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Top 6 tips for studying Finnish
Speak, study, watch, read, write, play games
Speaking out loud
Speaking out loud is one of the most effective ways to learn a new language.
Studying the basics
Studying the basics gives you confidence and makes it easier to start speaking.
Watching TV shows
Watching Finnish language TV shows with Finnish subtitles or without.
Reading books
Reading books/news/magazines in Finnish. Read aloud as much as possible.
Writing
Writing develops active language use. Chat with a friend in Finnish or write a short piece on a chosen topic daily.
Playing games
Playing games is a good way to practice Finnish language skills. Many children learn through games.
SPEAK FINNISH OUT LOUD
- Speak aloud to yourself (definitely the easiest to implement)
- Speak English with your partner/children/friends
- Travel and put yourself in situations where you can speak
- Find a language partner who is in the same situation, so the threshold for speaking is low
The advice to speak out loud has probably been encountered to the point of saturation. Unfortunately, speaking aloud is indeed one of the most effective ways to learn a new language. By actively using the new language, you begin to grasp it better, and new words and sentences stick in your memory better.
Often tips are given to go on a trip or make friends who speak finnish. I feel that the matter is not so simple; few of us are willing to make the effort. Therefore, in our opinion, one of the best ways to practice Finnish aloud is to speak to oneself out loud.
It may sound silly and the first few times can be downright embarrassing, but after a few days the uncomfortable feeling disappears and your Finnish language skills start to develop at a rapid pace. Keep Google Translator within reach, for example, so you can check new words while you speak. Come up with one topic each day, about which you speak aloud for 5-30 minutes, we promise, your development curve will be really fast.
Another tested method is to speak Finnish aloud with a partner. The progress is really fast.
WATCHING TV SHOWS
- Watch Finnish TV shows with subtitles
- Once you get comfortable with the subtitles, try watching without them
At first, it might feel like you don't understand anything from TV shows when you leave out the English subtitles. However, don't get discouraged; after a few episodes, you might start to pick up bits and pieces. It could be helpful to start with a TV show you've already watched once, so you have a general idea of what's happening.
Leaving out the subtitles might surprise you. You might have felt that with subtitles, you understood almost everything happening in the show, but when you remove them, you may find yourself wondering why you don't understand anything anymore. Don't worry; you were relying on the written text before, so when it's gone, you have to engage in active listening.
Keep watching even if it initially feels like you don't understand anything. After a few episodes, your brain will start to adjust to relying solely on the audio, and you will gradually begin to understand more of what you hear.
STUDYING THE BASICS OF FINNISH
- Studying the basics provides a solid foundation
- The course on the website offers a comprehensive foundation for learning Finnish
It's definitely worth studying the basics of the Finnish language right from the start. For example, the course materials on this website (8 pages) are manageable and can be mastered by anyone, providing a very solid foundation for using Finnish.
Studying the basics builds confidence in using the language. I dare say that anyone can find the time to study the amount of material in the course. With the learning platform's materials, it's easy to set goals for yourself, such as studying one page every two weeks, which doesn't sound too daunting. Feel free to explore the content of the platform here.
READING FINNISH BOOKS
- Start reading books in Finnish, even if you don't understand much yet.
- Read news in Finnish.
Reading Finnish language books is one of the most effective ways to learn Finnish. I would emphasize here that I strongly recommend reading aloud 1-10 pages during each reading session and then continuing silently. Your Finnish pronunciation will improve rapidly when you read aloud.
Reading books may be frustrating at first when it feels like you don't understand everything. However, don't get stuck in this feeling; keep reading, and you'll notice after 20-100 pages that you're starting to understand what you're reading.
I don't recommend looking up unfamiliar words actively from a translator. Instead, only look up words that clearly repeat in the book. When you check these words, they're more likely to stick in your memory.
WRITING
- Message your friends in Finnish.
- Write short compositions on various topics.
I find this to be one of the most effective ways to learn Finnish, especially after speaking aloud. When you write, you actively engage with the language, which helps it stick better in your mind.
After studying the basics of Finnish, it's essential to focus on this active usage, such as speaking and writing, so that the learned words and concepts immediately become practical and don't fade away quickly.
One effective way to practice writing is to start messaging in Finnish with your partner/children/friends. Make an agreement to communicate only in Finnish from now on.
Another effective method is to set a goal of writing, for example, a half-page text in Finnish on a chosen topic three times a week.
PLAYING GAMES
- Playing games is an effective way to learn Finnish
Especially children may learn Finnish effectively through playing. This is highly effective if one enjoys gaming. It also makes it easier for the mind when the new language is associated with an enjoyable activity.