Updated on February 13th, 2024 / TK
Spring term 2024
We organize Finnish courses from beginner’s level A1 to level C1, in four locations as well as online. Our courses are open to everyone, but students need to register in advance for most of the courses. We do not provide language testing, but certificates of attendance are provided on request. If you need a certificate after the course, please contact our customer service: toimisto (at) ahjola.fi
Further information about our Finnish courses:
Monday to Thursday 10 am – 2 pm
Tuula Kivelä tel. 044 553 8414 / tuula.kivela (at) ahjola.fi
Eveliina Kiukkonen tel. 044 553 8490 / eveliina.kiukkonen (at) ahjola.fi
If you have no idea about you Finnish skills level, you can try out this self-assesment grid.
Registration
Note! The 3 Finnish courses for immigrant women held at Naistari (1201008, 1201009, and 1201010) and the course for immigrant men at Mattila (1201012) are an exception: you need not register in advance for them. For all our other Finnish courses you need to register either online or by phone.
How to register?
• Online registration starts on December 7th, 2023, at 10 am.
• Registration by phone at 044 553 8400 between 10 am and 3 pm. Note! Our customer service is closed from December 18th to January 1st, and opens again on January 2nd.
If you register by phone, be prepared to give us your email address, to which we will send confirmation of your registration and the payment details for paying the course fee.
Note that your registration is binding; if you know you can’t attend the course, cancel your registration at least 8 days before the course begins (free of charge). For cancellations 1-7 days before the beginning of the course we charge the whole course fee.
Cancellations and questions about payments: Please contact talous (at) ahjola.fi.
If the course level is not right for you, you can change to a more suitable course. In such a case, please contact Tuula 044 553 8414 or Eveliina 044 553 8490.
Course locations
- Juhannuskylä school (in the centre) Rautatienkatu 3-5
- Ahjola (in Pispala) Erämiehenkatu 10
- Naistari (in Hervanta) Lindforsinkatu 4
- Mattila (in Pyynikki) Sepänkatu
- Online (17 courses)
ONSITE COURSES
ONSITE COURSES IN THE SPRING (STARTING IN APRIL OR LATER)
Finnish for beginners intensively in spring (level 0-A1.2) 1201045L
Location: Ahjola, Pirtti
Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 5.00–7.30 pm
29.4.-13.6.2024 (57 hours)
Course fee: 90 €
An intensive beginners’ course in Finnish. The course progresses quickly and also requires independent study between lessons. We will learn to speak e.g. about oneself, family, the weather and daily routines; we will practice numbers and easy situations relating to errands. Coursebook: Suomen mestari 1, chapters 1-5. After the course, you can continue studying on the Finnish continuation course starting in September 2024, on which chapters 6-9 will be covered.
Finnish language activation course in May 1 (level A1) 1201047L
Location: Ahjola, Pirtti
Tuesdays and Fridays 4.00–6.15 pm
3.5.-14.6.2024 (39 hours)
Course fee: 74 €
The course is intended for individuals who have fully studied the textbook Suomen mestari 1. For example, you may have completed the ”Suomi 1” course, the ”Finnish continuation course in Pispala”, or an equivalent course. Welcome to the activation course if you want to focus on improving your spoken language skills! We will activate the texts and dialogues from chapters 5-9 of the book ”Suomen mestari 1. We use the language immediately in interactive situations. You can bring your textbook along, but it is not necessary for the course. English and Russian are used as auxiliary languages in teaching when necessary.
Finnish language activation course in May 2 (level A2) 1201048L
Location: Ahjola, Pirtti
Tuesdays and Fridays 6.30–8.45 pm
3.5.-14.6.2024 (39 hours)
Course fee: 74 €
The course is intended for individuals who have already completed the textbook Suomen mestari 2 in its entirety; for example, you have attended Ahjola’s ”Suomi 2” course or an equivalent course and want to develop your spoken language skills. We will activate the texts and dialogues of ”Suomen mestari 2”, chapters 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 in versatile ways during the course, and use the language immediately in interactive situations. You can bring your textbook with you, but it is not necessary for the course. The language of instruction for the course is Finnish.
EVENING COURSES AT JUHANNUSKYLÄ SCHOOL (LEVELS A1-B1)
Finnish 1 (level 0-A1.3) 1201030L THIS COURSE IS FULL
Location: Juhannuskylä school
Mondays and Wednesdays 5.00-7.30 pm
8.1.-15.4.2024 (78 hours)
Course fee: 111 €
A Finnish course for beginners. After completing this course you can continue to course Finnish 2 in autumn 2024. The course is fast and requires self-study at home between classes. Course book: Suomen mestari 1. The book will be completed during the course. English can be used alongside Finnish as a language of tuition when needed.
