About Us

Committee

e-mail eateselts@gmail.com

Erika Puusemp

Erika Puusemp has been a teacher of English since 1989. Currently she works as a teacher of English, British Literature, and IB Language A: Language and Literature at Miina Härma Gymnasium in Tartu. Erika is the Chair of EATE, an item-writer for the oral part of the National Exam in English, and an assessor for the writing part of the National Exam. She is also a CAE examiner, and occasionally teaches other teachers and university students. Outside her workaholic zone, she is a mother of three lovely grown-up daughters, an avid reader, and dabbler at arts and crafts, e.g. poetry, wire- and beadwork, etc.

Taivi Õigus

Taivi Õigus has been working as a teacher of English since 1998. Currently she works as a teacher at Saku Gymnasium. She used to be the head of the Department of Foreign Languages right up until structural changes at school. In the current academic year, she is in charge of the work of UNESCO Associated Schools Network at her school and is involved in eTwinning collaboration. In her free time she loves doing health sports. Swimming and Nordic walking are just some of her favourites. No less important is committing herself to professional development.

Siiri Vimberg

Siiri Vimberg has been a teacher of English since 2004. Currently she works as a teacher of English at Pärnu Koidula Gymnasium. She is also a CAE examiner and has given courses of English for Specific Purposes in the field of Social Work in Pärnu College. What is more, she is proud to be a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society.

Ülle Türk

Institute of Foreign Languages and Cultures, University of Tartu

Kai Tammik

Kai Tammik has been a teacher of English since 2010 and currently works as an English teacher at Kose Gymnasium and she is also the head of the school's English Committee. She is also a CAE coordinator and a class teacher. She conducts English courses at the Tallinn Industrial Education Centre and is an active member of the English Language Subject Association in Harjumaa. She is an active member of the local community and participates in organizing different events. She believes that everything is possible if you really want it.

Kristi Vahenurm

Kristi Vahenurm has been an English teacher since 2000, she currently works at the Tallinn Secondary School of Science. In addition to ordinary English classes she teaches US history and culture and academic writing. She has trained teachers under the Tiigrihüppe Foundation and HITSA and has always been interested in incorporating ICT into foreign language classes. She is currently active as one of the moderators of the e-Koolikott repository, she is an item writer for the listening part of the National Exam in English and also functions as a CAE examiner. Her new role as an Erasmus+ project coordinator has made her see the importance of international project-based learning and knowledge sharing.

Merike Saar

Merike Saar, PhD, is a long-time English teacher and educational technologist at the Tallinn French School and a visiting researcher at the Center for Educational Technology at the Tallinn University Institute of Digital Technologies. She has published several English language textbooks and e-courses. For over twenty years, Merike has shared her experiences with colleagues at seminars, conferences, and trainings. In 2023, she led the foreign language work group supporting the implementation of national curricula, which developed support materials for the preparation of school curricular. Merike's research interests include teacher professional development (supporting the Teacher Inquiry with learning analytics), research-based effective teaching strategies, and the impact of using AI-supported tools on learning.

How it All started

The Estonian Association of Teachers of English (EATE) was founded 23 November 1991 in Tartu, Estonia as EL teachers had felt the necessity to co-operate, get more information about teaching methods and materials and attend in-service training courses. Starting EATE we got help and support from The Open Estonian Foundation, London International House, The British Council, The Ministry of Education and very many other organisations.

Where we are Today

Today there are 327 members from all over Estonia, both schoolteachers and university lecturers, in EATE.

The EATE committee of 7 members is elected every two years. The present committee – Erika Puusemp (chair), Siiri Vimberg, Taivi Õigus, Kristi Vahenurm, Ülle Türk, Merike Saar and Kai Tammik – was elected in 2023.

The former EATE chairs are Ülle Kurm (1991-1995); Mare Jõul (1995-1997); Carmen Ruus (1997-2001), Juta Hennoste (2001- 2007), Leena Punga (2008-2015).

In 1992 the first EATE newsletter was published which by now has grown into a voluminous magazine OPEN! where you can find theoretical articles and sharing practical experience. OPEN! is published once a year.

Our traditional event is the two-day summer seminar, held at the end of August. In addition to providing participants with new knowledge and fresh ideas, the seminar aims to get the new school year off to a positive start and offers teachers an excellent opportunity to meet and exchange experiences with colleagues from across the country. EATE is also becoming increasingly involved in organising English language competitions and creating opportunities for teachers to participate in professional development and training programmes all over Europe. All EATE events are open to both members and non-members.

EATE members participate in the work of the English Board and various working groups of the Ministry of Education and National Examination Board.

EATE is a member of the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL), our umbrella organisation. EATE members are entitled to discounted rates when participating in IATEFL events.

Statutes of the EATE.