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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
