Study Guide

Objectives (course unit)

The course provides the basics of 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?

Location and time

First intensively 4 lessons both on Mondays and Tuesdays, from October 31st on 2 classes on Tuesdays and 2 on Thursdays. Altogether 28x2 lessons.

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

Contact teaching, study conversation, cooperative learning, oral and written exercises and games. Also online material is utilized. All materials have been collected and structured in Moodle. The idea is to make learning basics of Finnish not only important but also interesting and fun.

Learning materials

Textbook Suomen mestari 1 - Suomen kielen oppikirja aikuisille (by Sonja Gehring & Sanni Heinzmann) (the renewed version). You may find the book in the TAMK library, but it is recommended to buy the book, because it will be used also in the spring term in the course Finnish for Foreigners 2. Also materials made by the teacher and e-materials are used.

Student workload

Group meetings twice a week (4x90 minutes or 2x90 minutes/week), attendance required. A regular and active attendance in lessons is important and also compulsory to pass the course. In addition, 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!
Homework: 6-8 hours per week (may vary individually) and active attitude towards Finnish-speaking society.

Content scheduling

Basic information of Finnish language, pronunciation, vocabulary and phrases, greetings, numbers, time expressions, positive and negative verb conjugation, verb types, question sentences, introducing yourself, telling about your everyday life, simple everyday conversations, shopping