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Plurilingualism at Schools in Estonia: Embracing Multilingual Curriculum

Discover Estonia's approach to plurilingual education with a focus on modern language learning at primary and secondary levels. Explore projects and policies promoting multilingualism in Estonian schools.

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Plurilingualism at Schools in Estonia: Embracing Multilingual Curriculum

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  1. Helgi Org M.Sc. Estland helgi.org@gmail.com Plurilingualism at Schools in Estonia Schools embracing the plurilingual whole school curriculum concept

  2. Estonia

  3. Estonia • Size: 45.100 km2 • Population: 1,3 millions • Capital: Tallinn • National language: Estonian • Counties: 15

  4. Loo School • Secondary school • North Estonia: 15 km away from the capital • Number of pupils: 332 • Address: County Harjumaa, Loo, Saha 7 • Phone: +3726080403 • E-Mail: lookool@lookool.ee

  5. Background The national policy on modern languages(1991) is including the following aspects: • Give students the choice of four modern languages • The first modern language is starting in third class of primary school • Introduction of the “A-, B- und C-(D)” grading system for languages

  6. Plurilingualism at schoolsin Estonia • Estonian as a second or modern language at Russian primary and secondary schools • CLIL-classes(LAK) since 1998 (immersionas a key for integration) • Thisproject is coordinated by the government department since 2000: www.kke.ee • Specific projects at schools with English, German and French. Teaching in scientific classes through the medium of a modern language; e.g. CLIL

  7. Teaching languages in Estonia (first modern language) The national Estonian curriculum includes that: • The first modern language will start in third class at primary school level • The choices are between English, German, Russian or French

  8. Teaching languages in Estonia(second and third modern language) The national Estonian curriculum includes that: • The second modern language will start in the sixth class • At upper secondary level one can also select a third modern language: for exampleFinnish, Swedish, Spanish, but also Latin, Hebrew,Japanese,... • Altogether there are 18 modern languages being taught in Estonia

  9. Most important modern languages in Estonia

  10. Plurilingualism at schools in Estonia Specific projects at schools as examples of a plurilingual curriculum • Early language learning in pre-schools and at primary school level, including German (CLIL for young learners) • Since 2007 German as a modern language in pre-schools • Three modern languages at secondary level - classes 4th until 9th • Third modern language is mandatory

  11. Plurilingual policy at schools in Estonia • At many primary schools one can start to learn a modern language already in first class; but certainly in second class. Most of the time it is English. • At Russian schools kids start learning Estonian in the second semester during first class. This is national policy. • Many Russian schools decided to offer a second modern language in first or second class. Most of the time it is English. • There are Estonian schools that offer two modern languages (taught simultaneously) at primary school level.

  12. Plurilingual project at Loo KeskkoolThree modern languages until 9th class • School: Loo Keskkool/Loo Secondary school • Starting date:1995 ongoing • From first class onwards German and English are taught; two hours per week • In sixth class (upper secondary) Russian is introduced as a third modern language • In tenth class students can select Finnish as their fourth modern language choice

  13. Choices of modern languages at primary/secondary level from 1st to 9th class at Loo Keskkool

  14. Selection of modern languages of Loo secondary school - classes 10-12: Tourism and modern languages

  15. Loo secondary school embracing plurilingual whole school curriculum Projects in 2012 – 2013 – 2014 Project 1: Early modern language learning at the Loo pre-school • Modern language: German • Children between 4 – 7 years old • Listening / understanding / acting • Games and songs • Participation by parents • Open Day events • Questionnaires for parents (Estonian)

  16. Loo secondary school embracing plurilingual whole school curriculum Projects in 2012 – 2013 – 2014 Project 2: A week of modern languages • A day for each of the modern languages • All students from all classes participate • Songs, theatre, dance and games at primary/secondary level • Display of posters at secondary level • International cooking in the school‘s canteen; e.g. Finnish dishes during the “Finnish Language Day” • Multilingual film projects • Publication in the local newspaper

