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Learn Finnish and Swedish

Language instructors and courses in the Kokkola region

What is the best way for you to study?

Daytime classes

  • Initial training for adult immigrants – KPEDU, Central Ostrobothnia Folk High School (Kälviä)

    Basic course

    • Starting from the Finnish skill level 0 (or below A1.1)
    • Location: Keski-Pohjanmaan kansanopisto, Opistontie 1, 68300 Kälviä
    • Contact instruction five days per week, five lessons per day (25 h/week).
    • Additionally, daily remote assignments to be completed at home (approx. 2 h/day).
    • The students have the possibility to seek, alongside language studies, vocational training e.g. for the following qualifications / qualification units: Further Vocational Qualification in Education and Guidance, working as a personal assistant, or assistance and care.
    • Afterwards, it’s possible to apply to vocational education through continuous admission.

    More information and enrolment (KPEDU, site only available in Finnish)

     

    Advanced course

    • Starting from the Finnish skill level A2.1.
    • Location: Keski-Pohjanmaan kansanopisto, Opistontie 1, 68300 Kälviä
    • Contact instruction five days per week, five lessons per day (25 h/week).
    • Additionally, daily remote assignments to be completed at home (approx. 2 h/day).
    • Students will be compensated for participating in the YKI intermediate-level test (if their skills are at the required level).
    • The students have the possibility to seek, alongside language studies, vocational training e.g. for the following qualifications / qualification units: Further Vocational Qualification in Education and Guidance, working as a personal assistant, or assistance and care.
    • Afterwards, it’s possible to apply to vocational education through continuous admission.

    More information and enrolment (KPEDU, site only available in Finnish)

     

  • Kielilinja – Kvarnen, Kronoby Folk High School

    Finnish language courses

    • Beginners’ course – level A0–A2.1
    • Advanced course 1 – level A2.1–B1.1
    • Advanced course 2 – level A2.2–B1.2
    • Advanced course 3 – level B1.1–B2.1 

    Swedish language courses 

    • Literacy course – level 0–A2
    • Beginners’ course – level 0–A2
    • Advanced course – level A2–B2

     

    About the studies

    • Kielilinja offers full-time and part-time instruction, Finnish and Swedish, at the beginner and advanced levels.
    • The courses start in August and end in May.
    • There are daily programmes from Monday to Friday, at 9–14 (daily workload 5 hours in school + 2 hours of homework).
    • Studies can also be completed on the side of evening or part-time work.
    • The Kielilinja studies are free. Students pay for their books themselves.
    • Courses can also be attended independently, without the support of the TE Office, in which case under 20 hours of instruction will be organised.

    Ask more or apply to Kielilinja

    More information and enrolment in Kielilinja (Kvarnen)

  • Workplace Finnish and Workplace Swedish Training

    Your employer may want to support your language studies alongside work. Your employer may be able to arrange language training tailored to the workplace.

    The language lessons of the training focus on the professional vocabulary needed in the tasks, communication situations encountered at work, customer service situations or the company’s occupational safety and other material, for example.

    The Workplace Finnish Training is co-funded by the employer and the labour administration.

    Your employer can ask about training in TE services. You can find TE services’ e-services at Job Market Finland website

    Read more about Workplace Finnish Training on the Jobb Market Finland online service

Part-time language courses (in the evening)

  • Suomen mestari 1 / Elementary Finnish Course

    This course is a good starting place for those who can read and write in latin alphabet. The students are required to have a textbook ”Suomen Mestari 1, Finnish language for adults”. We will go through the whole book during the course. Skill level is A1.

    Suomen mestari 2

    This course is based on the previous elementary studies of the Finnish language. The textbook needed is Suomen mestari 2. Skill level is A2-B1

    Advanced Finnish Course

    The course is based on the content of Suomen mestari 3. We go through a selection of grammar: konditionaali, passiivit, imperatiivi etc. We get to know the spoken language through rehearsing different speech situations. Material: copies. Not for beginners.

    Häng med 1 / Elementary Swedish Course

    Text book Häng med 1 is reguired for the course. Skill level is A1. The course starts from the very basics, and does not require previous studies in Swedish language.

