Your First Real Conversation

You've already learned more Estonian than you might realize.

You can greet someone, introduce yourself, explain where you're from, say where you live, and ask people simple questions.

You also know what to do when you don't understand something.

Now it's time to put everything together.

In this lesson, you'll practice having your first complete conversation in Estonian.

You'll begin with a guided dialogue, gradually remove the support, and finish by responding to questions about yourself.

Today's challenge: Keep a simple conversation going for at least one minute using familiar Estonian expressions.

What You'll Learn

By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to:

• Start a conversation naturally.
• Introduce yourself using several connected sentences.
• Ask another person basic questions.
• Respond to familiar personal questions.
• Ask for repetition when necessary.
• Use appropriate polite and informal expressions.
• End a conversation naturally.
• Participate in a short conversation without relying entirely on a written script.

A1 learning goal: Take part in a simple conversation about familiar personal information when the other person speaks slowly, clearly, and is willing to help.

1. Warm-Up: What Can You Already Say?

Before starting something new, let's review a few expressions from earlier lessons.

Try to remember what each one means before reading the explanation.

Greeting

Tere!

Hello!

Asking someone's name

Mis sinu nimi on?

What's your name? (informal)

Introducing yourself

Minu nimi on Anna.

My name is Anna.

Asking where someone lives

Kus sa elad?

Where do you live?

Explaining that you're learning

Ma õpin eesti keelt.

I'm learning Estonian.

Asking for help

Palun korda.

Please repeat. (informal)

Saying goodbye

Head aega!

Goodbye!

Your First Task

Say these seven expressions aloud.

Then try saying them again without reading the English translations.

You already have the building blocks for a short conversation.

2. How a Simple Conversation Works

Most beginner conversations follow a predictable structure.

Step 1: Greet the person

Tere!

Step 2: Introduce yourself

Minu nimi on Martin.

Step 3: Ask a question

Mis sinu nimi on?

Step 4: Exchange information

Ma elan Tallinnas.

Step 5: Ask another question

Kust sa pärit oled?

Step 6: Close politely

Meeldiv tutvuda!

Head aega!

Notice that you don't need long or complicated sentences.

At A1, short and understandable communication is enough.

Your goal is not to speak perfectly.

Your goal is to exchange basic information successfully.

3. Your First Complete Dialogue

Imagine you're attending an Estonian language class in Tallinn.

You sit next to another student.

Listen to the conversation.

English Translation

Anna: Hello!

Martin: Hello!

Anna: My name is Anna. What's your name?

Martin: My name is Martin.

Anna: Nice to meet you!

Martin: Nice to meet you!

Anna: Where are you from?

Martin: I'm from Finland. And you?

Anna: I'm from Estonia.

Martin: Where do you live?

Anna: I live in Tallinn. And you?

Martin: I also live in Tallinn.

Anna: Do you speak Estonian?

Martin: A little. I'm learning Estonian.

Anna: Very nice!

What Should You Notice?

This conversation combines material from earlier lessons.

You've already practiced:

• Tere
• Minu nimi on
• Mis sinu nimi on
• Kust sa pärit oled
• Ma olen
• Kus sa elad
• Ma elan
• Kas sa räägid
• Ma õpin eesti keelt

Only a few small combinations may be new.

A Useful Pattern: Aga sina?

Aga sina?

Meaning: And you?

This lets you return a question without repeating the entire sentence.

For example:

You can also say:

Aga sina, kus sa elad?

Meaning: And you, where do you live?

This is a simple way to keep conversations moving.

4. Understand the Conversation

Read the dialogue again and answer these questions.

1. What is the first person's name?
2. What is the second person's name?
3. Where is Martin from?
4. Where does Anna live?
5. Does Martin live in Tallinn?
6. Does Martin speak fluent Estonian?
7. What is he currently learning?

Answers

1. Anna.
2. Martin.
3. Finland.
4. Tallinn.
5. Yes.
6. No, he speaks a little.
7. Estonian.

Listening Challenge

Listen to the dialogue again without reading the text.

Try to answer at least four questions from memory.

You don't need to understand every word.

At A1, recognizing the important information is the priority.

5. Learn to Respond Naturally

Sometimes a conversation becomes awkward because you answer a question but don't know what to say next.

