Is it Possible to Live in Estonia without the Estonian Language?

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  • Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
  • In this video, I answer the question for different situations and places: work, education, administration, real estate, healthcare, restaurants, stores, taxi, delivery, and websites.

Комментарии • 55

  • @inimolend
    @inimolend 2 года назад +17

    One more thing that is hard to do without speaking Estonian: communicating with Estonians as friends. I have noticed it's pretty hard to get much social life with Estonians (or enjoy the parties and outings if you do get invited) without knowing the language. Most Estonians prefer to speak Estonian with each other and there are those who feel uncomfortable speaking English or other foreign languages so most likely the party or outing will not be held in English only because there is one person speaking English. There are exceptions to this rule. If you only speak English then you need to have someone translate stuff to you all the time which is kind of tiring when it goes on for hours.
    You can of course be a part of non-Estonian social life which also exists (there is a lot of that in Russian, less for English and other languages speakers). You may also be able to find some Estonian friends. However I feel people who come to live in Estonia without knowing Estonian miss out on a lot of good experiences.
    You also leave a good impression if you at least try to learn Estonian, especially if you have managed to become conversational (actually people probably mention you to their friends as this pretty impressive foreigner who has managed to learn Estonian; Estonians respect this a lot since everyone knows it's not the easiest language to learn).
    I think the only way to really get to know the soul and essence of Estonia is to learn its language. If you like the country I really recommend learning Estonian to give more depth to your experience.

  • @chrisherne6454
    @chrisherne6454 11 месяцев назад +1

    I am a native English speaker and I have lived in Tallinn for 26 years. Even from the start I deliberately avoided the expat society and my social circle comprised pretty well all Estonians apart from some business contacts about which I had little choice. It took some time to get started, but over time I became more confident and can hold my own, being almost fluent; Estonians now seem to think that I am of Estonian heritage but born outside the country, so I suppose my skills are reasonably competent. I would say that if you expect to make any kind of life for yourself, irrespective of what country you have chosen, you should prioritise learning the national language; to do anything else is insulting to your adopted home. If you are there only on a temporary basis such as to attend school or university, then there is little point if your are in the capital as you will have neither the time nor the motivation to learn Estonian, and most of your social circle will be people like you who are there for the same reason and are using English as a lingua franca. Don't stress about it.

  • @isla424
    @isla424 2 года назад +4

    Thanks for your video! I'm coming to Estonia in August and your content has been very good for me so I know what to expect! I have been learning Estonian :-)

    • @HappyLifeAbroad
      @HappyLifeAbroad  2 года назад +1

      Happy to help! Hope you'll have a safe travel :)

  • @risto4803
    @risto4803 2 года назад +3

    if you visit Estonia for couple of days or weeks you can. if you want to live in Estonia you should know the basics of estonian language

  • @denja964
    @denja964 3 года назад +11

    You don't have to, but please do. I'm not Estonian, but the Estonian language is amazing 🇮🇪🤝🇪🇪❤
    Õpin Eesti keelt 2 aastat, aga ma pole kunagi käinud Eestisse 🙂

    • @HappyLifeAbroad
      @HappyLifeAbroad  3 года назад +5

      Nõustun, eesti keel on väga ilus!

    • @ahtot298
      @ahtot298 2 года назад +2

      Nice actually. Especially if you are learning it without immersion. Not wrong but more comfortable would be something like 'Olen eesti keelt 2a õppinud aga pole kunagi Eestis käinud' (names of language are written without using capital letter while countries themselves are written with capital letter. And notice different case I used).
      If you want advice: literature would aid you a lot. Pick a book in Estonian you'd actually want to read and chew through it. Brain would gradually memorize the patterns within language. After bunch of books you'll find you no longer need to think about cases themselves or irregularities, it's subconsciously already memorized and sorted. At this point you can just speak and get it right majority of times without thinking about grammar at all.

  • @sharonkariwo2594
    @sharonkariwo2594 2 года назад +1

    For the products' prices, my hack is to check the bar codes. I.E verify the barcode on the product with the price's barcode number

  • @user-oh4lu5qz6q
    @user-oh4lu5qz6q Год назад +1

    Taxi drivers who are Russian generally do not know Estonian either, so Estonians also have difficulties 😀
    Estonian 🇪🇪

  • @Hsfgd08
    @Hsfgd08 2 года назад +2

    It's definitely possible but not generally so comfortable.

  • @KohaAlbert
    @KohaAlbert 3 года назад +1

    About the app, I use google translate, as it has image recognition and it does support the Estonian language.
    I hadn't realized how much more "Estonian" my surroundings have become over years...

