Study Guide

Objectives (course unit)

In this course, you will improve your Finnish language skills. Estimated level is A2.1 +.

After completing the course, the students will be able to:
• pronounce Finnish quite well
• be more confident in using Finnish in their daily encounters out of a classroom
• understand phrases and typical vocabulary related to areas of personal relevance (e.g. travelling, health, free time)
• catch the main point in short, clear, simple messages, announcements and conversations.
• use a wider variety of everyday vocabulary and phrases more spontaneously and confidently
• read and understand short everyday text types
• find specific, predictable information in simple everyday material such as advertisements, prospectuses, menus and timetables and understand short simple personal messages and emails
• communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters
• describe aspects of their background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.
• use a series of phrases and sentences to describe in simple terms their family and other people, living conditions, educational background and their present or most recent job
• write short, simple texts related to everyday topics

Content (course unit)

• travelling, planning a trip
• visiting the doctor
• nature
• telling about the past
• object
• third infinitive

Prerequisites (course unit)

Finnish as a Foreign Language 1 (5 cr) and 2 (5cr) or equivalent knowledge.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2) (course unit)

Students have been able to complete all the assignments acceptably and attended contact lessons at least 80 %. They can tell about few of the achieved course contents, but their expression stays limited: both spoken and written language is partly hard to understand. It is difficult for them to take part to a simple discussion. Also their incomplete pronunciation may cause difficulties to understand their speech.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4) (course unit)

Students have been able to complete all the assignments acceptably and attended contact lessons at least 80 %. Students have an active attitude towards studying Finnish language showing that by completing course tasks according to the schedule. They are able to cope in everyday conversations related to topics studied in the course. Students can write short texts about their home, travelling or work. They can pronounce Finnish clearly enough. Students are able to use typical grammatic structures e.g. local cases and past tenses in simple sentences.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

Students have been able to complete all the assignments acceptably and attended contact lessons at least 80 %. Students have a positive and active attitude towards learning language. They can pronounce Finnish distinctively. They manage quite well in everyday conversations related to topics studied in the course. They can write simple texts quite correctly and recombine words and phrases into new sentences so that used typical grammatic structures are almost correct. They understand the importance of good Finnish language skills to get a job in Finland.

Location and time

On the course we have meetings two times a week.
Contact classes are on Thursdays 14-15.30
Online class once a week, time will be informed later (online lessons will be recorded, the students can watch the recordings whenever it suits them best)

Exam schedules

Test dates will be agreed on the course.

Assessment methods and criteria

Participation in the course meetings.
Review of the course assignments.
Review of the exams.

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

Classroom and online meetings
Course assignments.
Exams

We practise speaking, listening comprehension, writing, and reading. We will focus on active language use and comprehension.

Learning materials

Course book Suomen mestari 2, chapters 1-4
Teacher's materials in Moodle

Student workload

You should prepare for the following schedule:
- Course meetings two times / week
- 3-6 hours of independent work (homework, course assignments, reviews) in each course week.
- The amount of independent work varies each week.

Content scheduling

We continue practising basic vocabulary, phrases and grammar. Topics include e.g.
- work related vocabulary
- everyday discussions
- telling about past events
- discussing health and telling how you feel
- nature and surroundings
- hobbies and free time
- past tense, object, making a noun out of a verb

International connections

The course is aimed for international students.

Further information

The online meetings consist of grammar and listening comprehension. They are recorded and link to them can be found on Moodle so that you can listen the classes even if you have conflicting classes on Tuesdays.

All the international students have Thursday afternoons 14-16 reserved for Finnish studies.

Assessment criteria - satisfactory (1-2) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Students have been able to complete all the assignments acceptably and attended contact lessons regularly. They can tell about few of the achieved course contents, but their expression stays limited: both spoken and written language is partly hard to understand. It is difficult for them to take part to a simple discussion. Also their incomplete pronunciation may cause difficulties to understand their speech.

Assessment criteria - good (3-4) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Students have been able to complete all the assignments acceptably and attended contact lessons regularly. Students have an active attitude towards studying Finnish language showing that by completing course tasks according to the schedule. They are able to cope in everyday conversations related to topics studied in the course. Students can write short texts about their home, travelling or work. They can pronounce Finnish clearly enough. Students are able to use typical grammatic structures e.g. local cases and past tenses in simple sentences.

