Language and multicultural training

Being able to speak and understand Finnish is important to fully enjoy life, leisure and social relations in the country. Language is also key to accessing general information and understanding the local culture. Knowing Finnish helps many international talents find employment in Finland. Finnish language skills are particularly important for career progression. Language skills help to integrate in the communities around you - an understanding of the language promotes a sense of belonging and reduces feelings of being an outsider.

Even a basic knowledge of the local languages makes it easier to function in everyday life and to establish social relationships. In Finland, you can get by well in English at first, but over time Finnish language skills will become more important. It is therefore a good idea to start learning Finnish as soon as you arrive in Finland.

The Finnish language may be slightly different from the languages you have studied before. But don't be alarmed - as you learn more Finnish, you'll find that there's a lot of logic and clarity in the language. 

Aalto university supports new staff members integration to Finland by offering them and their family members a possibility to attend Finnish language courses. During the language courses you will learn the principles of the language as well as get familiar with the cultural aspects of Finland.

Finnish courses for international staff

• Finnish courses for international staff: https://moodle.helsinki.fi/course/view.php?id=62045. The trainings are primarily organised over remote connections. 

Online courses

• Introductory Finnish - Self-study 
  Introductory Finnish is a self-study online course that teaches Finnish from no prior background to a lower beginner level. 
• Finland Studies MOOC 
  The purpose of the Finland Studies open online course is to offer a starting point for learning about studying at Finnish universities. The course has been designed especially for international students, and faculty coming to teach in Finland, and those who wish to know more about Finnish universities. 
   

Finnish language courses for students

• Staff may also take part in the courses aimed for students if the course is not full. You can find the courses for students from the Student Guide´s language and communication studies
  If you consider taking part in these courses please contact the Language Centre at [email protected] .
   

Open University 

• Aalto Open University also offers open language courses for everyone on different levels, which are subject to a charge. When agreed Aalto participant’s unit or department can pay for these courses. You can search for suitable courses from here. More information about Open University check here.
   

Practising Finnish outside language courses

• Language Boost 
  Here you can find advice and materials on anything related to learning Finnish and Swedish. The site includes self-study materials, tips for language learning at work, tools for planning and guiding language learning, and pedagogical materials 
• Finnishcourses.fi service 
  In the Finnishcourses.fi service, you can search for Finnish and Swedish language courses held in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Turku, Tampere and Oulu. In addition, the service lists online courses. 
   

The best way to learn Finnish is to combine language courses and the use of the language in your everyday life. Here are some ideas of how you can get started:

• Organise informal Finnish lunches or Finnish coffee breaks between colleagues, as some Aalto units already do. The idea is to meet regularly to speak Finnish together (between learners but also with Finnish-speaking colleagues). 
• Get inspiration from the booklet Phrases for the break room that contains useful phrases in spoken Finnish and tips for Finnish speakers.
• In Aalto Social (Viva Engage), there is a group called Each one teach one where you can look for colleagues with whom you can practise Finnish or another language. There are also posts on various other language practising possibilities.

Free-form discussion clubs

• Learning Finnish together -conversation group. The conversation groups are held twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the afternoons from 16:30 to 17:30. 
• PHYS Language Café is an informal get-together for language learners. The idea is to grab a coffee or tea and sit at a table, where at each table a different language is being spoken, indicated by signs on the table.
• In CS language café to chat in Finnish with your colleagues.
• Aalto Finnish language café related to technical topics. Each week will feature a new topic and copies of the texts are provided.
• Public libraries in Espoo, Helsinki and Vantaa offer many informal Finnish language learning activities. You can find all the activities in the list Helmet kielikahvila. 

 English language courses for students

• Staff may also take part in the courses aimed for students if the course is not full. You can find the courses for students from the Student Guide´s language and communication studies
  If you consider taking part in these courses please contact the Language Centre at [email protected] 
   

Open University

• Aalto Open University also offers open language courses for everyone on different levels, which are subject to a charge. When agreed Aalto participant’s unit or department can pay for these courses. You can search for suitable courses from here. More information about Open University check here.
   

Learn together

• From theEach One-Teach One group at Aalto Social, you can find colleagues to practice the language with.

Courses in Swedish

• Courses in Swedish: https://moodle.helsinki.fi/course/view.php?id=60915  

Web pages to support 

• Language Boost 
  Here you can find advice and materials on anything related to learning Finnish and Swedish. The site includes self-study materials, tips for language learning at work, tools for planning and guiding language learning, and pedagogical materials 
   

Swedish language courses for students

• Staff may also take part in the courses aimed for students if the course is not full. You can find the courses for students from the Student Guide´s language and communication studies
  If you consider taking part in these courses please contact the Language Centre at [email protected] .
   

Open University

• Aalto Open University also offers open language courses for everyone on different levels, which are subject to a charge. When agreed Aalto participant’s unit or department can pay for these courses. You can search for suitable courses from here. More information about Open University check here.
   

Learn together

• From theEach One-Teach One group at Aalto Social, you can find colleagues to practice the language with.