The aim of the article is to analyze the attitudes of 9th grade students at Russian- medium general education schools in Estonia toward the importance of competence in the official language. Semi-structured group interviews allow the voice of the language learner – in this case 15–16-year-old Russian school students – to be heard in the discussion of official language instruction. The analysis of these interviews reveals that Russian students’ attitudes toward the official language are shaped by their perception of Estonian as a small language, limited opportunities to use the language in their immediate environment, and the role of different languages on the job market, but also by the students’ national and linguistic identity. One primary conclusion is that in these students’ eyes, the Estonian language has only instrumental value, that is, it is seen merely as a tool needed for self-actualization. Russian youths do not see the Estonian language as part of their identity, and question its sustainability (and therefore the benefit of studying it) in comparison to larger world languages.