The Cultural Diversity Year is led by the Integration Foundation. You can get in touch with the committee of the theme year by writing to 2024@integratsioon.ee

Preparations for the Cultural Diversity Year, including the work of the committee, is organised by project manager Eero Raun. You can get in touch with him by calling +372 55511242 or writing to eero.raun@integratsioon.ee.

Communications manager Alena Stadnik will help with all the according questions. She is available by phone +372 5816 2318 or by e-mail alena.stadnik@integratsioon.ee.

 

 

Back to website of the Culture Diversity Year

January 6, 2025 Communities from all over Estonia to hold a cultural diversity gala in Tallinn

January 6, 2025 We invite you to the Cultural Diversity Gala

November 21, 2024 Estonian cultural diversity reached the Riigikogu in the form of an exhibition

September 15, 2024 The Association of Estonian Cultural Societies invites you to the Open Cultural Societies Day

September 20, 2024 Tammsaare Park hosts an exhibition of bold people

September 17, 2024 The blue, black, and white flag will fly on the Day of Nationalities

September 11, 2024 Come and celebrate the Day of Nationalities! 

September 8, 2024 In the coming week, the celebration of the Day of Nationalities will take off 

August 26, 2024 The Cultural Diversity Year invites you to celebrate Day of Nationalities

August 23, 2024 Let's highlight the diversity of cultures at the Tallinn Marathon!

June 10, 2024 Photo gallery: The cultural diversity of Ida-Virumaa and Narva reached the heart of Tallinn 

June 10, 2024 Photo gallery: The richness of Estonian cultures was on full display during Old Town Days 

June 6, 2024 The Cultural Diversity Year continues in full swing

May 5, 2024 This thematic year can be celebrated with a special stamp 

April 12, 2024 Gallery: Students' scientific works received special prizes for the Cultural Diversity Year 

February 19, 2024 We congratulated Estonia together with the presidential couple and the peoples living in Estonia

January 14, 2024 The Cultural Diversity Year has begun with different events in each county 

January 9, 2024 On Saturday, a new theme year begins – the Cultural Diversity Year

December 13, 2023 Let’s start the Cultural Diversity Year together!

 

 

Back to website of the Culture Diversity Year

We will launch the website in English shortly. In the meantime, you are welcome to add your events to the calendar of the thematic year calendar (it´s available in EnglishEstonian and Russian).

Back to website of the Culture Diversity Year

In 2024, we are celebrating the Cultural Diversity Year in Estonia. We understand, value and cherish the richness on cultures, which we are creating together with all the communities and people of our country. This is the common value that unites us – how we carry Estonia in our hearts.

Great when we’re together!

 

 

Back to website of the Culture Diversity Year

Important changes in Estonian language learning

Starting from next year, we will be asking our customers to pay attention to forthcoming changes in the organisation of our language courses. The changes concern the duration of the courses, continuing the courses, as well as the number of student places.

 

Changes implemented as of next year concern the levels and volumes of Estonian language courses. What will change exactly? Who made the decisions? Do they only concern courses organised by the Integration Foundation?

The Integration Foundation has good news for language learners. As of next year, the Foundation will pay more attention to achieving level B1 in Estonian. This means that the Foundation will begin to prioritise courses which help learners achieve this level. As a result, the volumes of communication courses will change. To ensure the quality of Estonian language studies, the Integration Foundation wishes to improve the language skills of its students by changing the levels and volumes of its communication courses, thus equipping its students with better coping skills in society and at workplaces. Due to changes in the volumes of Estonian language courses, the study periods will be extended. Starting from January 2024, the volume of Estonian language courses from level A1 to level B1 will be 500 academic hours. The volumes of instructed studies per language level are as follows:

Level A1: 100 academic hours

Level A2: 150 academic hours

Level B1 will be split into two courses: level B1.1 with 120 academic hours and B1.2 with 130 academic hours.

The increased course volumes of adaptation and integration courses correspond to the European Language Portfolio as well as the Adaptation Programme regulation. It is necessary to make changes in the courses because the Integration Foundation wishes to provide its learners with the best language acquisition quality in terms of volume, content, as well as results. The Integration Foundation has spent a long time analysing and discussing the issue and will now proceed with implementation.

 

What is the purpose of the changes?

The changes mean longer courses for the current learners and more efficient language studies for new learners. The addition of an Estonian language course at level B1.2 is necessary to provide successful students with the opportunity to acquire more proficient Estonian language skills at level B1. The new complementary level B1.1 language course will allow learners to acquire language even better, improving their ability to cope in society and offering significant support to participating in society actively and to integration more generally. Another reason for changing the volumes of language courses is to allow learners to transition more smoothly between courses, regardless of their status.

 

How does the change impact those who wish to acquire Estonian language at either level B2 or C1?

The learners who wish to develop their Estonian language skills at levels B2 and C1 can do it on special courses offered by the Estonian Language Houses. For advanced learners, we will continue to offer the opportunity to take part in language and culture clubs, language cafés facilitating language practice, and other learning programmes that offer good opportunities for learners to improve and develop their language skills.

