit
New call for proposals for the organisation of additional Estonian language studies in vocational educational institutions
Vocational schools are invited to submit their proposals for the organisation of additional Estonian language studies to their students in the frames of “The Organisation of Additional Estonian Language Studies for Students Whose Native language Is Not Estonian” program. The aim is to ensure that as many vocational schools as possible can promote the learning of Estonian in different ways by particularly taking into account their students’ needs and possibilities. The study forms and costs are not pre-defined. Some schools might be more interested in preparatory courses, some in summer schools, some might want to improve their traineeship programs or integrate professional studies with language studies. All proposals are welcome!
Deadlines for proposals are 2 February and 31 March 2009.
One school can submit several proposals. It should be noted, however, that the sums specified in the budget are not to be paid to the school’s bank account – the Integration Foundation will order all necessary services instead.
Cooperation proposals should be submitted on a required form and forwarded to the Integration Foundation by e-mail by the specified time. Please find the proposal form and the description of the program activity at www.kutsekeel.ee.
For further information please contact: Edydt Johanson, Lifelong Learning Unit
Estonian language camp project competition
The project competition for the organisation of the 2009 language camps is still open. It is the first part of the two-part competition financed by the State Chancellery. The second part will be launched in spring 2009 along with the project competition for the organisation of family studies. Organisations who arrange youth camp exchanges and project camps are being invited to take part in the competition. Organisations supported in the first round will not be able to take part in the second round of applying (in spring 2009). Therefore programme-based projects that enable camp activities to be conducted all year around will be preferred.
The competition guidelines are available at the Integration Foundation’s website www.meis.ee.
Deadline for project applications is 28 January 2009.
For further information please contact: Lianne Ristikivi, Culture and Youth Work Unit
Project competition for “Activities promoting intercultural cooperation between young people”
The aim of the project competition is to support intercultural dialogue and inter-community contacts through youth work activities, which promote mutual cooperation between young people from Estonia, the European Union, third countries and of undefined citizenship. We are particularly interested in large-scale and long-term projects that focus on the cooperation and joint activities of young people from Estonia and of different native languages as well as cultural background, including young people with third country citizenships; target issues and areas that matter to the young; involve young people in youth work; deal with integration problems among the young and promote contacts and communication between young people in order to increase their tolerance and their awareness of equal opportunities.
We expect applications from NPOs, youth groups, youth centres, youth work organisations and local governments.
The competition guidelines are available at the Integration Foundation’s website www.meis.ee.
Deadline for project applications is 9 February 2009.
For further information please contact: Silver Pramann, Culture and Youth Work Unit