One helpful strategy is to return the question.

Example 1 — Name

Example 2 — Where You Live

Example 3 — Languages

Pattern to Remember

Answer + Aga sina?

This is a useful beginner conversation technique.

You don't need to invent a completely new question each time.

6. When You Don't Understand

Real conversations rarely follow a perfect script.

Someone may speak too quickly.

They may ask something you haven't learned yet.

Or you may simply forget a familiar word.

Let's practice responding to these situations.

Situation A — You Didn't Hear the Question

Your conversation partner asks:

Kust sa pärit oled?

You didn't hear clearly.

Say:

Vabandust, palun korda.

Meaning: Sorry, please repeat. (informal)

Situation B — They're Speaking Too Fast

Say:

Palun räägi aeglasemalt.

Meaning: Please speak more slowly. (informal)

Situation C — You Don't Understand

Say:

Ma ei saa aru.

Meaning: I don't understand.

Situation D — You Want to Explain Your Level

Say:

Ma räägin natuke eesti keelt.

Meaning: I speak a little Estonian.

Situation E — You Want to Switch Languages

Say politely:

Kas sa räägid inglise keelt?

Meaning: Do you speak English? (informal)

Important: Match the Form of Address

When speaking informally with one person:

• Palun korda.
• Palun räägi aeglasemalt.
• Kas sa räägid inglise keelt?

When speaking politely to a stranger:

• Palun korrake.
• Palun rääkige aeglasemalt.
• Kas te räägite inglise keelt?

These distinctions are useful in everyday life in Estonia.

You don't need to master every verb ending yet, but you should recognize which expressions are polite and which are informal.

7. Conversation Two: Meeting a Neighbor

Now imagine a different situation.

You've recently moved into an apartment building in Tallinn.

You meet a neighbor near the entrance.

Because you're meeting a stranger, you begin politely.

Listen to the conversation.

English Translation

Maria: Good afternoon!

Peeter: Hello!

Maria: My name is Maria.

Peeter: My name is Peeter. Nice to meet you!

Maria: Nice to meet you!

Peeter: Do you live here?

Maria: Yes, I live here. And you?

Peeter: I also live here.

Maria: Do you speak Estonian?

Peeter: A little. I'm learning Estonian.

Maria: Very nice!

Peeter: Goodbye!

Maria: Goodbye!

Notice the Differences

In the first conversation, the speakers used informal forms.

In this conversation, they use polite forms.

Compare:

Informal	Polite
sina / sa	teie / te
Kas sa elad siin?	Kas te elate siin?
Kas sa räägid ...?	Kas te räägite ...?
Aga sina?	Aga teie?
Palun korda.	Palun korrake.

Your Task

Repeat the conversation aloud.

Focus on recognizing and producing the polite forms.

Then imagine you're speaking to a friendly classmate.

Try changing the questions into informal forms.

8. A Small Grammar Discovery

You've now seen several useful verbs.

Let's compare their forms.

Meaning	I	You (informal)	You (polite/plural)
To be	olen	oled	olete
To live	elan	elad	elate
To speak	räägin	räägid	räägite
To learn	õpin	õpid	õpite

Look for the Pattern

Many common Estonian present-tense verbs use:

• -n in the first-person singular
• -d in the second-person informal singular
• -te in the second-person plural or polite form

For example:

Ma elan Tallinnas.

I live in Tallinn.

Sa elad Tallinnas.

You live in Tallinn.

Te elate Tallinnas.

You live in Tallinn. (polite/plural)

Important

These endings are common patterns, not a complete explanation of every Estonian verb.

The verb olema also has forms that you must learn individually.

For now, focus on recognizing these patterns in familiar sentences.

9. Build Your Own Conversation

Let's construct a conversation step by step.

Imagine you're meeting a new classmate named Liisa.

Step 1 — Greet Her

Tere!

Step 2 — Introduce Yourself

Minu nimi on David.

Replace David with your own name.

Step 3 — Ask Her Name

Mis sinu nimi on?

Step 4 — Say Where You're From

Ma olen Inglismaalt.

Replace England with your own country using its correct Estonian form.

Step 5 — Ask Where She's From

Kust sa pärit oled?

