Some Notes on Teaching in a Multicultural Environment: the Estonian Literature Project at the University of Tartu

Abstract

Since 1993, a course in Estonian literature has been taught in a multicultural environment for foreign students as part of the Baltic Studies Project at the University of Tartu. This class provides to participants their first glimpse of Estonian culture as a whole. Culture studies can presumably help foreign students overcome whatever culture shock they may first experience in an unfamiliar country. The structure and the teaching strategies of the class are intended to further the aims of multicultural learning. Teaching strategies emphasize the importance of personalities, information about who is processed and affirmed by reducing the writers to certain archetypes. Because of limited time, micro‐teaching is expected to be a prospective strategy for seminars. Among other technical tools, a computer game, INTERESTICA, is of distinct importance for assisting students in gaining their first knowledge of Estonian culture in the context of a course in literature.