Mother Tongue Days in Riga get people moving
Edward Kess, an Estonian language teacher at the European School Brussels II, attended a gathering of teachers from Estonian schools across Europe in Riga.
From 20 to 23 March 2026, the 16th Mother Tongue Days took place, bringing together 80 teachers from Estonian schools across Europe – from 14 countries – to develop their knowledge and skills, exchange experiences of teaching the Estonian language and culture abroad, and enjoy being together. The Mother Tongue Days move from place to place, stopping once a year in a city with an Estonian school, be it Amsterdam or Paris, Munich or London. This year, the meeting point was Riga. Local Estonians – Ivika Keisele, a teacher at the Riga Estonian School, and Aiva Plauča from the Latvian Estonian Society – had put together an excellent programme.
Everything began on Friday with a lively introduction, including a walk around the city to get to know the place where the teachers had gathered. Even though many had visited the Latvian capital before, a guided walk revealed both familiar and unfamiliar aspects of the city from a new perspective. During the walk, participants learned why Riga is called Riga, where the boundary between the old and new town lies, where the Baltic Way is commemorated, which church rivals St Olaf’s in height, and where Kristjan Jaak once lived and studied. In the evening, Ambassador Eerik Marmei welcomed the teachers to the brand-new Estonian embassy, where the Riga Estonian School children’s choir Rukkililled (conducted by Baiba Visendorfa) and musicians Ilmārs Pumpurs and Rolands Zelčs from Skaņumāja performed. Surprise guests included Contra and Armin Kõomägi, who happened to be presenting their books at the Latvian National Library and took the time to greet the teachers as well. Everyone now knows the declension poem by heart and has the Lullu app on their phones.
On Saturday, participants gathered at the Latvian Estonian Society, where they were inspired by Aleksei Razin, head of the language centre GAME. Teachers learned how to teach language using just paper, markers, scissors, perhaps a bit of string and… the floor. By engaging the brain, hands and emotions, learning can begin – all it takes is giving energy to words (and, as Razin demonstrated, shouting out what you see in the street can bring you one step closer to ice cream). His passionately shared, seemingly endless methodological ideas – from word badminton or duels to letter cars and fortune-telling cards – were ones many teachers took back to their classrooms for the coming week.
Psychologist Rita Rätsepp helped participants reflect on and become more aware of teachers’ work-related stress. Everyone needs a colleague with whom to share experiences, materials and emotional support. At the same time, it is important to remember that work is not life, but part of life – and to recognise when the ship is in the water rather than the water in the ship.
The evening programme took teachers to Lido for a Latvian-style meal and later into the world of social games led by Aleksei Razin.
On Sunday, participants explored the activities of the Riga Estonian School. With its long history and around 200 pupils, it is a prestigious educational institution in Riga, where, in addition to Estonian language lessons, all pupils have both folk dancing and choir singing in their timetable. The teachers were welcomed by acting headteacher Maiga Pigita, and teacher Ivika Keisele introduced the school’s history and teaching practices. It was noted that all pupils speak Estonian and that the two languages coexist harmoniously within the school. Even the walls greet spring: pienene (dandelion) and strazds (starling) were among the words and images the visitors learned. The Latvian school system – with its PATS grading, ten-point scale, exams and assessments – also proved distinctive and interesting, offering valuable insights.
English teacher Kristi Lõbu from Illuka School showed how to bring movement into lessons – and how to get pupils moving. When a hand goes up, mouths go quiet; only then can tasks begin – tasks that certainly do not need to be done sitting at a desk. Exercises can be placed on walls in the classroom, in corridors or even on trees in a park; discussions can take place while walking; and dictations can be done in pairs (move, read, remember, move and dictate – then repeat). Movement breaks enrich every lesson.
Three days filled with knowledge and activity passed quickly, and with renewed energy and minds full of ideas, all participants are ready to inspire young learners, keep the Estonian language and culture alive, and make pupils’ eyes shine. The next meeting will take place in a year’s time in Brussels, where the Belgian Estonian School will host the Mother Tongue Days from 12 to 14 March 2027.
Edward Kess
Estonian language teacher, European School Brussels II
