Beginners’ Finnish 2 (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Schedule

The classes will be during the 1st period on Thursdays at 12.15 - 13.45 and on Fridays at 8.15 - 9.45 (classroom 2203) and during the 2nd period on Tuesdays at 8.15 - 9.45 and on Thursdays at 12.15 - 13.45 (classroom 2207).
This course increases your knowledge of Finnish language and culture. The purpose is to achieve basic language skills that enable you to cope in everyday situations and participate in everyday communication. Themes handled during this course are everyday life, home and travelling, food and drinks, celebrating different holidays in Finland and elsewhere, work and free time. The grammar studied during this course:
• Consonant gradation and other changes (in the stem) of nouns and verbs
• Local cases of nouns (Where? Where from? Where to?)
• T-plural
• Pronouns
• Partitive plurals
• Ordinady numbers
• Postpositions
• Basics of the object
• Some word types

Implementation methods, demonstration and Work&Study

Courses include both 1) contact hours and 2) independent studies:
1) Oral and written exercises individually and in pairs, group work, tests
2) Homework and preparation for lessons, exams and assignments

Recognition of prior learning (RPL):
The students who start their studies in BITE programme and already know some Finnish, can pass the course and gain the credit points by attending a level test. Written and oral parts of the test are organized during the orientation weeks in August or January. The RPL test can only be taken once.

Materials

Gehring, Sonja & Heinzmann, Sanni: Suomen mestari 1. Finn Lectura. Helsinki. Chapters 5/6-9. (Required)
Finnish-English-Finnish Dictionary (Recommended)
Other material provided by the teacher

Teaching methods and instruction

Emphasis will be given to all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing.
The class will provide students the opportunity to practice new vocabulary and grammatical structures through in-class discussion of assigned activities and readings. To succeed in this course, you must actively participate and you will be expected to attend class regularly, prepare for class, and speak as much Finnish as possible.
Through the communicative approach I hope to achieve a high degree of interaction in the classroom and make your learning of Finnish language and culture interesting and fun. We strive for a learning atmosphere that challenges you your skills in a supportive way. There are no wrong answers, only good attempts.
Contact hours: oral and written exercises individually and in pairs, group work, learning games.
Independent studies: homework and preparation for lessons, exams and assignments, online material.

Working life connections

Learning Finnish language and culture will give students skills and readiness to work in a Finnish speaking working environment.

Exam dates and re-exam possibilities

The final exam will be arranged on Tuesday, December 10.
If a student does not come to the final exam or does not pass it, there are two possibilities to re-take the exam during spring 2020. Please, check the dates in MyNet. Enrolment for the re-examinations begins five weeks before the exam day and ends at noon on the Monday preceding the exam week.

Internationality

International students. Differences between Finnish and other cultures.

Completion alternatives

RPL The students who start their studies in Bite programme and already know some Finnish, can pass the course and gain the credit points by attending a level test. Written part of the test is organized during the orientation weeks in August or January and the oral part later in the 1st/4th period according to a separate schedule.

Learning assignments

The assignments will be given during the course. All of the homework assignments will be posted on the class website on Moodle.
This course develops your ability to understand and use Finnish language further and activates the language skills learned earlier. You will be encouraged and be able to use Finnish in everyday situations.
Upon successful completion of the course, you
• can communicate in simple everyday situations requiring exchange of information on familiar matters
• can understand conversations on basic, everyday subjects
• know the main difference between spoken and written Finnish
• can deal with simple situations likely to arise when travelling
• can tell about your home and your job
• can tell about your hobbies and free time
• can express your feelings.
Upon successful completion of the course, you should be on your own way to level A2 in most of the language skill areas - speaking, listening, reading and writing. Level descriptions can be found at http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/education/elp/elp-reg/Source/Global_scale/globalscale.pdf

Assessment methods

Attendance 20 %
Regular attendance and active participation in class
Points are given when you are present in class.
Daily attendance and active participation are crucial to your progress. Coming in time, being prepared, doing activities, answering questions and speaking Finnish as much as possible are all part of participation.
Mid-course exam and/or quizzes, texts and/or other assignments 30-40 %
Final exam 40-50 %