Finnish 2 (level A1.3-A2.1) 1201032L THIS COURSE IS FULL
Location: Juhannuskylä school
Tuesdays and Thursdays 5.00-7.30 pm
9.1.-23.4.2024 (84 hours)
Course fee: 117 €
This course is for students who have completed the Finnish 1 course or studied the same topics elsewhere. Course book: Suomen mestari 2, from the beginning. The book will be completed during the course. The aim is for the students to be able to use more Finnish in their everyday life. The course is fast and requires self-study between classes. English and Russian can be used alongside Finnish as languages of tuition, when needed. After this course you can continue on the course Finnish 3 in autumn 2024.
Finnish 2 at a slower pace (level A1.3-A2.1) 1201035 THIS COURSE IS FULL
Location: Juhannuskylä school
Tuesdays and Thursdays 5.00-6.30 pm
9.1.-23.4.2024 (54 hours)
Course fee (autumn term): 78 €
The course has started in the autumn of 2023. The course continues in January 2024 from ch 5 of Suomen mestari 2. You can join the course in January if you have already studied chapters 1-4 of the coursebook Suomen mestari 2. We focus on speaking, listening, and activating the students’ language skills. We aim at using as much Finnish as possible but English may be used alongside Finnish when necessary.
Finnish 3 (level A2.1-A2.2) 1201038L
Location: Juhannuskylä school
Mondays and Wednesdays 5.00-7.30 pm
8.1.-15.4.2024 (75 hours)
Course fee: 111 €
This course is for students who have completed Ahjola’s Finnish 2 course or have studied the same topics elsewhere. Coursebook: Suomen mestari 3, chapters 1-4 and complementary material prepared by the teacher. The course includes independent study between classes with the coursebook. After this course you can continue on the course Finnish 4 in September 2024.
Finnish 4 (level A2.2-B1.1) 1201040L
Location: Juhannuskylä school
Tuesdays and Thursdays 5.00-7.30 pm
9.1.-16.4.2024 (78 hours)
Course fee: 111 €
This course is for students who have completed Ahjola’s Finnish 3 course or have studied the same topics elsewhere and already manage in Finnish in everyday situations. Coursebook: Suomen mestari 3, chapters 5-8, and complementary material provided by the teacher. At the beginning of the course we will review the topics of the first half of the book, if needed. The course includes independent study between classes with the coursebook.
AFTERNOON COURSES IN PISPALA (LEVEL A1)
Finnish for beginners in Pispala (level 0-A1.2) 1201003L THIS COURSE IS FULL
Location: Ahjola, Nurkkis
Mondays and Wednesdays 2.45-4.15 pm
15.1.-22.4.2024 (52 hours)
Course fee: 84 €
A Finnish course for beginners at a slower pace than on our course Suomi 1 at Juhannuskylä school. We focus on speaking and listening but practice reading and writing as well, and aim at using Finnish actively from the start. Coursebook: Suomen mestari 1 (the 2020 or later ed.), ch. 1-5. English can be used alongside Finnish as a language of tuition when needed.
Finnish continuation course in Pispala (level A1.2-A1.3) 1201004L THIS COURSE IS FULL
Location: Ahjola, Pirtti
Tuesdays and Thursdays 2.15-3.45 pm
9.1.-11.4.2024 (52 hours)
Course fee: 84 €
A continuation course for the students who took Ahjola’s Finnish for beginners course in autumn 2023 or in December 2023 and for others who have studied some Finnish for beginners. You should already have studied chapters 1-5 of the book Suomen mestari 1 or similar content on another course. We focus on speaking and listening but practice also reading and writing. Coursebook: Suomen mestari 1, ch 6-9. English is used alongside Finnish as a language of tuition when needed.
FINNISH COURSES FOR IMMIGRANTS AT NAISTARI AND MATTILA
Easy Finnish for immigrant women (level A1) 1201008
Location: Naistari
Mondays and Wednesdays 10.30-12.00 am
8.1.-15.4.2024 (52 hours)
No course fee
The course has started in the autumn of 2023. This course is for immigrant women who do not speak any Finnish yet, or understand a little Finnish. After this course you will know, for instance, greetings, weekdays, and seasons in Finnish. You will be able to introduce yourself and your family, and buy food and tickets in Finnish. The course material is provided by the teacher. The course is not intended for students who are illiterate in their own language. Registration in Naistari.
