For those who are unable to attend classes in person, online learning via the internet or Skype might be the solution! At the moment there are 3 such possibilities available for learning Estonian:
1. Learn Estonian online using Skype
A trained and experienced Estonian-as-a-second-language teacher in Queensland, Ms. Eva Õim, who teaches students according to their individual needs on the internet via Skype.
Skype can be downloaded for FREE , click here to download now
Ms Õim’s address is ewaoim53@gmail.com, for further enquiries and discussion of suitable times and charges. There are also several courses available from Estonia by Internet.
2. Online Estonian course for beginners (Video based), University of Tartu
University of Tartu, www.tk.ut.ee during 21.02.20011 to 30.12.2011
Duration 6 EAP (156 hours),
Ccost 106,73 EUR.
Mrs Esta Pilt (esta.pilt@ut.ee) can provide more information.
The course is aimed at adult learners. Each lesson is centred on a video clip. Students will gain an introductory knowledge of Estonian and
- will have an overview of the following topics of the Estonian Grammar – noun and verb conjugation, infinitives etc; and can use these in practical language situations;
- will develop active skills in Estonian.
The course is 95 % web-based. There are 2 classroom meetings or conversation via Skype (one meeting in the end of each semester). At the classroom meetings the teachers will provide the learners with the feed-back on home assignments, and refine their talking-skills. On the web-page of the course there will be the links to the learning materials divided into 10 lessons.
There are listening, reading and grammar exercises on each topic. The creative writing exercises by learners will be sent to the teachers via e-mail. The teachers will provide feed-back at class-room meetings and / or via e-mail. The time schedule of presenting the course homework and making the on-line test will be sent to all the participants.
There will be an e-test in the end of the first semester. The students will get individual feed-back on the results of the tests. A compulsory prerequisite to registering for the exam is a positive test result.
3. Estonian On-line Course, University of Tallinn
There are 4 levels available : 1. Beginners 2. Lower intermediate 3. Intermediate 4. Advanced.
The text is Mall Pesti, Helve Ahi. E nagu Eesti. TEA, 1998 (+ CD) (TS: Unfortunateley, it may be out of print).
Cost: 100 euros (10-week-session).
Next course starts/ed on Jan. 5, 2011 (TS: you can ask the instructor whether she would accept you now).
The instructor Mall Pesti (pestim@yahoo.com) can provide further information.
According to her a student needs: stong motivation, good self-discipline, 3-4 hours of free time every week.
Course description:
- Students study independently using the textbook, the CD and aditional online materials.
- They do self-check exercises and tests online.
- They write essays and send to the teacher.
- There is a weekly 50 minute chat (writing) in the group of 2-3 students.
- Once a month, there is an individual phone class.
Should you take up any of these opportunities, please let me know of your choice and later of your progress, to enable me to evaluate the course, prior to recommending it further. Let me also know if you do not wish to utilise any of these three modes, so we can look for different possibilities for you. And please fill in and forward the Needs Survey, if you already have not done so.
All the best,
Tiiu Salasoo,
Coordinator of Estonian Studies for the Council of Estonian Societies in Australia
