Gunnel Koba

I graduated from the University of Tartu in 2007 with a degree in Estonian (as a foreign language) and have been working in the field in various ways ever since. 

I have taught Estonian at all levels to all kinds of target groups, from illiterate to doctoral students. I am fascinated by non-formal approaches to language learning, and have organised and facilitated language clubs and mentored teachers in Russian-medium schools. I also introduce playfulness into my lessons and encourage students to improvise, move and use body language. I am convinced that sitting at a desk for hours on end is not good for students or teachers. Perhaps it also has something to do with the fact that I graduated with a minor in theatre studies and am a great theatre lover, among other things a frequent visitor to improvisation theatre. I believe that the language learning process itself should be enjoyable and stress-free, and that we should be able to use what we have learned in variety of ways.

I have a special interest in non-mediated language learning, i.e. teaching a language in one language. I experienced this myself as a secondary school student in England, and as a teacher I have studied and observed it in Finland, Spain, Italy, and Germany as part of in-service training. As a co-author at Tartu Folk High School, I have also created textbooks without an intermediary language for new immigrants from third countries.