  • @prashantpatil3755
    @prashantpatil3755 Год назад

    I m coming Estonia in August. Your so sweet and beautiful. ♥

  • @kronikzlal
    @kronikzlal 3 года назад +5

    It's really hard actually... You can see the ladies in the markets judging you lol

  • @toomasargel8503
    @toomasargel8503 Год назад +2

    Yes you can ,but first that limits Your possobilties in work market and destroy our language becuse estonian use with You english ( or russian) and we forgett our language more and use more Your language words with between estonians to estonian. "Great" .

  • @autolifegh
    @autolifegh 3 года назад +1

    Nice video, thanks 😊
    Can you help to teach me Estonia 🇪🇪language

    • @HappyLifeAbroad
      @HappyLifeAbroad  3 года назад +1

      Thank you!
      I am still learning it myself...

  • @zsunay
    @zsunay 3 года назад +4

    Very nice and informative video. Can you please make a video on schools in Estonia, especially in Tallinn. Can kids adjust in municipal schools or public schools? Or International school is the only option, considering they are very expensive.

    • @generalkenobi2618
      @generalkenobi2618 3 года назад

      In public schools the kids should know estonian, and if they know they still gonna get judged for their color or looks, or their accent. So I suggest a international school, one would be International School of Estonia and there is one also in Tallinn.

    • @Merike7173
      @Merike7173 3 года назад +6

      @@generalkenobi2618 it is not true. No rassism at schools in Estonia. But the kids can learn at public schools and the same time have a private lessons of Estonian language there.

    • @HappyLifeAbroad
      @HappyLifeAbroad  3 года назад +3

      Interesting comments! Thank you! This is probably a matter of perspective...
      I don't have kids, so unfortunately know nothing about the school life. Although maybe later, I'll ask around my friends and film something about it in a format of an interview.

    • @generalkenobi2618
      @generalkenobi2618 3 года назад +2

      @@Merike7173 Pretty sure we have racism in schools, I'm going to an public school In estonia, and I can bet 10 bucks that if a person of diffrent colour with an accent comes to my class or school, they will be bullied or will experience some type of racism, or they will not experience racism, but mostly will. but it will be diffrent to schools in tallinn, where there are more people of colour.

    • @shikutokuvontakakaari9734
      @shikutokuvontakakaari9734 Год назад +1

      @@generalkenobi2618 inetult öeldud

  • @dholaram4505
    @dholaram4505 2 года назад

    I love you

  • @softiasjad1858
    @softiasjad1858 2 года назад

    NB! Never give ANY of your personal data to ANYONE who asks..... even claiming to be from the bank.

    • @softiasjad1858
      @softiasjad1858 2 года назад

      who ever asks is definitely a criminal.

  • @muhammedadhilaziz9907
    @muhammedadhilaziz9907 2 года назад

    Nice video

  • @ares1857
    @ares1857 3 года назад +1

    For getting a pr should we need to show our profficiency in estonian language

    • @HappyLifeAbroad
      @HappyLifeAbroad  3 года назад +1

      I believe the non-European citizens have to, you're right. Although some people coming here don't stay as long.

  • @Purple_haired_cleric
    @Purple_haired_cleric 2 года назад

    I think transportation can be hard too. Like bus fare, tickets and how to go there.

    • @HappyLifeAbroad
      @HappyLifeAbroad  2 года назад

      You know with google maps and other local apps you can go by without speaking to anyone much.

  • @syariefaja962
    @syariefaja962 3 года назад +1

    Is there any job for hospitality in Estonia hotel....

  • @ashoknayaki7776
    @ashoknayaki7776 Год назад

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  • @ares1857
    @ares1857 3 года назад

    How much years should be spent for an international student to get a pr in Estonia?for getting a part-time is it necessary to know Estonian language?

    • @HappyLifeAbroad
      @HappyLifeAbroad  3 года назад +1

      Usually, you have to spend in Estonia at least 5 years full-time to get a PR. Although maybe rules are different for students...
      Part-time job??

  • @ares1857
    @ares1857 3 года назад +1

    Is it hard to study Estonian language?

    • @HappyLifeAbroad
      @HappyLifeAbroad  3 года назад +1

      It is :D but also fun

    • @ares1857
      @ares1857 3 года назад

      @@HappyLifeAbroadthnx for the info. Do you know any job opportunities regarding mechanical engineering in this country

    • @HappyLifeAbroad
      @HappyLifeAbroad  3 года назад +1

      @@ares1857 There are at least several companies hiring mechanical engineers, as robotics is on the rise here too. Check LinkedIn for job ads.

    • @ares1857
      @ares1857 3 года назад

      @@HappyLifeAbroad thnx for helping me out.keep posting more videos.take care dear.god bless u

    • @HappyLifeAbroad
      @HappyLifeAbroad  3 года назад

      @@ares1857 Thank you!

  • @dholaram4505
    @dholaram4505 2 года назад

    Job mee koffee

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    @ashoknayaki7776 Год назад

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  • @tonalmotions
    @tonalmotions Год назад +1

    o back to Russia!