Your First Estonian Conversations
Practice & Assessment
Congratulations on reaching the final lesson of Module 1!
You've already learned how to:
- Greet people in Estonian.
- Use polite everyday expressions.
- Ask someone to repeat themselves.
- Explain that you're learning Estonian.
- Introduce yourself.
- Talk about where you're from and where you live.
- Ask simple personal questions.
- Recognize important Estonian sounds.
- Participate in short conversations.
Now it's time to check what you can do without relying on the lesson examples.
This assessment isn't about memorizing every word perfectly.
It's about developing practical communication skills that will support your progress toward CEFR A1.
What You'll Do
This lesson contains six activities:
- Vocabulary and expression review.
- Listening comprehension.
- Reading comprehension.
- Grammar and sentence construction.
- Writing assessment.
- Speaking and conversation assessment.
You'll also complete a final real-life challenge.
Assessment goal: Demonstrate that you can exchange basic personal information using simple Estonian, understand familiar expressions, and request assistance when necessary.
1. Warm-Up: Essential Expressions
Before beginning the assessment, review the expressions below.
Listen to each one and repeat it aloud.
Greetings
Tere!
Hello!
Tere hommikust!
Good morning!
Tere päevast!
Good day!
Tere õhtust!
Good evening!
Polite Expressions
Aitäh!
Thank you!
Palun.
Please / You're welcome.
Vabandust!
Excuse me / Sorry.
Head aega!
Goodbye!
Nägemist!
Goodbye / See you!
Communication Help
Ma ei saa aru.
I don't understand.
Palun korrake.
Please repeat.
Palun rääkige aeglasemalt.
Please speak more slowly.
Ma õpin eesti keelt.
I'm learning Estonian.
Personal Information
Minu nimi on Anna.
My name is Anna.
Ma olen Eestist.
I'm from Estonia.
Ma elan Tallinnas.
I live in Tallinn.
Ma räägin inglise keelt.
I speak English.
Important
This is your final review before the assessment.
When you begin the following sections, try to answer before looking at the answer keys.
For the listening tasks, hide the written transcript if possible. The audio should be the primary source of information.
2. Assessment Part 1 — Everyday Expressions
Total: 10 points
Choose the best answer for each situation.
Each correct answer is worth one point.
Question 1
You enter a supermarket.
What should you say?
A. Head aega!
B. Tere!
C. Aitäh!
Question 2
A cashier hands you your receipt.
What do you say?
A. Aitäh!
B. Kuidas läheb?
C. Mis sinu nimi on?
Question 3
You want to politely get someone's attention.
A. Nägemist!
B. Vabandust!
C. Väga hästi!
Question 4
You don't understand what someone says.
A. Ma ei saa aru.
B. Ma elan Tallinnas.
C. Ma olen Eestist.
Question 5
Someone is speaking too quickly.
A. Palun rääkige aeglasemalt.
B. Tere õhtust!
C. Meeldiv tutvuda!
Question 6
You want a stranger to repeat something.
A. Palun korrake.
B. Kus te elate?
C. Mis teie nimi on?
Question 7
You want to say you're learning Estonian.
A. Ma räägin inglise keelt.
B. Ma õpin eesti keelt.
C. Ma elan Eestis.
Question 8
Someone asks:
Kuidas läheb?
Which response is appropriate?
A. Hästi, aitäh!
B. Head aega!
C. Minu nimi on Anna.
Question 9
You're leaving an office.
A. Tere hommikust!
B. Head aega!
C. Mis teie nimi on?
Question 10
Someone thanks you.
Which expression can mean "You're welcome"?
A. Vabandust!
B. Palun!
C. Ei!
Your Score
Write down how many questions you answered correctly.
You'll find the answer key near the end of this lesson.
3. Assessment Part 2 — Listening Comprehension
Total: 10 points
In this section, you'll listen to short Estonian statements and questions.
Your goal is to identify key information.
For a meaningful listening assessment, cover the Estonian text while playing the audio. Reading the transcription tests a different skill.
Each correct answer is worth two points.
Listening 1 — Name
Listen:
Minu nimi on Martin.
What is the person's name?
A. Maria
B. Martin
C. Anna
Listening 2 — Residence
Listen:
Ma elan Tartus.
Where does the person live?
A. Tallinn
B. Pärnu
C. Tartu
Listening 3 — Origin
Listen:
Ma olen Soomest.
Where is the person from?
A. Estonia
B. Finland
C. Germany
Listening 4 — Languages
Listen:
Ma räägin inglise ja eesti keelt.
