Finnish as Foreign Language 1 (5cr)

Objectives (course unit)

The course provides the basics of the Finnish language and culture (estimated level A1.2)

After completing the course, the students will be able to:
• Use the basic structure of Finnish.
• Manage in Finnish in basic situations like simple shopping and travelling.
• Learn to build up their vocabulary.
• Know forms of politeness in Finnish.
• Know how to write brief messages connected to everyday life.

Content (course unit)

• How is Finnish pronounced?
• Why do I need to pay attention to how words are written?
• How to make simple statements, ask questions and answer them?
• How to write short messages in Finnish?
• What to say in situations like shopping, travelling in Finland?
• How to be polite, and build up small talk in Finnish?

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

The student has completed all the assignments acceptably and attended contact lessons at least 80 %. The student is able to tell a few things about oneself in Finnish comprehensively. The student recognises typical grammatic structures like possessive structure, verb types and partitive.

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

The student has an active attitude towards studying Finnish language and culture showing that by completing written tasks according to the schedule. The student is able to use the typical grammatic structures like possessive structure, verb types and partitive in simple sentences. He/she is able to cope in most common everyday situations like introducing and shopping and tell simple things about his/her day, family, spare time etc. The student is able to write brief messages (e.g. e-mail, text message, and post card) in Finnish and is able to pronounce Finnish clearly enough.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

The student has a positive and active attitude towards learning Finnish and is genuinely interested in Finnish culture, and brings it up by comparing Finnish culture to his/her own. He/she can pronounce Finnish distinctively and is able to use suitable and varied expressions in everyday situations using grammar almost correctly. The student is able to write brief texts in Finnish, which are mostly correct.

Location and time

During the first ja second period on Thursday mornings (15 x 3 lessons)

Exam schedules

A written exam will be conducted in the end of the second period. The date will be informed during the course and marked in Moodle. If possible, it will be in a face to face situation in a classroom in TAMK campus. A retake will be organized same way.

Assessment methods and criteria

A course grade will be formed on the basis of a result of the written exam.

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

Because of the online implementation all kind of online material is utilized. The basic tool in communication during lessons is Zoom. All materials have been collected and structured in Moodle platform. The idea is to make learning basics of Finnish not only important but also interesting and fun.
o pronunciation exercises
o vocabulary exercises
o structural exercises
o conversational and drama exercises
o listening comprehension exercises
o reading comprehension exercises
o written exercises.

Learning materials

All studying material and material recommendations are to be found in Moodle platform. Study book Suomen mestari 1, chapters 1–4, 8.

Student workload

Finnish language differs so much from the mother tonques of the most students. That means rather much work to get in communication in Finnish especially now when a part of the students study abroad without getting help of living in Finland. The work demands time and online collaboration. A regular and active attendance in lessons is important and also compulsory to pass the course. But as said, in addition to it much private learning is needed. 5 ECTs course means 5 x 27 hours of work! To build up one's motivation is very important: to find useful, fun and creative ways to learn, use and understand Finnish. So have Finnish as a hobby also in your free time!

Content scheduling

Basic information of Finnish language, pronunciation, greetings, numbers, time expressions, positive and negative verb conjugation, verb types, question sentences, nationalities, simple declensions, everyday vocabulary e.g.

International connections

The whole group is international!

Assessment criteria - fail (0) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Uncompleted assignments, big difficulties to understand and produce the simplest basic phrases and expressions.

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

Look at the course information.

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

Look at the course information.

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

Look at the course information.