Foreign language learning in Estonia

According to learning psychology, a foreign language is any language other than the native language of the speaker. The Language Act defines a foreign language as any language other than Estonian and Estonian sign language. A language of a national minority is also considered a foreign language that Estonian citizens who belong to a national minority have historically used as their mother tongue in Estonia.

In Estonia, students traditionally learn at least two foreign languages in school. According to the national curricula, students of Estonian-medium schools can learn English, French, German or Russian as the first (A) foreign language. The majority of students study English as their first foreign language. Students of Russian-medium schools study Estonian as their first foreign language (Estonian as the second language).

According to the national curriculum for basic schools, any foreign language can be offered as the second (B) foreign language depending on students’ interests and possibilities that the schools have. English, Russian, German, French or any foreign language can be offered as the second (B) foreign language. Other foreign languages taught at schools are, for example Hebrew, Spanish and Swedish.

According to the national curriculum for upper secondary schools, the prior division of foreign language into A- and B-languages is no longer valid and students enrol in the courses according to their language levels (B1 and B2 language courses). By the time of graduation, pupils should have achieved the level of an independent user (B- level according the Common European Framework)) in at least two foreign languages.

In order to graduate from upper secondary school, students have to take a state English language examination and/or an internationally recognized language examination in German, Russian or French. More and more students choose to take two foreign language examinations upon graduation.

In vocational and higher education, foreign language studies focus on language for specific purposes. The choice of languages taught and learnt is closely related to the specialty.

Additional information