Employers
Are you looking for solutions to the usage of two or more languages in your organisation, i.e. in meetings, documentation or building team spirit? We offer ready-to-use models and advice for creating a functioning language environment at work.
Language policy planning
Steps toward language awareness in the workplace
Model for planning language aware practices.
As part of developing the organisation's operations, time is reserved for getting to know the model and work community-oriented development.
Helps set objectives and identify required resources.
Language User Profiles
Model for understanding needs and emotions related to language.
Getting to know the model: about 15 minutes.
Raises awareness of wishes and circumstances of different language users.
Language solutions for workplaces
Working in Finnish, English or both? Benefits and disadvantages.
Reading time approximately 10 minutes.
Raises awareness of how different language solutions affect the work community.
Language strategy
Guidelines for drawing up the organisation's language strategy.
Preparation, implementation and monitoring of the strategy.
Highlights the organisation's objectives and provides a basis for actions.
Language discussions in the work community
Discussion templates to support language discussions in the work community.
Planning and e.g. 1–1.5 h discussion.
The work community becomes more aware of linguistic issues and commits to developing linguistic practices.
Recruitment and onboarding
Language aware recruitment
Instructions for planning and implementing the different stages of language-aware recruitment.
Reserve time to consider language issues.
Improves the attractiveness and employer image of the company, expands the possible pool of recruits and prepares both the applicant and the work community for a smooth start at work.
Planning language aware orientation
Instructions for planning the orientation for new language-learning employees.
Reserve time to consider language issues in planning the orientation.
Helps understand the language support required in orientation.
Language aware orientation
Instructions for taking language into account and supporting language learning in orientation.
Reserving extra time for language issues in orientation.
The new employee learns relevant language in orientation.
Employee language proficiency assessment
Information on the language proficiency requirements of different professions, and language proficiency levels and tests.
Exploring materials according to the needs of the organisation.
Increases understanding of language proficiency assessment in the professional context.
Multilingual practices at work
Multilingual events
Instructions for preparing and leading an event where participants have different language proficiencies.
Reserve time to consider language issues.
Everyone can understand and participate in events as well as possible, regardless of their language proficiency.
Language-aware meeting practices
Tips for organising smooth meetings using multiple languages or when participants are at different levels of language proficiency.
Reserve time to consider language issues.
Everyone can understand and participate in meetings as well as possible, regardless of their language skills.
(Coming in English in 2024) Kielen harjoittelu sosiaalisissa tilanteissa
Vinkkejä kielen harjoittelutuokioihin työpaikalla
Muutamasta minuutista ylöspäin
Kieltä oppiva työntekijä saa työpaikan arjessa tilaisuuksia kehittää kielitaitoaan.
Supporting language learning
Language learning plan
Editable material for drawing up a language learning plan.
Preparation 10 min, discussion 10-15 min.
Improvement of language proficiency is integrated into professional development.
Pocketbook for supporting language learning
Method for learning professional language at the workplace.
Continuous work and regular discussion of observations.
Links language learning to the employee’s needs and work scenarios.
Language workshop
A workshop to discuss work-related (language) issues and find solutions together.
For example, 1 hour every other week, with participants writing down observations and questions between sessions.
Employees learn language relevant for their work.
Language mentor
Operating model for facilitating language issues in the work community.
Training (e.g. 1 day), working time reserved for facilitation.
Language mentor model supports language learning and increases language awareness in the work community.
Learning professional language at the workplace
Video on supporting professional language learning at the workplace.
Video duration 22 min.
The work community receives concrete methods for supporting language learning.
Tips for supporting Finnish learners
Tips for conversations with language learners and speaking clearly.
15 tips with examples.
Native-language employee learns to speak more clearly and to support the language learner in participating in discussions.
Phrases for the break room: booklet and video
Discussion booklet (and video) with spoken phrases for the language learner and tips for speaking clearly for the native speaker.
15 themes, each with 3-4 phrases and a video of roughly a minute in duration (total video duration about 13 minutes); 15 tips for native speakers.
Encourages practising Finnish-language discussions in social situations at the workplace.
(Coming in English in 2024) Videot: Kieltä oppivan kollegan kohtaaminen
Kolme lyhyttä videota, joissa vinkkejä kieltä oppivan työtoverin kohtaamiseen
Yhteensä 2,5 minuuttia
Työyhteisön jäsenet oppivat suhtautumaan luontevasti erilaisiin kielitaitoihin vuorovaikutustilanteissa
Experiences
Employer, this is how you can reach an international expert
THL expert Sanna Nykänen explains how to create an attractive multilingual workplace.
The only way to learn Finnish is by speaking it
Hitomi Tabuchi and Massiel of the MONIKA – Multicultural Women’s Association describe why Finnish is the only language spoken in their workplace.
