UniOulu Applicant guide 2027 - Product brochure - Page 50
Student Life in Oulu
From Practice to Proficiency:
Navigating the
Finnish Language
Is Finnish as difficult as they say? After six months in
Finland, I've discovered some tips and tricks that make
learning this 'impossible' language a little easier.
Kickstarting My Language Learning
Before I knew it, I was front row at concerts
singing my heart out in Finnish, even when I
After arriving, I began with the University of
didn’t quite know what every word meant yet!
Oulu’s ‘Kickstarter’ course offered for new
international students. This course built on the
Subtitle Everything
patterns seen on Duolingo, teaching key grammar rules and offering speaking and listening
Another way I help grow my understanding is by
practice with supportive teachers. Alongside the
watching TV and movies dubbed or subtitled in
language learning, it was a great
Finnish. Some of my favourite films
way to meet other new students
are available on different streaming
“Practice,
and build a support network when
platforms with Finnish dubs, and
first arriving in Finland too.
most can have Finnish subtitles
practice,
playing alongside the English
practice!
Music Makes the
audio.
The beginnings
World Go Round
I often find myself in my classes
of language
Courses are great for
bringing up my favourite movie
learning require scenes or lines of dialogue that
fundamentals, but I have found
lots of note
that immersion is key. The number
help me build connections with the
one biggest thing I have found
language and I love sharing new
taking.”
that has helped me get a grasp of
Finnish series I have enjoyed with
the language is finding music that
my language learning friends.
appeals to me and playing it on repeat.
So, is it impossible?
There are a wide range of genres and
Read
artists to be discovered who sing in
Whilst yes, the Finnish language isn’t
the full
going to be learnt in one or two months,
Finnish, and some very catchy tunes you
blog:
can find yourself humming away to quite
it is surprising how quickly you can start
to understand more and more when you
quickly. I found that having a playlist of
some of my favourite Finnish music and
surround yourself with the language. If you
playing it on repeat, quickly helped me to
are looking to learn Finnish, find a way of
pick up key phrases and begin to recogdoing it that brings you joy and you won’t
nise how the Finnish language sounds.
even realise you are studying it.
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