Which languages does the person speak?
A. English and Estonian
B. Finnish and Estonian
C. English and Russian
Listening 5 — Communication Help
Listen:
Palun rääkige aeglasemalt.
What is the person asking?
A. To speak English
B. To speak more slowly
C. To repeat their name
Listening Self-Check
After answering, listen again.
Ask yourself:
- Did I recognize the main information immediately?
- Did I need several repetitions?
- Did I rely on the written sentence?
Needing repetition is normal at this level.
But the long-term goal is to understand familiar expressions directly from speech.
4. Assessment Part 3 — Reading Comprehension
Total: 10 points
Read the text below without translating every word individually.
Reading: A New Student
Tere!
Minu nimi on Sofia.
Ma olen Ukrainast, aga ma elan Eestis.
Ma elan Tallinnas.
Ma räägin ukraina ja inglise keelt.
Ma õpin eesti keelt.
Ma räägin natuke eesti keelt.
English Questions
Answer the following questions based on the Estonian text.
Each correct answer is worth two points.
Question 1: What is the person's name?
A. Sofia
B. Maria
C. Anna
Question 2: Where is Sofia originally from?
A. Estonia
B. Ukraine
C. Finland
Question 3: Where does Sofia currently live?
A. Tartu
B. Helsinki
C. Tallinn
Question 4: Which languages does Sofia speak?
A. Ukrainian and English
B. Estonian and Finnish
C. Russian and Finnish
Question 5: Is Sofia learning Estonian?
A. Yes
B. No
C. The text doesn't say
Reading Strategy
Notice the repeated sentence patterns:
- Minu nimi on ...
- Ma olen ...
- Ma elan ...
- Ma räägin ...
- Ma õpin ...
These patterns make short personal introductions easier to understand.
At A1, you should gradually learn to recognize familiar information without translating every individual word.
5. Assessment Part 4 — Grammar and Sentence Building
Total: 10 points
This section checks whether you can use the basic patterns introduced in Module 1.
Each correct answer is worth one point.
Question 1
Complete:
Ma _____ Anna.
A. oled
B. olen
C. on
Question 2
Complete:
Sa _____ Tallinnas.
A. elan
B. elate
C. elad
Question 3
Complete:
Te _____ eesti keelt.
A. räägite
B. räägid
C. räägin
Question 4
Choose the correct question:
A. Kas sa elad Tallinnas?
B. Kas sa elan Tallinnas?
C. Kas sa elate Tallinnas?
Question 5
Which word means "Where?"
A. Mis
B. Kus
C. Kust
Question 6
Which word means "From where?"
A. Kust
B. Kus
C. Kes
Question 7
Complete:
Minu _____ on Martin.
A. elan
B. nimi
C. räägin
Question 8
Complete:
Ma _____ eesti keelt.
A. õpid
B. õpite
C. õpin
Question 9
Which sentence means "I don't understand"?
A. Ma saan aru.
B. Ma ei saa aru.
C. Kas sa saad aru?
Question 10
Which is the polite version of "Do you speak English?"
A. Kas te räägite inglise keelt?
B. Kas sa räägid inglise keelt?
C. Ma räägin inglise keelt.
Grammar Reminder
You're not expected to understand the entire Estonian verb system yet.
You should recognize common patterns such as:
- Ma olen
- Sa oled
- Te olete
- Ma elan
- Sa elad
- Te elate
- Ma räägin
- Sa räägid
- Te räägite
These forms will be strengthened in future modules.
6. Assessment Part 5 — Writing
Total: 10 points
Now demonstrate that you can write simple sentences independently.
Task A — Introduce Yourself
Write five sentences about yourself in Estonian.
Include:
- Your name.
- Where you're from.
- Where you live.
- Which language or languages you speak.
- That you're learning Estonian.
Don't copy the example immediately.
Try writing from memory first.
Example Answer
Tere! Minu nimi on David. Ma olen Inglismaalt. Ma elan Tallinnas. Ma räägin inglise keelt. Ma õpin eesti keelt.
Your personal information will be different.
The example demonstrates the expected sentence structure.
Task B — Ask Two Questions
Write two questions you could ask someone you've just met.
One question should ask their name.
The other should ask where they live.
Example Answers
Mis sinu nimi on?
Kus sa elad?
Writing Evaluation
Use the following criteria.
| Criteria | Points |
|---|---|
| Five relevant personal-information sentences | 5 |
| Two understandable questions | 2 |
| Appropriate basic verb forms | 1 |
| Understandable spelling | 1 |
| Clear overall meaning | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
For the first criterion, award one point for each relevant, understandable sentence.
