Church Friday is a series of events which support Estonian language learning for adults whose first language is not Estonian. In the course of the series, we will visit the churches of Tallinn with a tour guide and practice Estonian.

During the series, we will visit various churches in Tallinn (such as St. Nicholas’ Church (Tallinna Niguliste kirik) and Museum, St. Mary’s Cathedral (Tallinna toomkirik), St. John’s Church (Jaani kirik), Charles’s Church (Kaarli kirik), St Michael’s Church (Tallinna Rootsi-Mihkli kirik) once a month, including a guided tour. The tours are in Estonian. After the tour, the participants can explore the churches on their own. Church Friday takes place once a month on Fridays: on 23 September, 21 October, 18 November, and 16 December.

The cathedral was first mentioned in written records in 1219. The cathedral holds the largest collection of gravestones, epitaphs, sarcophagi, grave monuments, and epitaph coats of arms in Estonia, dating from thirteenth to eighteenth centuries. The most famous persons buried in the cathedral are Swedish Commander Pontus De la Gardie and his wife; Sophia Gyllenhelm, daughter of the King John III of Sweden; Admiral Samuel Greigh; and Admiral Adam Johan von Krusenstern, who led the first Russian circumnavigation. The pulpit and the altar are the works of Christian Ackermann, one of the most well-known Estonian wood carvers of the seventeenth century.

One tour lasts up to 1.5 hours. The size of the group is 15–25 people.

Participants can practice listening to spoken Estonian (by listening to the tour guide) and speaking Estonian (by asking questions from the guide). Visiting various churches in the course of a tour allows adults whose first language is not Estonian practice their Estonian and raises their awareness of culture and history.

• Min. language level required: B1+
• Time: 18.11 from 14.00-15.30
• Location: St. Mary’s Cathedral (Toom-Kooli 6, Tallinn)
• No of participants: 25

Teacher: Inna Arno / inna.arno@integratsioon.ee
Registration: (04.11 at 9.00) https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/11862?lang=en

NB! You can register for the events through the Integration Foundation's self-service, which you can enter using an ID card, Mobile-ID or Smart-ID. Please see the user guide: https://integratsioon.ee/iseteenindus

Friday in Library is a social club which brings together people from different cultural backgrounds who want to practice Estonian in a pleasant and welcoming setting.

The club is a place to get acquainted with one another, have conversations with the help of various forms of communication, play fun team games, and exchange information.

The Friday in Library events are meant for those who are still learning Estonian and who want to practice it in a playful manner. The events take place from September until December.

• Language level: B1
• Time: 18.11 from 15.00-18.00
• Location: Lääne-Harju Library, conference room on the ground floor (Rae 38, Paldiski)
• No of participants: 16

Organised by: Valeria Siminko and Urve Luht

Registration: (04.11 at 9.00) https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/11767?lang=en

NB! You can register for the events through the Integration Foundation's self-service, which you can enter using an ID card, Mobile-ID or Smart-ID. Please see the user guide: https://integratsioon.ee/iseteenindus

Parents whose children study in a kindergarten group or school in Estonian are invited to the meetings. We share experiences on how to support children in their studies.

The goal is to encourage parents to speak in Estonian. Every meeting focuses on one topic. Participants can discuss and collaborate in groups.

• Language level: A2+
• Time: 29.11 from 5.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.
• Location: Kiviõli School of Arts (Vabaduse 6, Kiviõli)
• No of participants: 16

Instructor: Signe Viilop

Registration:  https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/11826?lang=ru

NB! You can register for the events through the Integration Foundation's self-service, which you can enter using an ID card, Mobile-ID or Smart-ID. Please see the user guide:  https://integratsioon.ee/iseteenindus

The Estonian Language House Film Club is a monthly series of film nights which introduce exciting Estonian films to the audience. All films are screened in Estonian with Estonian subtitles.

Every evening, another example of a genre in the Estonian film scene is presented – we are going to watch comedies, action films, and dramas. In addition to watching the films, we are going to discuss film plots and share our thoughts. The Film Club is going to culminate with a visit to the Estonian Film Museum together with the members of the Narva Film Club!

• Min. language level required: A2+
• Time: 23.11 from 17.30-20.00
• Place: Tallinn Estonian Language House (Rävala 5, Tallinn)
• No of participants: 30

Teachers: Margit Raias and Kadri Raigo

Registration: (15.11 at 9.00) https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/11859?lang=en

NB! You can register for the events through the Integration Foundation's self-service, which you can enter using an ID card, Mobile-ID or Smart-ID. Please see the user guide: https://integratsioon.ee/iseteenindus

Parents whose children study in a kindergarten group or school in Estonian are invited to the meetings. We share experiences on how to support children in their studies.

The goal is to encourage parents to speak in Estonian. Every meeting focuses on one topic. Participants can discuss and collaborate in groups.

• Language level: A2+
• Time: 22.11 from 5.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.
• Location: Kiviõli School of Arts (Vabaduse 6, Kiviõli)
• No of participants: 16

Instructor: Signe Viilop

Registration: https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/11825?lang=en

NB! You can register for the events through the Integration Foundation's self-service, which you can enter using an ID card, Mobile-ID or Smart-ID. Please see the user guide: https://www.integratsioon.ee/en/iseteenindus.

