Integration Foundation is inviting people who speak Estonian as their mother tongue or other fluent Estonian-speakers to register as voluntary mentors to help Estonian language learners practice their spoken language by conversing with them via online channels or over the phone.
‘The purpose of the Language Friends programme ‘Keelesõber’ is to provide Estonian language learners further opportunities for practising communicating in Estonian and to encourage them to use the language on a daily basis. Within the two years after launching, the programme has brought together 1,837 language friends: 979 language learners have been able to hone their language skills with the help of 858 voluntary mentors. We are once again inviting volunteers to contribute to the programme – language learners are looking forward to the opportunity to talk to you in Estonian,’ said Ave Landrat, head of the Language Friends Programme of the Integration Foundation.
Voluntary Estonian language mentors are tasked with interacting with one of the language learners in Estonian once or twice a week on various different everyday topics via online channels or over the phone. No previous teaching experience is required.
The leaders of the Language Friends Programme of the Integration Foundation collect the details of the mentors and language learners, help them with getting in contact with one another, and instruct on which conversation formats to choose and how to conduct the conversation.
You will be able to specify your preferences and possibilities for supporting the language learners on the registration form on the website of the Integration Foundation.
The foundation will start registering those interested in learning the language with the help of the Language Friends Programme on 10 February. Matching of the language friends will begin on Valentine’s Day, 14 February.
