Ethnic Russian Teachers Still Struggle with Estonian

[Äike]

Ethnic Russian Teachers Still Struggle with Estonian

Among teachers from Russian-language schools, 70 percent still do not have sufficient Estonian language skills, but the situation is now improving, said Ilmar Tomusk, Director of the Language Inspectorate.

"It's too difficult to give an exact number because that is constantly changing. A lot of teachers who took the language proficiency exam between 1992 and 1999 still do not meet requirements," Tomusk told ERR.

Tomusk asserted that competence in the official state language is an essential professional requirement for schoolteachers. He argued that employers should not hire those who do not meet professional standards, and concerning school staff, substandard language skills may be sufficient grounds for dismissal.

"The language inspectorate can issue written orders, but we do not have the authority to discharge people from work. Therefore, we can't monitor how many teachers are let go because of inadequate language skills," Tomusk said. "Some of the Russian-language schools in Tallinn and Ida-Viru County are showing weak results in teaching Estonian. However, the situation is gradually improving."

The nationwide overhaul for Russian-curriculum high schools to adopt an extensive Estonian-language program began in 2007. Beginning in the 2011/2012 school year, Russian-curriculum high schools are required to teach 60 percent of their material in Estonian. Subjects include Estonian literature, social studies and music.

Tomusk added that many teachers have received additional training in connection with the overhaul.

[Fortis in Arduis]

Do you Estonians want Russians to become Estonian?

Living on an Island, I have a different perspective to continental Europeans, but I would think that the best solution would be to partition and autonomise an area in Eastern Estonia, where Russian speakers are already predominant, and call it Russian Estonia.

The same goes for Latvia and Lithuania.

There will always be cultural, racial and linguistic minorities, but why would you want to absorb a population which derives from disparate regions of the old Russian Empire anyway?

If they were from just over the border, that would be understandable, but they are a random collection of Russian-speakers, are they not?

[Äike]

Do you Estonians want Russians to become Estonian?

They have their own education system, is there any other possible way we could give more privileges to Russian culture? Not really.

I did recently read a story from the local newspaper which said that Estonian language in Estonia is more endangered than Swedish in Finland. Although Swedes are a minority in Finland and Estonians are a majority in Estonia.

Living on an Island, I have a different perspective to continental Europeans, but I would think that the best solution would be to partition and autonomise an area in Eastern Estonia, where Russian speakers are already predominant, and call it Russian Estonia.

The same goes for Latvia and Lithuania.

There will always be cultural, racial and linguistic minorities, but why would you want to absorb a population which derives from disparate regions of the old Russian Empire anyway?

If they were from just over the border, that would be understandable, but they are a random collection of Russian-speakers, are they not?

Autonomous districts in Estonia for the Russians will be created, if the same is done in Germany for the Turks, in Sweden for the Somalis and autonomous districts also in the UK for the people from Pakistan.

The Estonian immigrant population has more privileges than in other European countries. No Pakistanis in the UK can learn in official Pakistani schools, teached by Pakistani teachers and in the Pakistani language.

Creating autonomous districts for the Russians in Estonia is just as insane as creating autonomous districts for Algerians in France or for the Turks in Germany.

[Fortis in Arduis]

Creating autonomous districts for the Russians in Estonia is just as insane as creating autonomous districts for Algerians in France or for the Turks in Germany.

Not really. That is not a fair comparison because there is a Russian community just over the border.

Do Estonians want these Russians to become naturalised Estonians?

This would be like Russians wanting Estonians to become Russian, which started the problem in the first place.

[Äike]

Not really. That is not a fair comparison because there is a Russian community just over the border.

So? Estonians need to get a visa to visit Russia.

[Äike]

Do Estonians want these Russians to become naturalised Estonians?

There are bigger changes of Pakistanis in the UK being naturalised, than Russians in Estonia.

The Russian language and Russian culture have more privileges in Estonia than other immigrant populations have in other European countries.

I do not know how assimilation would be possible if one's culture and language are in a privileged state.

[Fortis in Arduis]

There are bigger changes of Pakistanis in the UK being naturalised, than Russians in Estonia.

The Russian language and Russian culture have more privileges in Estonia than other immigrant populations have in other European countries.

I do not know how assimilation would be possible if one's culture and language are in a privileged state.

Explain yourself clearly.

What you are suggesting is that Russian-Estonians should become naturalised Estonians within the context of Estonian cultural imperialism.

Why not just geographical separation following the establishment of separate cultural and political institutions?

What happened to Estonians to make them want to assimilate Russians, who are a different people?

[Äike]

Explain yourself clearly.

What you are suggesting is that Russian-Estonians should become naturalised Estonians

I nor anyone else wants Russians to become Estonians. Most of us just want them to learn Estonian.

within the context of Estonian cultural imperialism.

Wut? o_O

Why not just georgraphical separation following the establishment of separate cultural and political institutions?

Well, most of them live in urban areas, in Tallinn and a county in Eastern-Estonia. During elections they vote for the pro-Russian candidates, who are Russians(at least in Eastern-Estonia).

Even in Tallinn, the pro-Russian, populist, leftist party is currently in rule.

What happened to Estonians to make them want to assimilate Russians, who are a different people?

No one wants to assimilate Russians, especially me. Russians are completely foreign to our genepool and most of them do not look like us and are considerably darker.

[Fortis in Arduis]

I nor anyone else wants Russians to become Estonians. Most of us just want them to learn Estonian.

Why do you want them to learn Estonian?

Well, most of them live in urban areas, in Tallinn and a county in Eastern-Estonia.

Which could become an autonomous region called Russian-Estonia.

No one wants to assimilate Russians, especially me. Russians are completely foreign to our genepool and most of them do not look like us and are considerably darker.

No, but you want them to learn Estonian and then do what, exactly?

Really, people do not know what they have got until it is gone.

What were the population figures for Russian-speakers in pre-Soviet times?

Baltic people are earning a stereotype of being jealous, for being moaners and for victimhood.

This is not constructive and smacks of screaming Inese.

[Äike]

Why do you want them to learn Estonian?

For the same reason why Pakis in the UK speak English and Turks in Germany speak German.

Imagine getting a taxi and the driver doesn't speak a word of English or going to a store and the cashier not speaking a word of English. Surreal, isn't it?

Which could become an autonomous region called Russian-Estonia.

Wtf?

No, but you want them to learn Estonian and then do what, exactly?

Speaking the language of the country where you live in, should be pretty basic.

Only in Estonia, you can work and go to school without speaking Estonian. That's why I am saying that Estonia supports immigrants more than the UK, France, Germany or Sweden.

Imagine the majority of the Paki population in your area not speaking a word of English, it wouldn't be possible, as your country isn't so supportive towards preserving their culture and language.

Really, people do not know what they have got until it is gone.

What were the population figures for Russian-speakers in pre-Soviet times?

92 000 in 1934, but they didn't cause any problems, like the modern Russians currently are causing.

Baltic people are earning a stereotype of being jealous, for being moaners and for victimhood.

This is not constructive and smacks of screaming Inese.

Why did you bring Balts into the discussion? This is purely about Russians. If you were referring to Estonians as Baltic people, then you're ignorant or just uneducated. Estonians aren't Baltic people.