The Tallinn summer school for Estonian teachers abroad

This time, Estonian language teachers abroad met in Estonia’s capital Tallinn, although trainings have been held across Estonia since 2006, when the University of Tartu began organising the summer days. This year, 55 participants registered and they came from all over the world with the exception of Australia. Canada, USA, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Belgium, France, Latvia, England, Hungary, Russia, Netherlands, and Luxembourg were represented.

For the teachers, the three substantive and long days of training were full of the joy of coming together and the thirst for new knowledge they could take back to their students. After all, the value of the summer days is in the information shared at the training, i.e. theory, as well as the social benefit of attending events of this kind. It is a rare chance to meet with the representatives and teachers of other schools and exchange experiences and ideas.

The summer school for Estonian teachers abroad is organised every year to inspire and recognise the teachers of Estonian language and culture working outside Estonia, and provide them with new knowledge and skills for working with children learning Estonian language and culture outside Estonia. The participants are also briefed on the current linguistic and cultural landscapes and topics of various regions of Estonia.

Last year, the Republic of Estonia began recognising the teachers of Estonian schools abroad. Whole families, not just children, converge around Estonian societies, meeting places and schools abroad. The lifetime achievement award was given to Tiiu Salasoo and Urve Aivare for their decades-long contribution to preserving Estonian language and culture and educating children in Australia and Latvia.

From February this year, Estonian language studies in Estonian schools abroad are coordinated by the Institute of the Estonian Language with Merike Barborak as the new coordinator. Merike has preserved Estonian culture in New York and she has worked as the teacher and head of the Estonian School in New York for nearly two decades.

Kätlin Kõverik, Chief Expert for Language Policy at the Ministry of Education and Research, advised Merike in organising the summer days and helped with ideas and logistics.

The training was organised by the Institute of the Estonian Language and the Ministry of Education and Research. This time, the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre also contributed a lot because next year, we are celebrating the 500th anniversary of Estonian-language books. 

Ahead of the theme year, the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre talked about its work and Estonian children’s literature in their welcoming and beautiful house in Tallinn’s Old Town. Teachers needed no further explanation for the theme year’s motto, Hando Runnel’s sentence ‘A nation begins with a book.’

Speech therapist Kristel Lempu spoke about books that are too complicated, saying, ‘If children have a hard time listening, the text is too complicated for them.’ Performing fairy tales with speech exercises alongside adults helps children gain life experience, and learn phonetics and speaking.

The ellsa.ee data base of the Children’s Literature Centre allows people to search for books according to topics, including in plain language. Plain language is vital when learning a language. Surrounded by a foreign language or perhaps having multiple identities, Estonian children abroad are unable to read texts that are too complicated.

Semiotician Daniele Monticelli spoke about the fears related to learning Estonian.

Cultural diversity is familiar to teachers. The work of Estonian teachers abroad is characterised by creating connections across cultures, and accepting and encouraging diversity and mastering ‘one’s own song’ in this choir.

We know that giving your all, passing on your skills, practical concerns, and working with children and teams can be exhausting. Maili Liinev from the Südamega counselling and training centre spoke about self-care. When it comes to study results, nothing is more important than teachers with sparks in their eyes!

In addition to Maili’s reading games, Kristiina Vaikmets from Huvi OÜ showed new games and inventive tools for creating games. Today, things need to be pretty and inviting for children to want to play with them. And when children play, they learn.

Marju Kõivupuu’s lecture on Estonian cultural identity in changing times included heartwarming jokes and more serious notes on language and disappearing words. 

Additionally, the three days included panel discussions, workshops and tours. The next meeting of Estonian teachers abroad is held in Hamburg. 

The training organised in the format of summer days contributes to cooperation between teachers and schools, creating the preconditions for teachers to continue their work and increasing their motivation. This time was no different.

A fascinating programme, fellow participants with shared values, good food, exciting locations and tours – it filled one’s soul with gratitude and left the impression that Estonian teachers abroad are cherished in Estonia. On the last day, we giddily left the Children’s Literature Centre that had already closed its doors, with the songs of Celia Roose’s runo song workshop ringing in our ears. We had enough enthusiasm to go on.

Knowing Estonian language and traditions abroad is important to us. So that the door to Estonia is always open to children and families living abroad, and Estonian culture continues to thrive among other cultures and enrich the world.

Lifetime achievement award

For their decades-long contribution to preserving Estonian language and culture and educating children in Australia and Latvia

• Tiiu Salasoo (Australia)
• Urve Aivare (Latvia)

Recognising teachers with a special spark

For teaching Estonian language and culture to Estonian children and youth abroad as young and brilliant teachers

• Kadri Siilivask (Finland)
• Helmi Hess (Canada)

Recognising long-time teachers

• Evi Lepik (Sweden)
• Margit Tera (Netherlands)
• Reet Meyer (Germany)
• Triin Engelke (Germany)
• Mae Veskis Hove (Denmark)
• Karin Ladva-Zoller (Germany)
• Aiva Plauča (Latvia)
• Maire Vill (Sweden)
• Sirle Sööt (Sweden)
• Piia Hasselblad (Sweden)
• Anu Luks (Sweden)
• Malle Allvee (Sweden)
• Laine Kõiva-Kingo (United States of America)
• Merike Siismets (United States of America)
• Katrin Kütti-Otsa (Canada)
• Luule Prima (United States of America)
• Kaie Pallo (United States of America)
• Janne Sepp (United States of America)
• Leelo Kask (United States of America)
• Ilona Jõgi  (Finland)
• Ilona Treiman (Finland)
• Piret Selonen (Finland)

Education Achievement of the Year, Estonian schools abroad

Poetry project ‘Jõuluriim’, Estonian School in Belgium

A broad project encompassing children and youth with a positive effect on motivation for learning Estonian language and culture.

Author: Elo Põlendik (Finland)