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Description
Scandinavian languages and cultures have played a formative role in the development of Estonian culture and have had a deep impact on the whole Baltic Sea region. Today, Scandinavian companies have extensive business connections with the region, creating the need for locals specialized in Scandinavian languages and cultures.
Since 2014, the University of Tartu has not had a lecturer who is a native speaker in Norwegian. This pre-defined project will fund one position of a visiting Norwegian lecturer to Tartu University for the length of three years. In addition to the regular course work, the planned activities include: improving the standard of teaching and the curriculum; updating the study materials didactics; creating new cooperation networks; organising exhibitions, seminars and conferences; organising of events that popularise the field of teaching and research; visiting Estonian schools to present the study programme. It is expected that at least 30 students will take part in Norwegian language and literature lecturers at UT. The project will therefore help the continuation and sustainability of the study programme, Norwegian language and literature.
Summary of project results
At the Department of Scandinavian Studies at the University of Tartu Institute of Foreign Languages and Cultures, students have the option to major or minor in Norwegian language and literature. Additionally, general language courses are available to all students who wish to improve their skills in Norwegian, regardless of their major or faculty. The Department of Scandinavian Studies has a tradition of hosting visiting lecturers, which has created a unique opportunity for students to learn language and culture from native speakers. This has also greatly supported students'' motivation to participate in and organize various cultural and social events at the institute. Unfortunately, between 2014 and 2019, the University of Tartu did not have a native speaker Norwegian lecturer, which was a significant loss to the Department. However, a lectureship financed by the EEA Grants has helped to continue and sustain teaching Norwegian language and culture.
The general objective of this lectureship was to improve the standard of teaching and the curriculum, create new cooperation networks, and introduce and popularize the specialties taught in the Scandinavian languages and cultures curriculum to potential future learners in Estonian schools. In spreading Norwegian values, culture, society, interdisciplinary and cross-cultural aspects, and overall popularizing the Norwegian language and culture in Estonia, the lecturer has also organized various events open to current learners and the public. These events include Scandinavian movie nights, seminars, exhibitions, and celebrations of Scandinavian holidays.
The target group for Norwegian language and literature lectures at the University of Tartu during the project period was 30 students per semester. This included students majoring in Norwegian language and culture, students of other specialties at the Department of Scandinavian Studies, students taking practical Norwegian language courses, and the general public (including potential new learners at Estonian schools and continuing education learners). By the end of the project, all performance indicators related to the project had been achieved.
The project included following activities:
- to improve the standard of teaching and the curriculum,
- create new cooperation networks and
- introduce and popularize the specialties taught in the Scandinavian languages and cultures curriculum to potential future learners in Estonian schools (e.g. spreading Norwegian values, culture, society, interdisciplinary and cross-cultural aspects, and overall popularizing the Norwegian language and culture in Estonia, the lecturer has organized various events open to current learners and the public. These events include Scandinavian movie nights, seminars, exhibitions, and celebrations of Scandinavian holidays.)
The impact of the project on Norwegian language and literature majors has been positive. In 2022, nine students graduated from the bachelor''s program and six continued their studies at the master''s level. Additionally, 19 students were accepted into the program in 2022, and 15 of them are continuing their studies into the second year. These results demonstrate the effectiveness and sustainability of the teaching program, and the high number of admissions suggests a significant interest in Norwegian language and literature as a major.
If the lecturer''s workload permits, we also offer language courses for university-wide registration. During the 2021/22 academic year, 15 students enrolled in the Norwegian for beginners language course, and seven students continued with the second-semester continuation course. We welcome students from other disciplines and continuing education learners to our practical Norwegian language courses, which are designed for Norwegian philologists. As a result, anyone interested could learn about the Norwegian language and culture.
The visiting lecturer has also developed cooperation both inside and outside the university. In collaboration with the Latvian House of Languages, an online platforms for Norwegian language grammar and pronunciation are being prepared. Furthermore, Norwegian and Danish visiting lecturers are experimenting with co-teaching both languages in the same class in the Department of Scandinavian Studies.
The high number of students taking Norwegian language and literature as a major is an excellent indicator of the quality of teaching, and the impact of the project has been significant.
Summary of bilateral results
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