DEPARTMENT A
Sign language users with hearing loss over 40dB and/or students who need sign language support in their studies (including those with hearing aids or cochlear implant) are admitted.
Estonian Sign Language and Estonian are the languages of instruction.
National curriculum (11 years):
- 1st school stage Year 1-4
- 2nd school stage Year 5-8
- 3rd school stage Year 9-11
Simplified curriculum, simplified teaching* (9 years + 1 extra year):
- 1st school stage Year 1-3
- 2nd school stage Year 4-6
- 3rd school stage Year 7-9
* education for children with mild intellectual disability
Simplified curriculum, coping studies* (9 years + 2 extra years):
- 1st school stage Year 1-3
- 2nd school stage Year 4-6
- 3rd school stage Year 7-9
*education of children with moderate intellectual disability
Students:
Years 2-9
- Altogether 16 students
- Small classes: 1-4 students in each
Teachers:
- 8 hearing teachers
- 6 Deaf teachers
Language teaching
- L1 – Estonian Sign Language
- Foreign language A – Estonian Language
- Foreign language B – English
Sign Language
- Teaching starts in Year 1
- Ability to use ESL in real life situations
- Expressive signing
- Deaf culture in Estonia and other countries:
- Signlore
- Famous Deaf people
- Deaf schools
Foreign languages:
Estonian language teaching starts in Year 1.
National Curriculum:
- At the end of basic school – level B1.
English language teaching starts in Year 5
National Curriculum:
- At the end of basic school reading B1.1; writing A2.2.
Simplified curriculum, simplified teaching:
- Estonian language
At the end of basic school – level A2
- English (elective)
At the end of basic school reading and writing – A2.1
Simplified curriculum, coping studies
Estonian language
- At the end of basic school – level A1
English (elective)
- Reading and writing A1.1
English
- No listening or speaking paper at the basic school final examination
- Language of instruction – English
- Spoken dialogues, role-plays
- Use of speech varies from student to student
- Text comprehension: Estonian Sign Language, written answers, drawing, etc
Life skills
- Jobs, occupations
- Computers and internet
- E-pals
- Letters
- At a restaurant
- Transportation, giving directions
- Filling out forms
- Visiting exhibitions, watching films, etc.
Study environment in Department A
- Visualised learning (computer, data projector, document camera)
- Teaching in ESL and Estonian
- Sign language interpreting service
- Minimising the noise
- A room with a vibrating floor
SUPPORT STRUCTURES
- Long-day groups
- Activity clubs
The list of clubs is shaped according to students’ interests and school’s possibilities (woodwork, handicraft, sport, art, music).
- Boarding house
For students living outside Tallinn or for those who need accommodation for other reasons.
- Speech therapy
- Social pedagogical assistance
