ESTO 111 A: Basic Estonian

ESTO 111: Basic Estonian

Autumn Quarter 2022.  Taught by Guntis Šmidchens, guntiss@uw.edu
Class meets MWF 8:30-9:20, Savery Hall Room 167

Foreign Language Learning takes time, patience and persistence, and lots of courage. AND it is also fun! 😊

Learning Objectives: This course  aims to build basic skills in the Estonian language (listening, speaking, reading, writing and translation). The first quarter will focus on

1. understanding basic vocabulary (about 500 most commonly used words). 
2. Understanding how meanings of words change when their endings change.

Textbook and Tools:  

• Juhan Tuldava, Estonian Textbook (Indiana University, 1994)
  
  
• Online resources:

• Estonian Public Television: https://www.err.ee/
• Estonian Institute https://estinst.ee/en/
  
  

• Online tools:

• Estonian-English dictionary: http://aare.pri.ee/dictionary.html
• Basic Estonian Dictionary: http://www.eki.ee/dict/psv/  

The Plan:

• The class meets in person three times per week.
• Reading text: basic vocabulary and grammar, one chapter per week
• Written exercises, practiced in class and due on the following day;
• In-class quizzes and tests will usually be on Mondays.

Grades are based on in-class practice, and on weekly Quizzes and essays

• In-class participation (25%),
• Written exercises (25%)
• Weekly quizzes (25%),
• Final Examination (15%)
• Weekly online discussions (in English) about current events in Estonia (10%)

Note:  

• Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy (https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/).
• Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form (https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-request/).

At-a-glance overview of course schedule
(one chapter per week):