Programme of the Seminar

10.30-11.00 Registration, morning coffee

11.00-11.40 Venla Bernelius (University of Helsinki, Finland) ’Living together, learning apart? Socially mixed neighbourhoods, school segregation and residential mobility in Finnish cities’

11.40-12.20 Hanno Kruse (University of Bonn, Germany) ‘Ethnic segregation in secondary schools – why is it so persistent and what can we do about it?‘

12.20-13.10 Lunch

13.10-13.50 Lena Leipe (Åre Municipality, Sweden) ‘Sustainable Integration in Åre – How we have worked to increase participation in the local community and shortened the path to employment and self-sufficiency among third-country nationals’

13.50-14.30 James Laurence (The Economic and Social Research Institute and Trinity College Dublin, Ireland) ‘Together and apart: dynamics of prejudice and social cohesion at the intersection of ethnic diversity and residential segregation’

14.30-15.00 Questions, discussion

Seminar presentations are in English, simultaneous translation is offered into Estonian and Russian. The seminar is free for participants.

Please be sure to register to participate: https://konverentsimeistrid.wufoo.com/forms/zc20b840x6tw84 

The seminar is part of the program of the international integration conference "Together or Apart: Searching for the Middle Ground" organized by the Integration Foundation. Please find more information on the conference website www.integrationconference.ee

The event is being run by the Integration Foundation in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture. The 2022 conference is the ninth in the series. The conference is also supported by the British Council.

Together with bobbin lace master Olga Kublitskaja and local bobbin lace enthusiast Urve Hiie, we will get to know the history of bobbin lace making and lace. We will also practice the Estonian language.

Olga Kublitskaja, an internationally known bobbin lace master and trainer, will help the participants make wonderful laces. The main purpose of the classes is to encourage the participants to speak Estonian.

• Language level: A2+
• Time: 19.11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Location: Office of the Estonian Language House in Lüganuse rural municipality on the ground floor of the Kiviõli Health Centre (Keskpuiestee 38, Kiviõli)

Instructors: Olga Kublitskaja and local bobbin lace enthusiast Urve Hiie

Registration: https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/11812?lang=en

NB! You can register for the events through the Integration Foundation's self-service, which you can enter using an ID card, Mobile-ID or Smart-ID. Please see the user guide: https://www.integratsioon.ee/en/iseteenindus.

A ceramics class in Estonian.

Instructor Kaie Pungas is an artist-ceramist from the Estonian Academy of Arts.

The class is perfect for language learners who are interested in ceramics and want to communicate in Estonian in a relaxed atmosphere. Estonian-speaking ceramics enthusiasts are also welcome to help the language learners.

• Language level: A2+
• Time: 17.11 from 17.15-19.15
• Location: Kiviõli School of Arts (Vabaduse 6, Kiviõli)
• No of participants: 6-10

Instructor: Kaie Pungas

Registration: https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/11815?lang=en

NB! You can register for the events through the Integration Foundation's self-service, which you can enter using an ID card, Mobile-ID or Smart-ID. Please see the user guide: https://integratsioon.ee/iseteenindus.

Practical language training through physical activity – we are going to be active, communicate, and learn!

Language training takes place twice a month starting from September. All activities are relaxed, fun, and interesting. We are going to get to know one another, make friends, and learn Estonian together. You will not even notice learning the language as we spend time together.

Yoga classes, dance lessons, hikes, parlour games – all activities are accompanied by learning Estonian through communication and expressing yourself. We are going to meet new friends and learn Estonian!

All who are interested are welcome to join the workouts of our team, regardless of age or physical form. If you are interested, then this is an easy way to polish your Estonian skills.

• Language level: A1, A2
• Time: 13.11 from 10.00-11.30
• Location: Rae 38 (second floor), Paldiski
• No of participants: 20

Organised by: Valeria Siminko, Inna Baranova, and Anu Grete Oder
Registration: https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/11463?lang=en

NB! You can register for the events through the Integration Foundation's self-service, which you can enter using an ID card, Mobile-ID or Smart-ID. Please see the user guide: https://integratsioon.ee/iseteenindus

Friday in Library is a social club which brings together people from different cultural backgrounds who want to practice Estonian in a pleasant and welcoming setting.

The club is a place to get acquainted with one another, have conversations with the help of various forms of communication, play fun team games, and exchange information.

The Friday in Library events are meant for those who are still learning Estonian and who want to practice it in a playful manner. The events take place from September until December.

• Language level: B1
• Time: 11.11 from 15.00-18.00
• Location: Lääne-Harju Library, conference room on the ground floor (Rae 38, Paldiski)
• No of participants: 16

Organised by: Valeria Siminko and Urve Luht

Registration: https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/11785?lang=en

NB! You can register for the events through the Integration Foundation's self-service, which you can enter using an ID card, Mobile-ID or Smart-ID. Please see the user guide: https://integratsioon.ee/iseteenindus