Õppetund

Õppetund is the Estonian term for a unit of instruction, usually understood as a single class period within a school day. It designates a scheduled block of time during which a teacher leads students through a portion of the curriculum, using activities such as explanations, demonstrations, exercises, and assessment.

Origin and usage: The word is a compound of õpe (learning, instruction) and tund (hour, period). It is commonly used in primary and secondary education, as well as in teacher training and adult education, to describe one discrete segment of teaching and learning.

Length and structure: In many Estonian schools an õppetund lasts about 45 minutes, though the exact duration varies by school and grade level. A day may include several õppetundi, with breaks between them. The content of an õppetund is usually planned as part of a broader course or subject program.

Relation to other terms: Tund is a more general term for an hour or time period; õppetund specifically signals an instructional session. Phrases such as järgneva õppetunni or viimane õppetund are common in timetables and classroom discourse.

Notes: The term emphasizes the instructional purpose of the time block rather than merely marking time. It is used in official documents, timetables, and everyday classroom talk to refer to scheduled teaching segments.