Teaching
We wish to give our sincerest thank you to all participants of The No-Nonsense Finnish Course: Towards Functional Language Use / KOHTI arkipäivän kielitaitoa pilot course during the academic year 2025–2026!
In the academic year 2026–2027, we will offer two courses for different language proficiency levels! See more information below and in the Study Guide.
UGSY0088 Functional Finnish for Beginners (KOHTI arkipäivän kielitaitoa), 3–5 ECTS
Registration 11 May–31 August 2026. See more information in the Study Guide!
Course content and learning outcomes
After completing the course, the participant will be familiar with vocabulary and phrases needed in everyday situations. The student will have a better understanding of Finnish pronunciation. They will be able to ask and answer simple questions. The participant learns to pay attention to the differences and similarities between Finnish and other languages, and they can apply this language awareness to further support their learning.
Themes: greetings, introducing oneself, countries, languages and nationalities, numbers, personal information, weekdays and telling the time, arranging meetings, everyday vocabulary, travelling, food and ordering in a café, family and relatives, body parts and health issues
Course participants take part in a research project focusing on phonetic research with the aim of promoting the integration of international talents into Finnish society and working life. Speech and experiential data will be collected from participants for research purposes and for the development of teaching.
Further information
The participants of the course take part in the KOHTI research project that focuses on phonetic research and aims to support the integration of international talents into Finnish society and working life. Speech recordings and experience-based data will be collected from the participants for research purposes and to further develop language teaching. The course cannot be completed remotely. The course can be completed as a 3 ECTS or 5 ECTS unit. In addition to classroom contact teaching in the schedule, the course includes lessons outside the classroom, small groups meetings, and workplace visits. More information will be provided at the beginning of the course.
This course is intended for beginner Finnish speakers. Intermediate speakers can participate in the course Functional Finnish for Intermediate Speakers (KOHTI sujuvampaa suomea). This course was previously (2025-2026): UGSY0087 The No-Nonsense Finnish Course: Towards Functional Language Use (KOHTI arkipäivän kielitaitoa), 5 ECTS. Students may complete only one of the two courses (due to overlapping content).
Language proficiency level A1; approximately six months of prior Finnish studies, for example completion of Finnish 1.
UGSY0090 Functional Finnish for Intermediate Speakers (KOHTI sujuvampaa suomea), 3–5 ECTS
Registration 11 May–31 August 2026. See more information in the Study Guide!
Course content and learning outcomes
After completing the course, the participant understands longer stretches of continuous speech related to everyday life and working life. The student’s vocabulary and phrase repertoire will expand, and they will be able to discuss topics covered during the course in Finnish. The student learns to pay attention to differences between spoken and written language and to reflect on their own speech. The main focus of the course is practising oral language skills. Participants practise their listening comprehension skills by listening to and watching Finnish-language podcasts and videos on various topics. During the course, participants also observe their own speech and practise pronunciation. Participants practise using Finnish not only in classroom situations but also in different practical situations and in small groups with Finnish speakers.
Themes: I and my background, society, work, culture and sports, home and housing, health and wellbeing, shops and services, environment, travelling
Further information
Language proficiency level A2–B1.
Course participants take part in the KOHTI research project, which focuses on phonetic research and aims to promote the integration of international talents into Finnish society and working life. Speech and experiential data will be collected from participants for research purposes and for the development of teaching.
The course cannot be completed remotely. The course may be completed as either a 3- or 5-credit course. In addition to classroom contact teaching scheduled in the timetable, the course includes teaching outside the classroom, small-group meetings and visits to workplaces. More information will be provided at the beginning of the course. The course is intended for intermediate speakers of Finnish.
Beginner-level learners of Finnish may participate in the Functional Finnish for Beginners (KOHTI arkipäivän kielitaitoa) course (offered in the academic year 2025–2026 under the name “The No-Nonsense Finnish Course: Towards Functional Language Use”).