Step 6 — Say Where You Live

Ma elan Tallinnas.

Replace Tallinn with your city.

Step 7 — Ask Where She Lives

Kus sa elad?

Step 8 — Say That You're Learning Estonian

Ma õpin eesti keelt.

Step 9 — Close the Conversation

Meeldiv tutvuda!

Head aega!

Your Challenge

Practice all nine steps without reading the translations.

Then try shortening the conversation naturally.

You don't need to use every expression each time.

10. Reading Practice: Two New Students

Read the following introductions.

Student A

Student B

Answer the Questions

1. Who lives in Tallinn?
2. Who lives in Tartu?
3. Where is Maria from?
4. Where is Ahmed from?
5. Which language do both students speak besides their native languages?
6. What language are both students learning?

Answers

1. Maria.
2. Ahmed.
3. Ukraine.
4. Bangladesh.
5. English.
6. Estonian.

A1 Reading Strategy

You don't need to translate every sentence word by word.

Look for familiar patterns:

• Minu nimi on
• Ma olen
• Ma elan
• Ma räägin
• Ma õpin

Recognizing these patterns makes basic texts much easier to understand.

11. Listening Practice: Identify the Question

Listen to each question.

Try to identify what information is being requested.

Question 1

Mis sinu nimi on?

A. Name

B. Country

C. Language

Question 2

Kust sa pärit oled?

A. Age

B. Country or origin

C. Job

Question 3

Kus sa elad?

A. Where you live

B. Which language you speak

C. Your name

Question 4

Kas sa räägid eesti keelt?

A. Whether you work in Estonia

B. Whether you live in Estonia

C. Whether you speak Estonian

Question 5

Kuidas läheb?

A. How you're doing

B. Where you're going

C. Where you're from

Answers

1. A
2. B
3. A
4. C
5. A

Listening Challenge

Listen to the five questions again while hiding the answer options.

Try to respond aloud in Estonian.

If you can recognize the question and produce a simple answer, you're developing the listening and interaction skills required for A1.

12. Writing Practice: Complete the Conversation

Fill in the missing words.

Word bank:

nimi, pärit, elan, räägin, õpin, tutvuda

Conversation

A: Tere! Minu _____ on Anna.

B: Tere! Mina olen Martin.

A: Kust sa _____ oled?

B: Ma olen Soomest.

A: Kus sa elad?

B: Ma _____ Tallinnas.

A: Kas sa räägid eesti keelt?

B: Ma _____ natuke eesti keelt.

A: Väga tore!

B: Ma _____ eesti keelt.

A: Meeldiv _____!

Answers

1. nimi
2. pärit
3. elan
4. räägin
5. õpin
6. tutvuda

Writing Challenge

Write a short conversation between two people meeting for the first time.

Include:

1. A greeting
2. Both people's names
3. One question about origin
4. One question about residence
5. One question about languages
6. A polite ending

Aim for 8–12 short lines.

Use familiar language rather than trying to construct complicated sentences.

13. Speaking Practice: Guided Role-Play

Imagine you're a new student in an Estonian language course.

Your partner asks the following questions.

Answer aloud using your own information.

Question 1

Mis sinu nimi on?

Question 2

Kust sa pärit oled?

Question 3

Kus sa elad?

Question 4

Mis keeli sa räägid?

Question 5

Kas sa õpid eesti keelt?

Question 6

Kuidas läheb?

Your Goal

Answer each question with one complete sentence wherever appropriate.

For example:

Question:

Kus sa elad?

Answer:

Ma elan Tallinnas.

Extra Challenge

After answering, return at least two questions using:

Aga sina?

This helps turn a simple question-and-answer exercise into a real conversation.

14. Realistic Conversation Challenge

Now imagine a conversation that doesn't go perfectly.

Your conversation partner asks something you don't understand.

You need to request help and continue.

English Translation

Person A: Hello!

You: Hello!

Person A: What's your name?

You: My name is David.

Person A: Where are you from?

You: Sorry, I don't understand.

You: Please speak more slowly.

Person A: Where are you from?

You: I'm from England.

Person A: Very nice!

You: Thank you!

What Makes This Important?

Real communication isn't about answering every question immediately.

It's about being able to continue despite difficulties.