 

When new courses open, they get fully booked very quickly. How will the longer course period and the additional B1.2 language course influence the number of student places? Will there be less places at other language levels, for example?

Although the longer duration of courses and the addition of new language levels may influence the distribution of student places, we aim to have a place for everyone. Learners at levels B2 and C1 can take part in special courses offered by the Estonian Language Houses, which open up new opportunities to advanced learners for developing specific language skills.

With the help of the European Social Fund, we are also launching a secondment programme for public sector employees for the purpose of language learning, in which people with a different language and cultural background can gain Estonian language practice among Estonian-speaking personnel. The target group of secondments includes educational workers, including kindergarten as well as school teachers, and employees in the areas of social services and internal security. Secondment for the purpose of language practice is available for those who already have sufficient Estonian language skills to manage working at an Estonian-speaking organisation.

 

How will the activity of language cafés and clubs continue? Will they carry on same as ever or will there also be planned changes?

Next year, we plan to continue with our popular activities that support language acquisition – the Estonian language cafés (30 academic hours) and the Estonian language and culture clubs (120 academic hours).

Language cafés offer support for Estonian language learning and practice prior to joining a course or for consolidating knowledge while waiting for the next course. In a language café, the learner will gain knowledge on 20 different topics and will additionally acquire skills for independent learning via the e-courses Keeleklikk and Keeletee. In language cafés, the learner can communicate on day-to-day issues and learn in a freer atmosphere with fellow students under the guidance of a teacher. Learners can join language cafés once their language skills are at least at level A2.

The Estonian language and culture club encourages and inspires learners to speak freely in Estonian and continue their language studies. The club meetings held once per month are complemented with activities introducing Estonian culture, such as educational trips and workshops at museums and exhibitions in different cities. Learners can join Estonian language and culture clubs once they have completed a language course at least at level B1.

 

How can interested people sign up for a language course?

It is possible to register to Estonian language communication courses at levels A1, A2, and B1 (B1.1, B1.2) in the self-service of the Integration Foundation. When compiling our language learning groups, we first offer student places to continuing students who have successfully completed a course, and then, students who have undergone a counselling session based on a general waiting list can register to the remaining places in the self-service, if places are available. A consultant will help you choose the most suitable form of study (café, course, club, special course, educational programme, or another activity supporting language learning). Our consultants will analyse the language learning needs and experience of each person individually and offer a suitable language learning solution.

 

Board games evening A2+ (Jõhvi) - GROUP FULL

  • Language level required: A2+
  • Location: Narva eesti keele maja Jõhvi Kultuuri- ja Huvikeskus (Pargi 40, Jõhvi)
  • Time: 19.12.2023 kell 18:30 - 20:00
  • Format: Language Practice

Board games are not just for kids! After a busy day, you can play fun board games and talk to each other in Estonian in a relaxed atmosphere. Social board games are a good tool for developing and maintaining logical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Registration: https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/13793?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 A2+ (Paldiski)

  • Language level required: A2+
  • Location: Tallinna eesti keele maja Rae 38, Paldiski linn, Raamatukogu
  • Time: 15.12.2023 kell 16:00 - 17:30
  • Format: Language Practice

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.

No of participants: 12

Organised by: Urve Luht

Registration: https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/13703?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

Newsletter: December 2023

Contents

 

Eero Raun

Many Cultures, One Estonia

What languages characterize cultural richness that we are talking about? Or is it different foods? Eero Raun, Project Manager of the upcoming Cultural Diversity Year, talks about what he considers cultural diversity and how each one of us can contribute to making the year a success.

READ MORE

 

Conference presentations

Conference on integration policy in retrospect

On 16–17 November, this year’s integration conference entitled From Security to Cohesion: The Challenges of Integration in Times of Crisis took place, bringing together specialists in the field from around the world. We will share with you the presentations made at the conference.

READ MORE

 

Lõimumise meediapilk

Integration in the media

We will share a selection of news articles, podcasts, and radio and TV shows chosen by our employees.

READ MORE

 

Lõimumine Taani näitel

Integration in Denmark

Peter Svane, Counsellor at the International Recruitment and Integration Office under the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Integration, will tell us why working is important for Danes and how the strategy, introduced a few years ago, has worked so far.

READ MORE

 

Millist infot otsib välismaal elav eestlane?

What information is needed by Estonians living abroad?

What kind of information Estonians living abroad consume and how high does Global Estonian rank as a source of information for them? The aim of the short survey conducted in autumn 2023 was to better understand the information needs of people from Estonia living abroad and to gather ideas and suggestions for the Global Estonian portal and its Facebook page and newsletter.

READ MORE

 

Watch again: international conference on integration 2023

From 16 to 17 November 2023, international conference on integration ‘From Security to Solidarity: Challenges of Integration in Times of Crisis’ organised by the Integration Foundation and the Ministry of Culture took place. During the two-day conference, researchers and practitioners from Estonia and around the world analysed topical issues related to integration policy and proposed ways to improve integration policies in different parts of the world.

You can watch videos of both days 

The next conference on integration will take place in November 2024 as part of the theme year of cultural diversity.

Photo gallery of the conference

 

Vaata uuesti: tänavusel lõimumiskonverentsil toimund ettekanded