Estonian Language Courses

*Learning Estonian*

Piece of cake
while studying Estonian
It's not easy, I can tell you that! 

The thing with Estonian is that it's not at all related to my language (Dutch). Therefor it's more difficult to memorize words and construct sentences.

Necessary thing was to start from the very beginning. Pronunciation of the alphabet and reading out loud were the first things we did.

Every *Monday *Tuesday, *Thursday* and *Friday *mornings I go (back) to *school. Tuesdays and Thursdays courses are organised by the International Language School and on Monday and Friday I attend the courses organized by the government.
 Monday = esmaspäev  
 Tuesday =  teisipäev
 Thurday = neljapäev
 Friday = reede
 morning = hommik 
 school = kool
It's going slow but that's good because everything is new and needs practice. Doing my homework is like in high school: quickly completing it before going to the course ;) BUT
... i practice

I don't speak much Estonian at work because they (can) speak English with me. Also the youngsters have no problem with speaking in English.
I don't speak Estonian in the city center because all the people are used to having tourist around. Even if we try to order in Estonian, many reply in English.

I speak Estonian at the language courses
I speak Estonian to my Estonian friends. But..it's not as easy as it sounds. They are used to speaking with me in English and changing that isn't easy. But I try to use the Estonian sentences that I know. Also they are getting used to me asking "what is .... in Estonian", "how do you say..."?
I need to speak Estonian in the country side because the people living there are usually a 'bit' older and less familiar with speaking English. I like it - that's the way to learn a language! 
I need to speak Estonian with kids but kids older than 8 usually speak English..
I speak Estonian with myself #crazypeopletalktothemself

Example of Estonian

Estonians are proud of their language and they love to sing in it! It's not without a reason that the independence revolution (1987 - 1991) is called the singing revolution. Many Estonian musicians sing in Estonian, whether it's pop,folk or rock.  

Give it a try, listen to Mari Pikinen

Today I had to write a small text to my language teacher. I challange you to understand!
* for the Estonians reading this: this homework has not been corrected yet. If  there are any mistakes, I will hear about it tomorrow ;) 

Tere,

Kas sa oled juba kodus? Ma olen juba kodus. Ma olen väsinud. 

Iga hommikul kell üheksa ma söön hommikust. Ma lähen töole (Kesklinna noortekeskusse) kell pool kaks. Õhtul ma lähen poodi või jõusaalisse.  

Ma lähen täna õhtul jõusaalisse. Tegelikult, ma lähen iga nädal/puhapäeviti jõusaalisse.

Olgu, nägemist.

Femke

13 Detsember 2015