  17. Helilt poster

  18. Loo secondary school embracing plurilingual whole school curriculum Projects in 2012 – 2013 – 2014 Project 3: A Day of Plurilingualism • Proverb by Wittgenstein: “The limits of my language mean the limits of my world” > World view and language link • Multilingual signs in the school • Posters in many different languages • Exhibition of flags and quiz • Quiz on language and culture; languages are bridges • Related languages: Estonian – Finnish; English – German • Borrowed terms: German – Estonian – German • Neighbouring languages: Estonian – Russian • Multilingual radio programmes • Multilingual short movies at secondary level

  19. Loo secondary school embracing plurilingual whole school curriculum Projects in 2012 – 2013 – 2014 Project 4: Multilingual short films • Using the multilingual stage and the concept of „we are all in the same boat“, students are producing multilingual movies – i.e. supporting each other • PR for the languages that are offered at the school Finnish English Estonian Russian German

  20. Loo secondary school embracing plurilingual whole school curriculum Projects in 2012 – 2013 – 2014 Project 5: Writing multilingual story books • Writing stories in 3rd – 5th classes • Short stories in five languages • Translation from one language into another

  21. Loo secondary school embracing plurilingual whole school curriculum Projects in 2012 – 2013 – 2014 Project 6: Plurilingual international projects Comenius Project 2012 - 2014 • Topic: Alternative Energies • Partner countries: Spain, Greeceand Estonia • Project coordinator: Germany • About 10 studentsfromeachpartnercountryvisitedtheschoolduringJanuary 2013 • Fromourschool: 40 students • Approach across subjects and languages:Chemistry, Physics, History, Geography,CivilSciences, Politics and modern languageteachers • Participation in class / tripswithin Estonia

  22. Loo secondary school embracing plurilingual whole school curriculum Projects in 2012 – 2013 – 2014 Project 7:Cross-languages terminology of grammatical terms • Acquiring grammatical terminology. • Putting together grammatical terms is due to the cooperation of teachers of all language subjects. • The students recognise linguistic similarities in relation to grammar and vocabulary. • A common grammatical terminology enhances students’ language awareness and can support the learning of further languages. • Specific grammatical terms: Latin - Estonian - English - German - Finnish - Russian. • Inclusion of concrete examples and work sheets. • Testing and evaluating in the classroom. • Correction and completion of a multilingual grammatical reader.

  23. Basic grammatical terms • raster

  24. Basic grammatical terms

  25. Loo secondary school embracing plurilingual whole school curriculum Projects in 2012 – 2013 – 2014 Project 8: Learning strategies across languages and subjects • Development of the concept • The students transfer language learning strategies from one language into another; for example memory aids, vocabulary collection, listening and reading strategies, transfer-strategies, presentation skills etc. • Additional supporting material for students, teachers, parents and the PlurCur concept development of the school • As a product: table of (language) learning strategies for all classes as supporting material (work sheets; exercises)

  26. Loo secondary school embracing plurilingual whole school curriculum Projects in 2012 – 2013 – 2014 Project 9: Student exchanges • 20 years of student exchanges with the secondary school Ostalb Gymnasium Bopfingen • July 2013: students and teachers from Estonia are in Germany • September 2013: German students are in Estonia • Comparison between the German and the Estonian education system • Similarities and differences in family life • Trips to Setokesen, orthodox convent, university city Tartu etc. • Party with other students of the host school

  27. Loo secondary school embracing plurilingual whole school curriculum Projects in 2012 – 2013 – 2014 Project 10: Day of European Languages 30th of September 2013 • Diversity of languages in Europe • European songs, games and cooking

  28. How can each member state realise the recommendation by the EU to implement plurilingualism? • Start early with the learning of modern languages • Include modern language classes (also German) in the crèche and pre-school sector • Include CLIL at an early stage into the concept of plurilingualism

  29. Many thanks for your attention! helgi.org@gmail.com Some rights reserved by maven

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