Parental Choice and Language-of-Instruction Policies and Practices in Estonia

Abstract

This article will illuminate school and language choice and access to educational alternatives in Estonia among the Russian-speaking minority based on a literature review on school choice, and on preliminary findings from qualitative interview data conducted in Estonia among 15 families whose childrenstudy in Estonian schools, Russianschools, and bilingual programs. This research has found that Russian speaking choice parents selecting Estonian-speaking schools differ from nonchoice Russian-speaking parents in their resourcefulness. Second, the article discusses support systems provided to second language learners and will examine these from the perspective of second language acquisition theory. Despite the Soviet-era threat to the very survival of Estonian, and despite the current emphasis on the Estonian language, Estonian educational language policies and practices seem to indicate sensitivity and understanding of the issues involved insecond language acquisitionfor children in educational settings.