For the questions, award one point for each appropriate, understandable question.
Do not require perfect spelling or grammar for every point.
The primary goal is to communicate basic information clearly.
7. Assessment Part 6 — Speaking and Interaction
Total: 10 points
This is the most important part of the module assessment.
Your goal is to use Estonian aloud, not simply recognize correct answers.
Ideally, complete this task with a teacher, language partner, or another person who can ask the questions without displaying their written forms.
If no partner is available, record your answers and evaluate them against the suggested responses.
Speaking Task A — Introduce Yourself
Introduce yourself aloud using at least four complete sentences.
Include:
- Your name
- Your country of origin
- Your city
- A language you speak
- The fact that you're learning Estonian, if possible
Speaking Task B — Answer Questions
Your partner asks:
Mis sinu nimi on?
Kust sa pärit oled?
Kus sa elad?
Mis keeli sa räägid?
Answer naturally using your own information.
Speaking Task C — Ask Questions
Now ask your partner three questions.
Ask about:
- Their name
- Where they live
- Whether they speak Estonian
Speaking Task D — Manage a Problem
Imagine your partner speaks too quickly.
Ask them to slow down.
Then ask them to repeat something.
Useful expressions include:
Palun rääkige aeglasemalt.
Palun korrake.
Speaking Task E — Close the Conversation
End the interaction politely.
For example:
Meeldiv tutvuda!
Head aega!
Speaking Evaluation
| Criteria | Points |
|---|---|
| Gives a short, understandable introduction | 2 |
| Answers familiar personal questions | 2 |
| Asks three appropriate questions | 2 |
| Uses expressions to request help | 2 |
| Uses an appropriate greeting and closing | 1 |
| Pronunciation is understandable with reasonable effort | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Important
You do not need fluent speech.
You may pause, hesitate, or correct yourself.
For a beginner, the important question is:
Can another person understand your basic message and support the conversation?
If yes, you're developing the foundations of A1 interaction.
Self-assessment is useful for practice, but independent feedback is needed to validate speaking performance reliably.
8. Final Real-Life Simulation
Now let's put everything together.
Scenario: Your First Day in an Estonian Language Class
You've arrived at a beginner Estonian language class in Tallinn.
Another student starts speaking to you.
Listen to the dialogue.
Tere! Tere! Mis sinu nimi on? Minu nimi on Ahmed. Aga sinu? Minu nimi on Maria. Meeldiv tutvuda! Meeldiv tutvuda! Kust sa pärit oled? Vabandust, palun korda. Kust sa pärit oled? Ma olen Bangladeshist. Aga sina? Ma olen Ukrainast. Kus sa elad? Ma elan Tallinnas. Kas sa räägid eesti keelt? Natuke. Ma õpin eesti keelt. Väga tore! Head aega! Nägemist!
Your Challenge
Repeat the conversation aloud.
Then make these changes:
- Replace Ahmed's name with your own.
- Replace Bangladesh with your country.
- Replace Tallinn with your city, if different.
- Answer the questions without looking at the dialogue.
- Ask the questions yourself.
- Practice once using polite forms.
Why This Matters
This scenario combines the entire module:
Lesson 1: Greetings and polite expressions
Lesson 2: Asking for repetition
Lesson 3: Personal introductions
Lesson 4: Pronunciation
Lesson 5: Complete conversations
You're no longer practicing isolated sentences.
You're using them together to communicate.
9. Assessment Answer Key
Complete the assessment before checking these answers.
Part 1 — Everyday Expressions
- B — Tere!
- A — Aitäh!
- B — Vabandust!
- A — Ma ei saa aru.
- A — Palun rääkige aeglasemalt.
- A — Palun korrake.
- B — Ma õpin eesti keelt.
- A — Hästi, aitäh!
- B — Head aega!
- B — Palun!
Part 2 — Listening
- B — Martin
- C — Tartu
- B — Finland
- A — English and Estonian
- B — Speak more slowly
Part 3 — Reading
- A — Sofia
- B — Ukraine
- C — Tallinn
- A — Ukrainian and English
- A — Yes
Part 4 — Grammar
- B — olen
- C — elad
- A — räägite
- A — Kas sa elad Tallinnas?
- B — Kus
- A — Kust
- B — nimi
- C — õpin
- B — Ma ei saa aru.
- A — Kas te räägite inglise keelt?
