Only Foreigners Can Tell

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Katri Tammsaar, Tallinn University, Institute of Informatics“Only Foreigners Can Tell”The presentation focuses on the obstacles new-coming immigrants face while searching for relevant local information in Estonia.Based on three discussion sessions and one experimental information retrieval workshop with foreign-born people living in Estonia, several issues were identified, which hinder them from finding the same everyday information about local events and useful services, as other locals do. In addition, even retrieving information particularly targeted for newcomers, it may be difficult to obtain it, due to several issues related to people’s different cultural and linguistic background.

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„Only Foreigners Can Tell”

IIeP International Joint Workshop

02.11.2011

Katri Tammsaar

Tallinn University, Institute of Informatics

Centre for Educational Technology

Great expectations

for all people living in the EU

Modern European Society

striving for building attractive and dynamic societies

creating better living conditions and social inclusion

participation possibilities

Photo: Flicr.com by ThisParticularGreg

For all people...

Levels of Inclusion(International Association for Public Participation)

1) Inform - balanced and objective information

2) Consult - feedback and comments

3) Involve - working directly with the public

4) Collaborate - partnering with the public

5) Empower - decision-making in the hands of the public

Obstacles on the way

Photo: Flicr.com by Foxypar4

Estonian language andadministrative culture

What's wrong?

They see, what we don't. They could teach us.

Examples

Web-addresses hard to guess - Kaitseministeerium (Ministry of Defence): www.mod.gov.ee Web-addresses with double vowels – www.eesti.ee

Used to the way things are, but there are other ways to do things!

Labeling - “aliens”, “immigrant website”

Access to information

In EstonianIn Russian

In English

Examples

Estonian major newspaper online www.postimees.ee – different versions in Estonian and in Russian State information portal www.eesti.ee - visibly different versions in Estonian, English and Russian

Tallinn City – www.tallinn.ee - German only tourist information

What's next?

Compiling of manuals, advising:

1) the authorities, how to better share information and include non-native residents;

2) NGOs/communities, how to look for information they need, how to find the hidden and how to be proactive. Photo: Flicr.com by SylwiaPresleyArt

Thank you!

Contact: Katri.Tammsaar@tlu.eeTel. +372 56 50 60 72Tallinn University, Institute of Informaticshttp://iiep-project.eu/

Persons expected:

1) Enthusiasts in the area of culture, politics, environment.

2) Experts on their own specific fields of interest.

3) Active local leaders in their unique society/community, or inter-community activists.

With the following skills:

Open-mindedness and common good in mind Awareness of the local administrative and legal situation Team-work and interpersonal skills Good language and computer skills

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