From start to Finnish: What learning the language taught me about belonging in Finland
Every new student arriving in Finland quickly realises how hard the Finnish language can be, and how useless the Duolingo lessons are (“Minä olen velho – I am a wizard” specially). Depending on your field of studies, your language proficiency will also impact your capacity to network and secure internships, and later, a job.
Why Finnish language is a must?
Some fields are more likely to offer jobs, or given the current market reality, internships, with duties to be performed in English. However, the coffee breaks and every other workplace social situation will likely happen in Finnish, so to advance in your career with soft skills, learning the language is a must.
In my case, trying to find my way into the Finnish sport network made me realize right away the importance of earning my place as someone who belongs, and not an outsider trying to get in.
One of my first reality checks with my own proficiency was when I went to get a haircut for the first time, right after I finished my first Finnish course. My barber didn’t speak English, so I had to use my rudimentary Finnish to be understood, and a lot of hand gestures and thumbs ups.
At least I could communicate enough for him to do a good job. In the following months, I kept studying Finnish, and expanding my network, coordinating with other members of the Rowing club and talking to some members, who didn’t speak English, with my precarious but slowly improving skills.
By the time the second haircut was due, I was able to greet my hairdresser properly, explain what I wanted with prepared phrases, and give feedback when he asked me about the process. The same happened within the sports world, and I realized that the struggle of talking to people without having the opportunity to turn to English when the conversation was hard, was a blessing in disguise.
Be consistent if you want to learn Finnish
A student may pass an exam for their degree by studying 12 hours for a couple of days, but acquiring a language requires daily consistency. One does not absorb the language just by being surrounded by it. It requires active involvement and choosing the learning strategies that best suit you.
Learning Finnish is not so much about how many study credits you get, but the real use you can do of the language. The difference between the written language, and the Finnish puhekieli or spoken language startles many learners. Expanding your vocabulary is as important as mastering the social nuances of conversation, and many times, nodding and copying other people’s reactions to blend in, while understanding nothing of what is being said.
Remember that you shouldn't expect to be a fluent speaker before starting using the language. It takes courage to start using the language, and exposing yourself to awkwardness and some funny misunderstandings. But in the long run, consistent use of the language is what is going to develop your confidence in your own skills, and put you closer to your own integration goals.
Put yourself in situations where you can use Finnish
Learning Finnish comes from putting yourself in difficult situations, and the only way to prove yourself is to get out of your comfort zone. I am still far from mastering the language or being close to any job that demands the use of Finnish, but with enthusiasm and a bit of shamelessness I was able to secure an internship in a sports club that puts me in a situation in which I need to understand and speak Finnish.
And my last haircut was a fantastic experience: I was not only able to describe precisely what I wanted, but this time I was also able to talk with my parturi (barber) about holidays, different pastries from my country, and the different sports one can practice in the winter.
