Finnish for Foreigners 1 (5 cr)

Objective

Students will be able to communicate on a day to day basic in Finnish and will get to know Finland: the country, its society, people, language and culture.

Content

Pronunciation, reading and conversation practice.
Basic vocabulary and phrases used in simple everyday communication.

Finnish culture and history.

Location and time

September - December 2025, online.

Materials

Edukamu: Start to Finnish and Suomi A1 courses.

Teaching methods

The course is mainly independent study. You will complete two KAMK online courses. Afterwards, you will take a final assessment on campus.

Exam schedules

Each part of the course includes a final test. A separate final assessment will be given after the online modules.

International connections

The course provides a lot of cultural and integration information.

Completion alternatives

Contact lessons in KAMK.

Student workload

5 credits = approx. 135 t of independent work by the student.
The course requires a computer, headphones and a dictionary.
To learn, you will need to read the material, do the exercises several times and study the vocabulary.
The use of translation software is detrimental to learning.

There will be a guidance meeting each month during the autumn. At these meetings you can ask for help in completing the course.

Content scheduling

Information of Finland. What is Finland? What is Finnish?
Finnish superlatives: the happiest people in the world, the land of the most of lakes and forests Basic phrases
Basic phrases, forms
Self introduction, my network
Questions and answers
Culture, history, nature
Telling time
Grocery shopping, Finnish cuisine
Shopping and eating out
Housing
Traveling
Oral excercises and listening comprehension

Evaluation scale

0 - 5

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student can speak satisfactory Finnish in short conversations about everyday life. The Student is able to identify necessary information in short texts and in spoken language.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The student understands topics of conversations he/she is involved in. He/she can answer questions in short phrases. The Student can read short texts, F.e. signs or advertisements of his/her interest.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Students can form comprehensible sentences using standard Finnish and recognize numerals in their basic form and can converse using simple questions and answers.

Assessment methods and criteria

Independent work in the online course and passing the tests. Final assessment.

Assessment criteria, fail (0)

In case you do not attend class and/or do not return assignments according to the course timetable.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

You will be able to engage in short everyday conversations on familiar topics. You can identify the information they need from short written and oral texts. You show motivation to learn the language by making an effort to use the language on your own initiative. You demonstrate cultural knowledge by giving a comprehensive presentation.

Toteutuksen arviointikriteerit, hyvä (3-4)

You understand the essential points of the debate. You can answer briefly basic questions. You can read and understand the main points of short texts of interest to them, such as signs or advertisements. You show an interest in the use of the Finnish language and in Finnish culture and society.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

You can form simple sentences in Finnish. You can recognize numerical expressions in their basic form and are able to interact in a rudimentary way using short questions and answers. You make a presentation on a cultural topic.