Partial Transition to Teaching Subjects in Estonian

Development of teaching subjects in Estonian in Russian schools supports the education policy of the Republic of Estonia, which also stipulates the start of the transition to bilingual secondary school education from 2007. The transition does not concern vocational schools and private secondary schools.

The transition to teaching subjects in Estonian is coordinated by the Ministry of Education and Research.

The Ministry of Education and Research has defined five subjects for transition to teaching in Estonian from 1 September 2007. The subjects that will be taught in Estonian are Estonian literature, social studies, geography, music and history of Estonia. In addition to this, transition will also occur in two subjects selected by schools.

The transition will start with the teaching of one subject in Estonian. Pursuant to Regulation 170 of the Government of the Republic from 07.06.2007, Estonian literature in the 10th grade will be taught in Estonian in 2007. One more subject will be added in each subsequent school year.

In cooperation with the Ministry, the Integration Foundation will conduct several large-scale projects that support teaching subjects in Estonian.

Transition to bilingual studies is supported by the Language Immersion Programme, because immersion as a method of learning in a different language has already been adopted by one-third of Russian-language schools.

More than 1000 teachers of Russian-language schools have taken part in the Estonian language training organised by the Foundation in the last two years.

14 dictionaries meant for seventh to ninth year students can be used in the dictionary portal http://keeleveeb.edu.ee/. The web version is based on the glossaries created upon the order of the Ministry of Education and Research, which in addition to an explanation in Estonian also offers a translation of the term into Russian and the main case endings. Printed versions of the dictionaries were sent to all Russian-language schools.

The Internet-based language learning environment eFant.ee (www.efant.ee) comprises 30 reading and 30 listening tests at three different levels of difficulty. The aim of the tests is to measure the level of the taker’s Estonian studies and to provide feedback. There are around 10 exercises attached to each test, with fewer at lower levels and more at higher levels. The site boasts a total of 600 exercises based on the level tests in reading and listening produced by the state language examination committee.

The Integration Foundation has organised several retraining courses for subject teachers of Russian schools, who have thereafter started teaching their subjects in Estonian. In-service training is offered to subject teachers who are acquiring bilingual teaching skills in association with their subjects. Relevant courses for teachers of history, Estonian literature, geography and music are organised by the University of Tartu, Tallinn University and Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre within the framework of the Foundation’s project.