Supporting language proficiency during higher education studies
Before studies begin
New students are offered orientation material for learning and studying Finnish and Swedish before their studies begin.
It is important to provide the student with realistic information on the Finnish language situation and the importance of Finnish and Swedish language proficiency in working life and assimilation into society. In addition, the student can be encouraged to learn the language: Finnish is not as difficult as generally claimed, and even a little language proficiency is useful in everyday life in Finland. This information can be provided in information letters before arriving in Finland, for example, with a description similar to the one below.
- Knowing Finnish increases your possibilities of employment in Finland, as many employers value Finnish language skills, even when they are not required for the job itself. Finnish language skills are also important for full integration into the society: if you can communicate in Finnish, you can participate in various activities, get access to more information, and understand the local culture. Finnish (or Swedish) language skills (level B1) are also required for getting the Finnish citizenship.
- It is perfectly possible to learn Finnish; it is not as difficult as people might tell you. You don’t have to be fluent, but even a basic or intermediate knowledge will open up new possibilities. It is therefore a good idea to start learning Finnish as soon as you arrive in Finland. You can also opt for Swedish, Finland’s other official language. Related to most other European languages, it may be faster to learn. However, Swedish may not give you as many advantages as knowing Finnish, unless you plan to live in a Swedish-speaking area.
It may be suggested that the students familiarise themselves with Finnish or Swedish and Finnish culture even before arriving in Finland. This way, students can prepare for the Finnish language landscape in advance: even if their studies are mainly in English, they will mostly be hearing Finnish.
Below are links to self-study materials that the student can familiarise themselves with before their studies begin:
- Self-study materials for studying the basics of Finnish
- Open to all, the Finland Studies online course (MOOC) brings together information on studying at a Finnish higher education institution and offers perspectives on Finnish student life.
The information letter is also a good place to provide information on Finnish and/or Swedish studies at your own higher education institution:
- what courses the higher education institution offers and when to register for them
- in what other ways does the higher education institution support language study (e.g. language cafés, language mentors)
- what level of language proficiency can be achieved during studies.
The higher education institution may also organise an intensive language and culture course before studies begin. This is done, for example, at the University of Oulu, where students get to know the language and culture in a kickstart course.
Kickstart - a heartwarming head start into Finnish language and the local life in Oulu
Higher education community and structures to support learning
The atmosphere and operating culture of a higher education institution are important in helping international students learn the national languages of Finland.
- How are the national languages of Finland seen and heard in the daily life of a higher education institution?
- What is the attitude towards using them: is English used automatically or is the student asked if they want to practise using Finnish/Swedish in different situations?
- How easily can students find the language studies offered by a higher education institution? Should course titles and course descriptions be formulated so that the student can easily find a suitable course?
- Is it easy to register for language courses and is there room for courses? For example, it has been found that starting language courses slightly after the beginning of the term makes it easier for new students to register for them.
- Are courses easy to schedule? Degree programmes should cooperate with the unit providing language studies.
- What kind of incentives does a higher education institution offer language learners? In addition to sufficient language courses, financial support may increase the student's motivation. For example, the University of Eastern Finland offers a tuition waiver to students actively studying Finnish.
Support for students in English-language degree programmes
The English-language degree programmes face two key challenges:
1) How to enable the study of the national languages as part of the degree programme
2) How the student can use their developing Finnish/Swedish language proficiency during their studies
How to tackle these challenges:
- During orientation, encourage studying the national languages of Finland and provide information on language learning opportunities.
- Language proficiency and language studies are discussed in guidance situations using the Language Personal Study Plan (Language-PSP) tool both at the beginning of studies and later during studies.
- Language courses are included in the study plan and marked on the schedule. Learning a language can easily become too stressful if it can only be done during the student’s free time.
In addition to language courses, the development of language proficiency is supported in other ways.
- Content subject teaching also supports learning professional language in Finnish and Swedish. English-language teaching can also include studying terminology in Finnish/Swedish.
- Traineeships are made so that they also support language learning. In this case, students studying in English can complete the traineeship at least partly in Finnish.
Support for students and advanced students in Finnish (B2 language proficiency level)
For those studying in a Finnish-language degree programme, the challenge is how to further develop their language proficiency. Even if the student is able to manage in Finnish in their studies, they still need support to progress from simply managing to achieving the nuance and precise expression required for expert tasks.
These methods can be used to support the development of language proficiency:
- During orientation, information is provided on advanced language courses offered by the higher education institution and other means of supporting the development of language proficiency.
- Language proficiency and language studies are discussed in guidance situations using the Language Personal Study Plan (Language-PSP) tool both at the beginning of studies and later during studies.
- In addition to language courses, effective support measures include S2 and writing clinics, various language workshops and mentoring.
- The language workshop model developed for work communities can be applied to the organisation of language workshops.
- Develop your writing and reading skills (in Finnish)
- Academic Phrasebank (in Finnish)
- More materials can be found in the self-study material search
After graduation
Graduates of English-language degree programmes often find it difficult to find employment in Finland. One way to make the transition easier is to offer language studies even after graduation. A very good time to supplement language studies is while seeking employment.
On the other hand, it is often difficult for employers to organise suitably targeted language teaching so that they can recruit an international expert whose language proficiency is only just developing. Sometimes even sector-specific language teaching provided by higher education institutions can be a decisive factor in an employer’s recruiting decision.
The opportunity offered to alumni to supplement their language studies can also be seen as a competitive advantage: the higher education institution wants to take care of its alumni and support them at the beginning of their career.
Read how Metropolia University of Applied Sciences offers its alumni free studies
Language PSP helps to encourage learning Finnish and Swedish
Kati Järvinen from the University of Helsinki considers Language PSP of the Kielibuusti (Language Boost) project a good way to bring up language skills with international experts.
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©2024 Johanna Komppa, Inkeri Lehtimaja ja Milka Toikko
Korkeakouluopiskelijan kielituettu polku, syyskuu 2024, jonka tekijät ovat Johanna Komppa, Inkeri Lehtimaja ja Milka Toikko, on lisensoitu Creative Commons Nimeä 4.0 Kansainvälinen -lisenssillä. Materiaali on saatavilla osoitteessa kielibuusti.fi.