Foreign students are studying Finnish at the University of Vaasa during the summer 

These students are studying Finnish Language and Culture as either their major or minor subject at their home universities and have come to Vaasa to strengthen their language skills. Apart from language studies, they will also get acquainted with Finnish culture and visit UNESCO's World Heritage site, the Kvarken Archipelago.  

Finnish language students share their experiences: Finland's friendliness and nature are captivating  

 Laura Czernysz and Florian Huzar came to Vaasa from Poland. Both Laura and Florian are studying Finnish as their major at the University of Gdansk. Their friends had attended a similar course in Turku last year and recommended it to them.  

Laura's interest in learning Finnish started from Finnish culture, particularly movies and music. She mentions Käärijä, Hassisen kone, and Apulanta as her favourite Finnish artists. Florian ended up studying Finnish by accident but has thoroughly enjoyed his studies. Both of them are considering a career as translators.  

Anete Puusta from Estonia was inspired to study Finnish by her Finnish teacher. She is majoring in Estonian language studies and learning Finnish as a related language, which has offered her new perspectives on her mother tongue. Anete has long contemplated a career as a teacher, and currently, there is a demand for Finnish language teachers in Estonia.  

Julia Lorenz from Germany became interested in Finnish when she came to Finland for a half-year trip after high school. She fell in love with how distinct Finnish sounded compared to other languages. However, she acknowledges that Finnish is not the easiest language to learn. All four students agree that grammar and word inflection are definitely the most challenging aspects. Their favorite words include "ihanaa" (wonderful), "pyöreä ruokapöytä" (round dining table), "kuperkeikka" (somersault), and "sielunmaisema" (soul landscape).  

The friendliness of Finns has made a strong impression on the students. They appreciate how often Finns use the word "kiitos" (thank you) in various situations, such as when exiting a bus. The proximity of nature in Finnish cities also delights the students, and Anete emphasizes that the walking and cycling paths in Finland are in excellent condition and seem endlessly long. However, some things have left the students puzzled, like watermelon in salads and the variety of products in supermarkets, ranging from food to hair dyes.  

All four students are already planning their return to Finland after the course ends. Some of them have upcoming exchange studies at the University of Jyväskylä, while others' plans are still taking shape. One thing is clear, though — they will come back to Finland at least for traveling.  

The Finnish Language and Culture summer course has been organized in Vaasa for over 10 years. The most recent course was held in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic.