Tallinn

Does anyone know of a local civic center or such that has classes in Estonian language? I don%26#39;t really need college level classes, just something informal.

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I don%26#39;t mean to be discouraging, but it%26#39;s not a very easy language to learn. Do you plan to stay longer?

If you want to pick up a few friendly phrases, then I am sure the local hotel staff (restaurant staff etc) will be happy to teach you.

If you are serious about it, then I suggest to take a look at http://www.eki.ee/keel/ It%26#39;s a short introduction to the language, its characteristic features. And lists a few opportunities for studying.

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I%26#39;m already learning it...mostly just phrases and such but it%26#39;s actually not as bad as I thought it would be. Sure it has alot more letters than English but the good thing is, it seems to be alot more consistent than English. (The numbers for example...in English you have to deal with eleven not oneteen, twelve not twoteen, thirteen not threeteen, fifteen not fiveteen, etc. but in Estonian, everything between 10-20 is just %26quot;teist%26quot; with the primary number in front...much easier!)

I just thought it would be fun to supplement what I%26#39;m learning here with a class once I get there. I will definitely check out the website you sent. Thanks!

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That%26#39;s fabuolous!

I%26#39;m afraid that the best option you get are (commercially run) language schools. There are a few listed on the eki.ee link I sent earlier. (and by the way, don%26#39;t be intimidated by the webmaster%26#39;s greeting there, the content is great.) I cannot comment on any of the language schools, I don%26#39;t have any experience.

Other than that, it%26#39;s worthwhile to check out University of Tallinn%26#39;s website. I know you said that you don%26#39;t expect college level, but TLU also runs courses for international and exchange students. See if there is anything for you: http://www.tlu.ee/?LangID=2%26amp;CatID=2961

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Come come, now now, tut tut. I%26#39;m afraid our Estonian cousins on the south side of the Gulf of Finland have the same tendency as Finns to exaggerate the difficulty of their language. It is no harder for English-speakers to learn Estonian than it is for Estonians to learn English, and there is not much wrong with Irvik%26#39;s English, is there? Of course, it is better to start young, but that applies to any language.

Don%26#39;t be discouraged: the more Estonian you learn, the easier it gets, unlike (for instance) French or English, where the irregularities, exceptions and special cases pile up the difficulties as you get into the advanced stuff.

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Well, it is intimidating at first, I%26#39;ll give him that. All those double vowels! (Good thing it%26#39;s not %26quot;Wheel of Fortune%26quot; where you have to PAY for the vowels. Of course, if you don%26#39;t watch Wheel of Fortune in Europe then you have no idea what I%26#39;m talking about...LOL)

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It%26#39;s one of the problems for English-speakers that Estonian is so SIMPLE - one vowel short, two vowels long, and one sound only for each letter. You%26#39;re used to horrendously complicated spellings, like %26#39;enough%26#39;. Once you catch on, it%26#39;s a piece of cake.

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Don%26#39;t you mean a piece of %26quot;kook%26quot;? :)

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Honestly, if you put your mind to it, no language is really difficult. They are just different :)

As far as cousins (siblings, I%26#39;d say, John) on either side of the Gulf of Finland are concerned, it is the cases that usually get people confused. 15 in Finnish and 14 in Estonian. And the irragularities that come from there. But you both know that :)

Your opening sentence , John, made me think. Finns and Estonians have a history of neighbours and/or oppressors reluctant to learn their language. And arguing that it is far too difficult. By now, it could have well developed into a national reflex - %26quot;don%26#39;t even try, it%26#39;s too difficult%26quot;. But you can imagine the sincere appreciation that Finns and Estonians show towards people, who try to speak their language.

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%26quot;But you can imagine the sincere appreciation that Finns and Estonians show towards people, who try to speak their language.%26quot;

Irvik, I experienced this just this morning. My physician%26#39;s assistant here in Florida is from Estonia so I had my first chance to practice what I%26#39;ve learned so far. She was very encouraging and said my pronunciation was really good (maybe she was just being nice but it was very kind). She told me the same thing you said above, that people will so appreciate the attempt that it doesn%26#39;t matter if you say things perfectly or not.

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That was nice. Last summer, on Santorini, I made a homesick Estonian waitress weepy with gratitude for placing my order in Estonian. There may not be many of them, but they get everywhere.

Still, I miss the reactions of Estonians in the 1970%26#39;s - they would gasp with astonishment at a single Estonian word from a foreigner, being used to colonists who had been settled there for decades without ever bothering with the language.