Modern English, described at times as the first global lingua franca, is the dominant international language of communication. The initial reason for its expansion beyond the bounds of the British Isles, where it was originally a native tongue, was the British Empire, and by the late nineteenth century, its reach was truly global. A working knowledge of English has become a prerequisite in a number of fields, occupations and professions and as a result, over a billion people speak English to at least a basic level. The English language is a language that is absorbing aspects of cultures worldwide as it continues to grow.

Tallinn is a cosmopolitan city containing a colourful array of people and cultures, which makes it the perfect place to study English during the Tallinn Summer School. Students can choose to take an elementary level course in English, as well as intermediate or advanced, all taught entirely in the English language using a highly effective professional method. After developing conversational English from our courses, students may soon use their new skills throughout the streets of multilingual Tallinn.

The course is intended to build the fundamental elements of the language, which are necessary for fully appreciating English-speaking countries. It will provide a valuable step towards establishing the necessary skills demanded for a possible future exchange trip abroad.

The course will build skills at three levels – elementary, intermediate and advanced – using up-to-date materials and modern teaching methods. On the first day of the course, the participants’ competence in English will be assessed and students assigned to the appropriate group.

Across the globe, there are millions of people who can speak English, but only one million speak Estonian. The language is part of the Finno-Ugric group, related to Finnish and Hungarian. Tallinn University’s summer course in Estonian Language and Culture offers an opportunity to study an unusual and entrancing language, all amongst the backdrop of a well-preserved medieval city. The course aims to familiarize a wide range of international students not only with the Estonian language but also with the country’s rich culture, history, art and lifestyle.

After a short written test, students will be divided into groups based on their initial proficiency in the Estonian language. The number of groups depends on the number of participants, usually, there are 5-7 groups. Please note that participants in one group might have slightly different levels, more advanced students can ask for additional tasks.

The courses will then foster skills at the following levels:

Beginner – students will develop basic Estonian communication skills and master day-to-day conversation. The course programme includes pronunciation practice, listening comprehension and easy communication.

Intermediate – students will further develop their speaking, listening, reading, writing and grammar skills. The students should be familiar with basic Estonian structures. The course programme includes activities on various everyday-life situations.

The languages of instruction are Estonian and English and course materials are distributed during the course.