All native Estonian speakers or those with a very good command of the language are invited to participate in the Language Friends programme as volunteer mentors to support language learners in communicating in Estonian. Registration for the new season of the programme launched by the Integration Foundation has begun and will continue until 6 February 2026.
‘The Language Friends programme brings together people who want to improve their Estonian language skills with volunteer conversation partners. Even an hour of conversation with a mentor each week increases the language learner’s confidence in speaking and mutual understanding,’ said Dmitri Moskovtsev, Director of the Integration Foundation. ‘I invite everyone to actively participate in the programme so that the Estonian language can be heard more and more.’
People who are of legal age and speak Estonian as their native language or at a very high level can apply to become mentors. The mentor will talk to the learner about everyday topics at least once a week over a three-month period – from 14 February to 14 May. A communication channel suitable for both parties is selected for the conversation, such as Zoom, MS Teams, or phone. The mentor will receive support from the Language Friends programme team, who will provide suggestions and materials and match learners with mentors. To participate in the programme, Estonian language learners must have reached at least the B1 level of language proficiency, which enables them to hold a conversation. Both mentors and learners must be adults.
‘Over the course of six years, the programme has brought together nearly 7,400 language friends of all ages from all walks of life, who speak 36 different native languages. Volunteer Estonian language mentors do not need to have teaching experience: what counts is openness and a willingness to contribute your time to help people practise their Estonian,’ said Ave Landrat, head of the Language Friends programme.
You can register as a mentor here.
More information about the programme can be found at:
https://integratsioon.ee/en/language-friends-program
Estonian language learners will be able to join the Language Friends programme from 9 February, when registration opens. The Language Friends programme team will bring language learners and mentors together starting from Valentine’s Day, 14 February. The programme season will last until 14 May.
The activities are carried out with the support of the European Union’s 2021–2027 Cohesion Policy and Internal Security Funds and within the framework of Project No. 2021-2027.4.07.23-0006 of Decree No. 80 of the Minister of Culture of 15 March 2023 ‘Conditions for granting support for carrying out activities supporting integration, including adaptation, in Estonian society’.