10. Your Module 1 Score
Calculate your results.
| Assessment | Maximum |
|---|---|
| Everyday expressions | 10 |
| Listening | 10 |
| Reading | 10 |
| Grammar | 10 |
| Writing | 10 |
| Speaking | 10 |
| Total | 60 |
Suggested Interpretation
54–60 points: Strong Module 1 Performance
You have demonstrated strong command of the material assessed here.
You're ready to move into new everyday situations.
45–53 points: Ready to Continue
You've developed a good foundation.
Review any weak areas while progressing into Module 2.
36–44 points: More Practice Recommended
You understand some key material but should revisit the areas where you lost points.
Pay special attention to listening and speaking.
Below 36 points: Review Module 1
Return to Lessons 1–5 and repeat the key exercises.
Prioritize understanding and producing familiar sentences rather than memorizing grammar tables.
Important Assessment Rule
A high total score does not compensate for an inability to communicate in basic spoken Estonian.
For a strong Module 1 completion result, aim for:
- At least 45 out of 60 overall.
- At least 6 out of 10 in listening.
- At least 6 out of 10 in speaking.
These are course-level practice thresholds, not official CEFR pass marks.
The speaking score should be validated by a person or reliable speaking-assessment process when possible.
11. What You've Achieved
After completing Module 1, you should be able to handle a simple introduction in Estonian.
You can:
- Greet someone.
- Use polite expressions.
- Introduce yourself.
- Tell someone where you're from.
- Say where you live.
- Explain which languages you speak.
- Ask simple questions.
- Respond to familiar questions.
- Request repetition or slower speech.
- End a conversation politely.
These are meaningful early steps toward A1.
What You Haven't Learned Yet
You haven't covered all A1 requirements.
You'll still need to develop skills related to:
- Numbers and prices
- Time and dates
- Shopping and services
- Food and ordering
- Transport and directions
- Family and everyday routines
- Work and daily activities
- Common Estonian noun and verb forms
- More listening and reading
- Short written messages
That's exactly what the upcoming modules will address.
12. Your Final Real-World Mission
Before moving to Module 2, try to complete one real interaction in Estonian.
Option A — Introduce Yourself
Introduce yourself to an Estonian-speaking person.
Use at least three sentences.
Option B — Ask a Question
Ask someone their name or where they live, in an appropriate social situation.
Option C — Manage a Conversation
If someone speaks too quickly, ask them to slow down or repeat their words.
Option D — Record Your Introduction
Record a 30–60-second introduction.
Include:
- Your name
- Your country
- Your city
- Your languages
- A greeting and closing
Listen to the recording.
Compare your pronunciation with the examples from earlier lessons.
Try recording it again after practicing.
Reflection
After completing the mission, think about:
- Which sentences felt easy?
- Which words were difficult to pronounce?
- Did you remember the questions?
- Could you understand the other person's responses?
- What would you like to improve?
Use your answers to guide your next practice session.
13. Module 1 Completion Checklist
Before moving on, check whether you can do the following.
Listening
- Recognize common greetings.
- Understand familiar questions about names and residence.
- Recognize simple statements about origin and languages.
- Understand requests spoken slowly and clearly.
Speaking
- Introduce yourself.
- Say where you're from.
- Say where you live.
- Explain which languages you speak.
- Use familiar expressions with understandable pronunciation.
Interaction
- Ask someone's name.
- Ask where someone lives.
- Ask whether someone speaks Estonian.
- Request repetition.
- Ask someone to speak more slowly.
- Start and end a simple conversation.
Reading
- Understand a short written personal introduction.
- Recognize familiar Estonian question words.
- Identify basic information in short sentences.
Writing
- Write five sentences about yourself.
- Write at least two simple personal questions.
- Use basic verb forms understandably.
Grammar
- Recognize ma, sa, and te.
- Use olen, elad, and räägin in familiar contexts.
- Recognize yes/no questions beginning with kas.
- Distinguish kus and kust.
- Recognize the difference between ma saan aru and ma ei saa aru.
You don't need perfect accuracy in every item.
But you should be able to perform most of these tasks with familiar language and limited assistance.
14. What's Next?
You've completed the first module of your Estonian learning journey.
You now have the foundation for starting simple conversations.
In Module 2, you'll develop another essential set of real-life skills.
You'll learn how to:
- Understand and say numbers.
- Ask how much something costs.
- Talk about money and prices.
- Ask simple practical questions.
- Recognize basic quantities.
- Handle simple shopping situations.
You'll also begin building more flexible sentences using vocabulary and grammar from Module 1.