At A1, it's completely normal to need repetition, slower speech, and support.

Practice

Repeat this dialogue.

Then replace the response about England with your own country.

Finally, try the same conversation without looking at the script.

15. Mini Assessment: Can You Keep a Conversation Going?

This is the main challenge of today's lesson.

Try completing the following conversation without looking back at previous sections.

Part 1 — Respond

Imagine someone greets you:

Tere!

Respond naturally.

Then they ask:

Mis sinu nimi on?

Give your name.

Next:

Kus sa elad?

Say where you live.

Next:

Kas sa räägid eesti keelt?

Explain that you speak a little and are learning.

Finally:

Meeldiv tutvuda!

Respond politely.

Part 2 — Ask

Now imagine you're the person starting the conversation.

Ask someone:

1. Their name
2. Where they're from
3. Where they live
4. Which languages they speak

Try doing this without reading your notes.

Part 3 — Recover

Imagine they speak too fast.

Ask them to speak more slowly.

Then imagine you don't understand.

Say that you don't understand.

Part 4 — Close

End the conversation politely.

Self-Assessment

Give yourself one point for each completed task:

• Greeting naturally
• Introducing yourself
• Saying where you live
• Saying where you're from
• Explaining which languages you speak
• Asking at least two questions
• Requesting repetition or slower speech
• Ending the conversation politely

7–8 points: Strong performance for this guided beginner activity.

5–6 points: Good progress. Review the expressions you missed.

3–4 points: Repeat the dialogue practice before continuing.

0–2 points: Return to the essential expressions in Lessons 1–3.

This is a practice self-check, not a formal CEFR A1 certification or a substitute for an assessed spoken interaction.

16. Real-World Mission

Your challenge is to start or participate in one simple Estonian conversation.

Choose an appropriate situation.

Mission A — With a Colleague

Greet a colleague and introduce yourself if you haven't met before.

Use:

Tere! Minu nimi on ...

Ask:

Mis sinu nimi on?

Mission B — With a Neighbor

If you meet a neighbor for the first time, greet them politely.

Tere päevast!

Introduce yourself.

Minu nimi on ...

Ask whether they live there.

Kas te elate siin?

Mission C — With a Language Partner

Have a conversation containing at least five exchanges.

Include:

• Names
• Countries
• Cities
• Languages
• Learning Estonian

Try speaking for one minute.

If You Don't Have a Conversation Partner

Practice the guided conversation aloud.

You can also record yourself answering the six questions in Section 13.

The goal is to move from recognizing expressions to producing them independently.

17. Lesson Summary

You've practiced combining familiar Estonian expressions into complete conversations.

Starting a Conversation

Tere!

Minu nimi on Anna.

Mis sinu nimi on?

Sharing Information

Ma olen Eestist.

Ma elan Tallinnas.

Ma räägin natuke eesti keelt.

Asking Questions

Kust sa pärit oled?

Kus sa elad?

Mis keeli sa räägid?

Keeping the Conversation Going

Aga sina?

Palun korda.

Ma ei saa aru.

Ending the Conversation

Meeldiv tutvuda!

Head aega!

18. A1 Progress Check

This lesson brings together the communication skills developed throughout Module 1.

Listening

Understand slow, clearly spoken questions about familiar personal information.

Speaking

Introduce yourself and provide short answers about your name, origin, residence, and languages.

Interaction

Exchange simple personal information and ask familiar questions with support from a conversation partner.

Reading

Understand short introductions and basic written dialogues.

Writing

Create a short, simple conversation using learned expressions.

Grammar

Recognize and use familiar forms of:

• The verb olema
• Present-tense verbs such as elama, rääkima, and õppima
• Kas questions
• Question words such as mis, kus, and kust
• Polite and informal forms of address

Before Moving On

Check whether you can:

• Start a conversation with a greeting.
• Introduce yourself in several sentences.
• Ask another person their name.
• Ask where someone is from.
• Ask where someone lives.
• Explain which languages you speak.
• Ask for help when you don't understand.
• Use basic polite and informal expressions appropriately.
• End a conversation naturally.
• Participate in a simple conversation for approximately one minute with a supportive partner.

If you can complete most of these tasks, you're ready for the first module assessment.