Faculty of Arts & Science 2016-2017 Calendar

Estonian

• Estonian Studies Minor
• Estonian Courses

Given by the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures

Estonian is spoken by approximately one million people in present-day Estonia and some 72,000 in other parts of the world, including 18,000 in Canada. Closely related to Finnish and more distantly to Hungarian, Estonian is one of the few Finno-Ugric languages to exist surrounded by speakers of Indo-European languages.
An ancient people, the Estonians have preserved their language and culture despite centuries of domination by other nations. Not only is their heritage enormously rich in folk epics and songs, but Estonians enjoy a vigorous and diversified literary tradition which continues in Estonia proper and in their adoptive countries.
Estonian studies at the University of Toronto are concerned with the language, literature, and culture of Estonia. The language courses will be of interest to those wishing to improve their language skills, as well as to students of general linguistics who desire to acquire a knowledge of a non-Indo-European language.

Estonian Programs

(4 FCEs or equivalent, including at least one at the 300+ level)

Four FCEs from: EST100H1, EST101H1, EST200H1, EST201H1, EST300Y1, EST400Y1, EST420Y1, FIN220H1

Estonian Courses

The 199Y1 and 199H1 seminars are designed to provide the opportunity to work closely with an instructor in a class of no more than twenty-four students. These interactive seminars are intended to stimulate the students’ curiosity and provide an opportunity to get to know a member of the professorial staff in a seminar environment during the first year of study. Details can be found at www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/course/fyh-1/.

The Department reserves the right to assign students to courses appropriate to their level of competence in Estonian.

Learn essential Estonian vocabulary, basic grammar and develop elementary conversational competence. Popular songs, poetry, and structured dialogue are among the various tools for achieving these objectives. Students will learn commonly used phrases and expressions used in everyday situations, from greeting people to making purchases in stores, and ordering meals in cafes. The course is designed for students with either no fluency or minimum fluency in Estonian.

This course expands the student’s command of Estonian from the introductory level. The course will consist of themed sessions using language for travel in Estonia, savouring the language of Estonian cuisine, and the lyrics of popular, folk and classical Estonian music. These themed sessions will also enable students to better understand the proper inflections of nouns and tenses of verbs in both dialogue and written exercises. This course is open to students with minimum fluency in Estonian.

This course develops the student's language skills via an exploration of Estonian culture - including its music, literature, film and media. Each of these areas will be examined through readings, writing about one’s impressions, and speaking about them to others in the class. The course consists of a combination of both classroom and web-based learning. The course is open to students with some fluency in Estonian.

Through an exploration of Estonian culture both in Estonia and the diaspora, students will further develop their skills in speaking, reading and writing in Estonian. Students will learn about the main characteristics of Estonian society – its history, way of life, the Estonian economy and business environment, and Estonian current affairs. Students will discuss recent trends and challenges in the development of Estonian society. The course will combine both classroom and web-based learning. It is open to students with elementary fluency in Estonian, both spoken and written.

Advanced grammar and stylistics through study of a variety of texts; problems of composition; translation; oral and written practice. (Offered in alternate years)

A survey of the major writers and literary periods in Estonian literature. From Ksu Hans, Lament of Tartu to the National Awakening. Republican, Soviet, expatriate literature, and the New Awakening. Readings in Estonian or English. (Offered in alternate years)

A year-long reading and research project of significant depth in a major topic in Estonian language, literature or culture approved and supervised by an instructor. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

A semester-long reading and research project of significant depth in a major topic in Estonian language, literature or culture approved and supervised by an instructor. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.