    Trevligt att träffas
    – Swedish Conversation Course

    No text book required, skill level is A1-A2

  • Kpedu

    • From the basics to the advanced, according to the needs of the group
    • 2 evenings / week
    • New groups usually start in August and in January
    • The courses have a small deductible (participation fee)
    • Read more (in Finnish)

    More information and enrolment

    Elisa Märsylä, elisa.marsyla(@)kpedu.fi tel. +358 44 725 0893

    Kirsi Mikkola, kirsi.mikkola(@)kpedu.fi tel. +358 44 725 0878

Let’s talk! – Finnish in practice

  • Finnish language conversation course: “Juttelukurssi”

    From 29 August 2022 to 29 November 2022

    • In Kokkola at Kpedu (Närvilänkatu 8)
    • By KPEDU, Central Ostrobothnia Folk High School
    • 2 evenings / week
    • Participation fee 65 €
    • Some knowledge in Finnish is recommended (the basics)

    Let’s talk and learn more Finnish!

    More information and enrolment

    Elisa Märsylä, elisa.marsyla(@)kpedu.fi tel. 044 7250 893

    Kirsi Mikkola, kirsi.mikkola(@)kpedu.fi tel. 044 7250 878

  • Silta Community Club program to support learning Finnish language

    International Club

    Different associations take their turn each week to run the international club – talking about different topics, learning about hobby possibilities in Kokkola, playing games or tasting different foods. Join the international club and let us know what kind of program you would like to participate. Welcome to join the club, either new or with longer Kokkola-experience, in any language!

    Silta language programme is not a course – you can participate once or each time, to have fun, to make friends and to practise your Finnish. Welcome!

    Where?

    • at Yhteisöklubi Silta
    • Address: Ryövärinkarintie 1, Kokkola

    When?

    • On Wednesdays at 16:00-18:00

    Silta homepage: www.kostiry.fi (available in Finnish)

Online Language Courses

  • SIMHE Finnish and Swedish online language courses

    SIMHE -project (Supporting Immigrants in Higher Education) at the University of Vaasa offers a great variety of Finnish and Swedish language courses in the academic year 2023-2024.

    These are free online courses, organized day time.

    The courses are aimed at anyone who wish to improve their language skills in Finnish or Swedish.  Anyone is welcome to apply for the open courses: you do not need to be a student of the University of Vaasa.

    More information on the SIMHE studies -website (University of Vaasa)

Integration training and independent Finnish or Swedish studies

If you have recently moved to Finland, you may have a right to integration services. They usually involve language studies.

If you are an unemployed jobseeker in integration training and you want to study in a Finnish or Swedish language course that isn’t organised by the TE Office, agree on the studies with the TE Office or the local government pilot on employment before the beginning of the course.

You can get support for independent studies only if

  • the course involves at least 20 hours of studying per week
  • the studies have been agreed upon in your integration plan
  • you have been given permission by the TE Office to begin the course

If you wonder whether you could get into integration training, ask the local government pilot on employment in the Kokkola region.

Local government pilot on employment in the Kokkola region – contact information

Finnish language training for immigrants who have exceeded the integration period

Time: September 4.9 2023 to February 28.2 2024. Monday to Friday from 9.00–14.30

Place: Opistotalo, Vaasantie 7

The training is aimed at adult immigrants who live in Kokkola and have exceeded their integration period. The training is free of charge. You will be studying the Finnish language during this training. Your Finnish language skills will be strengthened and refreshed. You will gain the skills to use Finnish in different every day and practical situations. During the training we will visit different places, such as the library, museums, companies and workplaces. Depending on the group’s interests we will also go on nature walks and try different craft techniques or arts.

Register by August 11, 2023.
The first 12 to register will be admitted to the training.

Additional information and registrations:
antti.tuomaala@kokkola.fi
Local government pilots on employment
Vaasantie 6, 67100 Kokkola

When I saw a person from the same country as I am speaking perfect Finnish, I knew I could learn too.

Serah, Chairperson of the council on multiculturality of the City of Kokkola

Contact us