The Teaching of Finnish Language in basic and secondary schools

Good morning beautiful people 🙂

Welcome to another #Wednesdays4Turku

Let's talk about the teaching of Finnish language in schools. This short blog post is to be able to know your experiences as parents of children in either of these groups:

Know the difference between studying Finnish as a second language (S2) and studying Finnish as a mother tongue (FMT)

Finnish as a second language or Finnish language and literature in schools.


The pupil can study Finnish as a second language and literature (S2) if their mother tongue is not Finnish or they have a multilingual background.

🌿The selection of the syllabus is always based on the pupil’s needs as assessed by the pupil’s teachers. When assessing the suitable syllabus, the following matters are taken into account:

✅whether the pupil’s Finnish skills are insufficient in specific areas (speaking, reading, listening comprehension, writing, structure or vocabulary).

✅whether the pupil’s Finnish skills are insufficient to be ale to participate in schoolwork equally.

✅whether the pupil’s Finnish skills are insufficient to study the Finnish language and literature syllabus.

🌿The S2 syllabus can be taught in S2 lessons or separately during the Finnish language and literature lessons.

🌿The objectives and contents of the S2 syllabus are mainly the same as in the Finnish language and literature syllabus. However, the S2 studies do not add to the number of hours in the pupil’s timetable.

🌿The pupil will study according to the S2 syllabus until they achieve sufficient skills to study according to the Finnish language and literature syllabus. 

🌿A pupil studying the Finnish language and literature syllabus may also move on to the S2 syllabus when necessary.

Source: www.hel.fi

Other sources of information:

https://www.vantaa.fi/en/services/service/syllabus-finnish-second-language-s2#tab-introduction

https://www.turku.fi/en/services/finnish-second-language-and-literature-s2-and-swedish-second-language-and-literature-r2

#suomenkieli #varhaiskasvatus #kieli #koulutusjärjestelmä #koulutus #opetushallitus #opetus #SusDTee

  • In which of these groups has your child studied? 
  • For those whose child/children have been in the S2 group, have they moved to the FMT group?
  • How long did they study before changing the group? 

Please share your experiences in the comments section.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tuition Fees for International Students in Finland: A Balanced Approach

Image
Finland is a popular destination for international students, with over 20,000 students currently pursuing higher education in the country. The city of Turku alone hosts around 2,500 international students. Turku aims to be the best student city in Finland. However, these students face significant challenges in finding employment integrating and being included into Finnish society. Some Challenges Faced by International Students: 1. Job Search Difficulties: International students in Finland struggle to find part-time jobs due to language barriers, lack of professional networks, unwillingliness to employ 'unfarmiliar' names or faces; and limited work experience. 2. Integration Challenges: International students often find it difficult to integrate into Finnish society due to cultural differences, language barriers, and limited social connections. 3. Financial Constraints: International students in Finland are required to pay tuition fees, which can range from €6,000 t...
Read more

Be the ‘Ungrateful Immigrant’

Image
I noticed a trend in discussions and attitudes within communities of people who move to Finland - if you speak up or criticize the society objectively or not, you are ungrateful. By this definition, I am an ungrateful immigrant and you should be too. This narrative is also promoted by the society which tends to indirectly or directly pick and choose who are the more welcome ‘immigrants’ based on how ‘grateful’ they are or not. For want of a better word, I will use the term immigrant as is used in the mainstream discourses in Finland so we have a common ground. Gratitude is ONLY a first step Gratitude acknowledges the opportunities and freedoms often associated with moving to a new country. For many, immigration may provide access to better education, safety, healthcare, and economic stability—opportunities that might not have been available in their country of origin. This is a phase that must not end as such. Gratitude means contributing and enriching the new s...
Read more

Too Foreign for the West, Too Distant for the Home Country: A migrant in Finland

Image
Living between worlds is not a romantic notion when the in-between becomes a void. For many African immigrants in Finland, identity is a negotiation with constant reminders of otherness. The phrase "Too foreign for the West, too distant for the home country" resonates like a quiet echo in daily life—a truth that exists in glances, in silence, and in the spaces between belonging. In Finland, the foreignness is undeniable. It’s in the stark winter that chills not only the skin but also the spirit. It’s in the awkward pauses after introductions, when your name—rich with heritage—is met with puzzled looks or polite but strained attempts at pronunciation. It’s in the way your accent marks you before you say much at all, and the assumptions that follow: where you come from, what you know, who you must be. There is a quiet politeness in Finnish society, but sometimes, politeness can be another word for distance. Integration is more than learning the language or finding a job. It’s a...
Read more