Encourage participation 

• Help colleagues participate: You can for example ask for language-learning colleagues’ opinions. 
• Give encouraging feedback: Show that you appreciate your colleague’s efforts to learn and use Finnish. 
• Be empathetic: Think about the kind of support you like when using a foreign language. 

Speak clearly 

• Speak clearly and calmly: Try not to speak too quickly or use too complex language to ensure comprehensibility. Normal clear speech is enough. 
• Use common words: Assess which of the expressions with the same meaning would be the most familiar to the language learner. 
• Avoid unnecessary detail: Focus your message on the essentials and avoid excessive information. 

Help comprehension 

• Allow time for comprehension and repeat as needed: Do not change languages immediately, but help the learner understand. 
• Check that the language learner understands relevant terms in conversation: Repeat important words and make sure they are understood correctly. 
• Check for understanding: Watch your speaking partner’s reactions closely. If they look uncertain, ask them if they need further explanation. 
• Explain the meanings of words: If a word is a foreign to the speaking partner, explain the word in Finnish. 
• Use gestures to illustrate: Use body language to facilitate understanding. 
• Use additional languages: Offer explanations or compare words with words from other shared languages. However, do not change the language completely, for example, to English. 

Teach language and language use 

• Teach frequent phrases: If you notice that a phrase occurs frequently in the workplace, make sure your colleague learns it. 
• Help understand standards and expectations: Tell your colleague about the expected or polite language in the workplace. 
• Correct discreetly: Correct indirectly by repeating the phrase used by your speaking partner in the correct form or ask directly whether they would like you to correct their speech in certain situations.