Assessment criteria - excellent (5) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Students have been able to complete all the assignments acceptably and attended contact lessons regularly. Students have a positive and active attitude towards learning language. They can pronounce Finnish distinctively. They manage quite well in everyday conversations related to topics studied in the course. They can write simple texts quite correctly and recombine words and phrases into new sentences so that used typical grammatic structures are almost correct. They understand the importance of good Finnish language skills to get a job in Finland.

Objectives (course unit)

In this course, you will improve your Finnish language skills. Estimated level is A2.1 +.

After completing the course, the students will be able to:
• pronounce Finnish quite well
• be more confident in using Finnish in their daily encounters out of a classroom
• understand phrases and typical vocabulary related to areas of personal relevance (e.g. travelling, health, free time)
• catch the main point in short, clear, simple messages, announcements and conversations.
• use a wider variety of everyday vocabulary and phrases more spontaneously and confidently
• read and understand short everyday text types
• find specific, predictable information in simple everyday material such as advertisements, prospectuses, menus and timetables and understand short simple personal messages and emails
• communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters
• describe aspects of their background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.
• use a series of phrases and sentences to describe in simple terms their family and other people, living conditions, educational background and their present or most recent job
• write short, simple texts related to everyday topics

Content (course unit)

• travelling, planning a trip
• visiting the doctor
• nature
• telling about the past
• object
• third infinitive

Prerequisites (course unit)

Finnish as a Foreign Language 1 (5 cr) and 2 (5cr) or equivalent knowledge.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2) (course unit)

Students have been able to complete all the assignments acceptably and attended contact lessons at least 80 %. They can tell about few of the achieved course contents, but their expression stays limited: both spoken and written language is partly hard to understand. It is difficult for them to take part to a simple discussion. Also their incomplete pronunciation may cause difficulties to understand their speech.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4) (course unit)

Students have been able to complete all the assignments acceptably and attended contact lessons at least 80 %. Students have an active attitude towards studying Finnish language showing that by completing course tasks according to the schedule. They are able to cope in everyday conversations related to topics studied in the course. Students can write short texts about their home, travelling or work. They can pronounce Finnish clearly enough. Students are able to use typical grammatic structures e.g. local cases and past tenses in simple sentences.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

Students have been able to complete all the assignments acceptably and attended contact lessons at least 80 %. Students have a positive and active attitude towards learning language. They can pronounce Finnish distinctively. They manage quite well in everyday conversations related to topics studied in the course. They can write simple texts quite correctly and recombine words and phrases into new sentences so that used typical grammatic structures are almost correct. They understand the importance of good Finnish language skills to get a job in Finland.

Location and time

We will have two meetings in a week: one contact class and one online class.

The contact class will be on Thursdays 2.15-3.45.
The class will take place in Kamppi campus, typically on the floor B6.
Please, check out the specific classroom in your calendar.

We will have the online classes on Zoom, and decide the day and time for it in the beginning of the course. You will find the link in Moodle once the course starts.

If you can not attend the online class, you can watch a video recording on your own time.

Exam schedules

Based on the tentative plan, the mid exam would take place in late October and the final exam in the beginning of December.

However, we will see the specific exam dates later.

Assessment methods and criteria

Your grade will be determined by your success in the mid and final exams. You will get further information on this in the beginning of the course.

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

In Finnish 3, your goal is to extend your knowledge in basic Finnish and learn to describe where and when something happens. To support this goal, you will have regular classroom meetings with the teacher. In addition to this, you are expected to do independent work outside the classroom.

To show your progress in the course, you need to take part in two course exams (mid exam and final exam).

Learning materials

You will need a physical or digital copy of Suomen mestari 2 (2022, the one with a yellowish background). We will study the chapters 1-4.

You can find a copy of Suomen mestari 2, for example, in an online store, local library in Tampere, or online marketplace (e.g., Tori.fi).

Student workload

You will have 2 x 1,5 h course meetings every week. In addition to this, you are expected to do independent study work 2-5 hours a week. The independent work can include, for example, home work, course assignments, discussions with local people, and use of language learning apps.

Notice that it can be difficult – if not impossible – to pass the course without any independent work. Course meetings are more like an introduction to the study topics while you will extend your knowledge with independent work.

Content scheduling

We continue practising basic vocabulary, phrases and grammar. Topics include e.g.,
- everyday discussions
- telling about past events
- discussing health and telling how you feel
- nature and surroundings
- hobbies and free time
- past tense, object, making a noun out of a verb

Completion alternatives

Not available.

Practical training and working life cooperation

Not available.

International connections

The course is aimed for international students.

Further information

If you are uncertain whether this is the right course for you, please, contact our Finnish language counsellor Ella Hakala (ella.hakala@tuni.fi).