Paper title: Bilingual Learning in COVID-19 Conditions: has Students’ School Satisfaction Changed?
Jelena Matina joint work with Kaja Lutsoja (TalTech) and Marit Rebane (TalTech)

Abstract:

The focus of this article is to examine the changes in students` satisfaction with school and learning before COVID-19 and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Estonia. Different school types and ages are scrutinized: 8th and 11th grade students in bilingual classes in schools with the Russian language of instruction are compared to their counterparts in Estonian schools. The changes in the following satisfaction components are underlined: students` autonomy, self-efficacy, study discipline, individual recognition, feedback, and meaningfulness of the study.
Data has been collected by the Department of Education in cooperation with the Education and Youth Board. National satisfaction surveys for the 4th, 8th and 11th class students have been conducted since 2015.
Difference-in-difference analysis reveals that the changes in students` satisfaction in bilingual classes in schools with the Russian language of instruction were different from the patterns in Estonian schools. Satisfaction with school and learning in the 11th classes were higher for the students in Estonian schools than for bilingual students before COVID-19 and during the pandemic. Satisfaction with school and learning in 8th classes was higher in bilingual classes.

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