Second Language Education Centre
The Estonian Language Training Project
At present, all activities for phase I of this project have been completed. We hope to begin a phase II in the coming year.
Below is a description of activities undertaken as part of this first Estonian Language Training Project.
Global Objective: To collaborate and cooperate with Estonian Educators in order to assist in the development of effective curriculum for the teaching of Estonian as a second language.
During its 3-year duration, the following key components were part of the Estonian Language Training Project.
INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT:
Estonian Educators spent a 10-month term at the
University of New Brunswick. During this time they studied current second
language learning methodologies and developed teaching materials for use at
their institutions.
Professors for the University of New Brunswick traveled to Estonia in order to enter into dialogue with Professors from Estonian post-secondary pedagogical institutions regarding second language teacher education.
INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
Canadian second language experts facilitated two Summer
Institutes for teachers of Estonian as a second language in order to provide
them with knowledge and skills related to current second language teaching
methodologies.
An additional Estonian led Summer Institute took place during the summer of 1997 as a follow-up to these first two sessions.
Canadian teachers spent a 4-month term in Estonia in order to assist with professional development for second language teachers and student-teachers.
PROJECT ADMINISTRATION
The Second Language Education Centre provided on-going support to and maintained on-going communication with educators at key institutions in Estonia.
This project was funded by the Program of Cooperation with Central and Eastern Europe, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the University of New Brunswick.