This article gives you tips on how to learn the Finnish language, where you can study independently and why it is important to learn at least a few words of Finnish when you want to work in Finland.
The unique language of the land of a thousand lakes, Finnish, has a special appeal for linguists, people who love languages, and anyone who wants to work in Finland. The unique structure of the language and the interesting challenges it poses make learning Finnish an interesting journey. Even though Finns are known for being very good at English, being able to speak Finnish can help you get a job that is more interesting and rewarding.
The Finnish Language Revealed
In the beginning, the Finnish language might seem complex with its long words and 15 grammatical cases. It has a reputation for being one of the hardest languages to learn, and learning it might seem like an impossible task.
However, it’s a beautiful and logical language at heart. Take, for instance, the tongue-twisting phrase “vesihiisi sihisi hississä,” which translates to “a water sprite hissed in the elevator.” Or, consider the rhythmic “kokoo koko kokko kokoon,” which means “gather the whole bonfire together.”
These phrases, while fun to say, also demonstrate the language’s fascinating structure and rhythm.
Why it’s Important to Learn Finnish for Professional Success
Even though English is spoken in most workplaces in Finland, learning Finnish will help your career in Finland in a big way. Getting to know the local language and being able to speak it can help you get closer to your coworkers, build better relationships with Finnish clients, and open doors in fields where Finnish is the main language.
Also, being able to talk in Finnish shows that you respect the local Finnish culture, which is something that both Finnish employers and Finns often like.
How to Learn Finnish
There are a lot of ways to learn Finnish, which is good news for people who want to learn the language. There are many ways to learn Finnish on the internet alone. Some of the most popular online tools are Duolingo, a well-known platform for learning languages that has Finnish courses that are like games and are interactive, and Memrise, a platform that uses spaced repetition and mnemonics to help you learn and remember Finnish words and phrases.
Infofinland.fi is a Finnish website with different materials and games for learning the language. FinnishPod101 is a podcast about learning Finnish, which is also a helpful way to learn the language.
In Finland, there are also materials and resources provided by public organizations and the government. One example of this is YLE, the Finnish Public Service Media Company, an excellent resource for learning Finnish. It provides a wide range of Finnish language materials ranging from news articles to radio broadcasts. This way, you can familiarize yourself with the language’s sounds and rhythm. Their website has videos for learning the alphabet and basic Finnish phrases. Click this link to find YLE’s material on the Finnish language
Learning Finnish with Barona’s help
Barona has a lot of tools to make your move to Finland as easy as possible. One of the most useful is helping you learn Finnish. Arffman, which is part of the Barona company, is Finland’s largest integration trainer for adult immigrants. It has been doing training for immigrants in different parts of the country since 1999.
Arffman’s teachers teach Finnish and Finnish work, culture, and society. Through personalized guidance, you can find interesting job options and come up with good ways to reach your goals.
Arffman’s Suomi Hubi Kieli-online service offers integration training and a wide range of online Finnish language courses for different skill levels, from beginners to advanced. Arffman Suomi hubi Kieli is their website, where you can find out more about what they have to offer.
Get excited about learning Finnish
At times, learning Finnish may seem impossible, but remember that the process is more important than the result. Every word and phrase you master will help you fit in better at work and in the culture of Finland. You don’t have to be fluent in the language to make an impression on the people there and on yourself. Both your coworkers and your friends will notice your effort and progress.
Armed with the Arffman’s Suomi hubi Kieli-service and YLE’s resources and motivated by the exciting professional opportunities that await, learning Finnish can be a rewarding journey.
So, kokoo koko kokko kokoon, and let the Finnish language help you get ahead in your career.