Elvira Küün

ABSTRACT

According to the census carried out in 2011 (Eesti… 2011), approximately 22,300 Ukrainians reside in Estonia, making Ukrainians the third largest ethnic group in Estonia (see also Küün, 2021, p. forthcoming). For most of them, a language shift has taken place in favor of Russian; next to other sociolinguistic factors, this has been contributed to by the language of instruction in relevant general education school which in most cases has been Russian (Rannut & Rannut, 2010, p.16). Although language shift does not mean automatic identity shift (Bilaniuk & Melnik, 2008), the aspiration to maintain one’s own language nevertheless symbolically marks the strength of ethnic roots (Küün, 2021, p. forthcoming). This study describes the role of the Ukrainian language and culture Sunday school, established as an educational and cultural organization for the Ukrainian minority, in supporting Ukrainian identity in Estonia. The study also examines the teaching methods used in relevant educational establishment. The research method employed included semi-structured interviews. It was discovered that parents appreciate efforts by the Sunday school’s organizers to contribute to their children learning Ukrainian as, in most cases, Ukrainian is no longer widely spoken at home. The main role of the Sunday school is considered to be implementation of relevant families’ language ideology by making sure that students learn to value their heritage language and culture. It was also found that the teaching methods applied at the Sunday school rather promote informal learning.

Keywords

family language ideology, language management measures, Sunday school, teaching methods, Russian, Ukrainian.

References

1. Bilaniuk, L., & Melnik, S. (2008). A Tense and Shifting Balance: Bilingualism and Education in Ukraine. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 11, 3–4, 339–372. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13670050802148731

2. Eesti… 2011 = Eesti rahva- ja eluruumide loendus 2011 [Estonian Statistics Executive Agency's census]; https://www.stat.ee/index.php/et/statistikaamet/rahvaloendus-2021/2011-aasta-rahva-ja-eluruumide-loendus

3. Küün, E. (2021) (forthcoming). Viie ukraina juurtega pere keelepoliitika mudelid Eesti kontekstis [Models of language policy of five families of Ukrainian origin in the Estonian context]. Eesti Rakenduslingvistika Ühingu aastaraamat.

4. Rannut, Ü., & Rannut, M. (2010). Tallinna õpilaste kodukeele uuring, I osa: vene keele mõju Tallinna õpilaste kodukeelele [Tallinn Students' Home Language Survey]. Integratsiooni Uuringute Instituut.