Every Tuesday evening for the past six months I enjoyed the rewarding experience of studying the Estonian language. Little did I know when I enrolled in “Eesti Keel for Beginners” in September that my expectations would be greatly exceeded.
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Instructor Piret Komi brought the language to life combining oral practice with personal anecdotes from her own travels to Estonia. Piret’s attention to each lesson and her ability to challenge students with questions that met their individual comfort levels made for an enjoyable learning environment for all.
Weekly 2-hour classes at Toronto Eesti Maja went by quickly with the first portion of each class being devoted to questions and answers from Piret and other students in Estonian. As our vocabulary and knowledge of the language increased, so did the fun in attempting to ask and answer these questions to the best of our ability. For example, during initial classes students learned essential questions such as, “Kuidas käsi käib?” and “Mis on sinu nimi?” It did not take long, however, for discussion to become more intriguing as our vocabulary developed to the point of asking, “Mis kell on?”, “Kas Sina oled kaine?” and my all time favourite, “Kes peseb sööginõud?” If only my high school French classes could have been as entertaining and inspiring!
When classes approached the Christmas season, students learned about Estonian holiday traditions not only through language, but also through food and song. The end-of-term pot luck parties in December and April tested our culinary expertise with each student contributing to a large spread of traditional Estonian fare. Dishes included open-faced sandwiches, kringli sai, pirukad, rosolje and kama, all washed down with Saku, of course!
The gift of gaining a working knowledge of the Estonian language and traditions along with cultivating new friendships with fellow students made for an enriching winter and will certainly make future trips to Estonia all the more meaningful. Between now and my next trip, the real test will be conversing in Estonian with my 18 month old daughter…Kas Sa saad minust aru? Palun korda
Teisipäev? Sorry, I’m busy. Teisipäeval on mul eesti keele tund! (9)
Archived Articles | 25 May 2007 | Hal DumbrilleEWR
Viimased kommentaarid
Kommentaarid on kirjutatud EWR lugejate poolt. Nende sisu ei pruugi ühtida EWR toimetuse seisukohtadega.
You know, Maxim, there are approximately 1.3 million people living in Eesti and I'm sure these students would get a much better tour of the country by any one of them over you.
We can all see through your provocations. It was you who wrote the last comment, otherwise there would be no reason to begin the next character assassination upon me. I am pleased to meet anyone from this class if they wish to contact me in the future. However, I have no desire whatsoever, for obvious reasons, to ever meet with you.
Maxim wrote to these students, “Hope you all continue enjoying it, and start visiting Estonia a little more often than you do. We might even get acquainted and share some worthwhile ideas”.
Now, Maxim, you refuse any contact with them what-so-ever.
So why did you make the offer in the first place? Did it feel good to spit in their faces when they responded? Is this how you get your jollies?
Your insincerity is absolutely mind-boggling and borders on the inhumane. Actually, forget the “borders” part. You’re a real work of art, Maxim
Now, Maxim, you refuse any contact with them what-so-ever.
So why did you make the offer in the first place? Did it feel good to spit in their faces when they responded? Is this how you get your jollies?
Your insincerity is absolutely mind-boggling and borders on the inhumane. Actually, forget the “borders” part. You’re a real work of art, Maxim
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