Finnish 1 (5 cr)

Objective

You are able to express yourself in Finnish in the most common everyday situations both orally and in writing.
You have a command of simple phrases, basic clauses and vocabulary (CEFR level A1.1-A1.2) needed in situations such as introducing yourself and in service encounters.
You are familiar with the most essential grammatical features, like vowel harmony, present tense of the verb types and partitive singular case, and can manage with the pronunciation and spelling.
You are also able to expand your vocabulary and knowledge of language usage independently using different sources.
You become more familiar with the Finnish culture.

Content

What kind of language is Finnish compared with other languages you know? What are the special features of Finnish?
Which phrases and what kind of knowledge of Finnish language and culture are needed in everyday communication?
Which sources and tools can you use in order to learn elementary Finnish during the course and independently?
How to pronounce and spell in Finnish?

Course material

The study material used in the course is: Gehring, S. & Heinzmann, S. 2020. Uudistettu Suomen mestari 1. Suomea aikuisille. Helsinki: FinnLectura.(Note! Edition 2020 or newer.)
The other study material is available in the Learn (Xamk Moodle) online learning environment.

Study forms and methods

The course is carried out as real-time online teaching according to the schedule. The online sessions are not recorded. Attendance is mandatory for completing the course. Teacher guidance is available during online meetings.

The course includes online teaching twice a week and individual, pair, and small group tasks performed during the sessions. In addition, various oral and written exercises are completed.

Various methods of feedback are used during the course. These may include written and oral feedback, and peer feedback can also be used.

RDI and work-related cooperation

When possible there will be training of branch connected vocabulary and communication situations.

Timing of exams and assignments

The course ends at the time specified in the implementation details, by which all learning assignments, exams, and other tasks related to completing the course must be completed. There will be two exams in the course. Both exams must be passed. It is possible to write (rewrite) a non-written or not passed exam twice. Exam dates will be given at the beginning of the course.

International cooperation

This course suits well for international, exchange and double degree students.

Student workload

1 ECTS credit corresponds to approximately 27 hours of student work. However, the workload depends on study skills and prior knowledge.

In a 5-credit course, the student's workload is approximately 135 hours, of which around 27 hours consist of lectures and group work under the teacher's guidance according to the schedule, and about 108 hours are independently completed learning assignments.

Further information

The course is intended for students who do not have prior knowledge of the Finnish language. Attending the course requires English skills enabling academic studies.

Evaluation scale

1-5

Assessment methods and criteria

The assessment is based on the course's learning objectives and evaluation criteria. To pass the course, students must complete both exams with a passing grade, complete the learning assignments successfully, and participate in online teaching actively.

The course is graded on a scale of 1–5.

Qualifications

Prior skills in the Finnish language are not a requirement, but attending the course requires English skills enabling academic studies.