Teaching

The No-Nonsense Finnish Course: Towards functional language use / KOHTI arkipäivän kielitaitoa

The KOHTI project revolves around building a stronger bond between international doctoral researchers and the Finnish language. During the course the participants will learn to communicate in Finnish in actual everyday situations which further facilitates integration and  makes life in the target culture all round easier. The course pilot will launch late October 2025. The enrolment period for the course will begin in August 2025. Further information on the enrolment will be published shortly.

The participants take active part in developing the model as all the modules of the course shall be adjusted according to the experiences of the pilot group. Thus, this is a major opportunity to participate in building a new approach, as well as a rare chance to influence and be a part of shaping a new operational model.

Content

During the course, the participants will be introduced to the basics of spoken Finnish and Finnish culture. The focus is on speaking and practical everyday language use. Participants will practice using Finnish not only in the classroom but also in various activities with native Finnish speakers. The content of the course is tailored according to each learner’s individual language background and needs. 

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. The data collected will be used for research purposes and to further improve language teaching. 

Learning outcomes

After the course, the participant is familiar with the vocabulary and phrases needed in basic situations in everyday life. The participant has an improved understanding of the Finnish pronunciation and intonation. The participant is also 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.  

Good to know

The course cannot be completed remotely. The focal point of the course is communicative language learning, authentic interaction, as well as peer and working life immersion. The course consists of contact teaching in the classroom and in authentic environments, participation in research, and individual language clinics. By participating in the course, you commit to active participation (min 80%) in all areas of the course from 27 October 2025 to 29 April 2026. The course includes on-site teaching requiring attendance in teaching period II (27 Oct – 18 Dec 2025) and between 7 – 29 April 2026 (in period IV). In addition, occasional working life visits and peer meetings will be organised during period III. 

For more information:

Principal investigator Katja Haapanen, katja.haapanen@utu.fi
(NB: away between 28 June and 3 August)