Department of Applied Linguistics

The Department of Applied Linguistics is focused on the practical applications of linguistics. We teach and study Estonian as a first, second and foreign language. Our teaching centers around courses that develop spoken and written academic Estonian and cultural knowledge. Our research groups conduct investigations in the domains of psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, language policy and planning, multilingualism, cultural knowledge, and didactics. We also offer lifelong learning programmes and basic courses for teachers of Estonian as a second or foreign language.

The department has active collaboration with schools for teacher training as well as organising Olympiads for Estonian as a Second Language; we train teachers for ‘Estonian houses’ throughout Estonia in cooperations with the Integration Foundation, and offer diverse supplementary courses for teachers of Estonian as a second or foreign language. Our researchers take a proactive role in nationwide discussions of language policy and language teaching, developing language teaching methods and materials and carrying out applied studies leading to political recommendations on, e.g. organising language teaching, the status of Estonian and language policy in higher education.