Plain Finnish for immigrant women (level A2) 1201009
Location: Naistari
Mondays and Wednesdays 9.00-10.30 am
8.1.-15.4.2024 (52 hours)
No course fee
The course has started in the autumn of 2023. This course is for immigrant women who have studied some Finnish already (for at least 1-2 years). We learn more Finnish for everyday needs, in various situations such as visiting acquaintances, going to the doctor, shopping, going to the bank. After this course, you know the names of months in Finnish, can talk about concrete topics, e.g. yourself and your family, and can ask for directions or give them to others. The course material is provided by the teacher. Registration in Naistari.
Finnish continuation course for immigrant women (level B1) 1201010
Location: Naistari
Mondays and Wednesdays 12.30 – 2.00 pm
8.1.-15.4.2024 (52 hours)
No course fee
The course has started in the autumn of 2023. This course is suitable for immigrant women who have studied Finnish at least for a couple of years and can already handle everyday situations in Finnish. We practice using Finnish in various customer service situations and in education. After this course you are able to discuss your hobbies, free time, and your workday, conduct your business in different bureaus, handle accident situations, and more. The course material is provided by the teacher. Registration in Naistari.
Finnish for immigrant men (level A1) 1201012
Location: Mattila
Tuesdays 11.30 am – 1.00 pm
9.1.-9.4.2024 (26 hours)
No course fee
The course has started in the autumn of 2023. This course is intended for immigrant men who have studied a little Finnish, e.g. one course or 1/2 – 1 years, and want to learn more. You already know how to tell something about yourself in Finnish and can handle the most common everyday conversation situations in Finnish. We will learn more everyday Finnish, talk together in Finnish, and learn some basic structues of the language. The course is organized in co-operation with Men’s Civic House Mattila. Registration at Mattila before or during the first lesson.
ONLINE COURSES
ONLINE COURSES STARTING IN APRIL OR LATER
Finnish continuation course online (level A1.2-A1.3) 1201056L
Location: online (Peda.net)
9.4.-11.6.2024 (40 hours)
Course fee: 77 €
This course is for students who have studied chapters 1-5 of the book Suomen mestari 1 on an earlier course or for those who have studied more and want to refresh and review their skills. The course includes 20 modules. You will get two modules each Tuesday, and you can study when it suits you best. The online material comprises videos, audios, and exercises to train listening comprehension, writing skills, and speech. You will get online support and answers to your questions throughout the course. To participate you need a computer / mobile device, a microphone, and speakers. You also need the coursebook Suomen mestari 1 (the 2020 or later ed.). The learning platform is Peda.net. The teacher will contact you by email prior to the beginning of the course and give instructions about the platform.
Online Finnish for beginners – intensively in April (level 0-A1.2). 1201093L
Location: online (Peda.net)
15.4.-13.5.2024 (40 hours)
Course fee: 74 €
The course is suitable for beginners who want to progress quickly and are able to study independently on a daily basis at least 10 hours a week. The course is also suitable for those who want to independently revise the basics of Finnish in four weeks. You will receive new material five times a week, which you can study when it suits you best. The online materials consist of videos, audio recordings, listening comprehension, writing, and speaking exercises. You study as part of a group, get support for your learning, and can ask questions throughout the course. To participate, you need a computer/mobile device, a microphone, and speakers. You will also need the coursebook Suomen mestari 1, (2020 or later ed.), from which we will cover chapters 1-5. The course platform is Peda.net.
Intensive Finnish continuation course online in May (level A1.2-A1.3). 1201094L
Location: online (Peda.net)
20.5.-14.6.2024 (40 hours)
Course fee: 77 €
The course is suitable for you if you have studied Finnish for about a year (e.g., completed the ”Suomen mestari 1” book) and want to revise what you have previously learned. The course is also suitable for those who have studied less (”Suomen mestari 1”, chapters 1-5) and want to progress quickly. The course is intended for students who are able to study independently on a daily basis. You will receive new material five times a week, which you can study when it suits you best. The online material consists of videos, audio recordings, listening comprehension, writing, and speaking exercises. As part of a group, you will get support for learning and can ask questions throughout the course. To participate, you need a computer/mobile device, a microphone, and speakers. You will also need the textbook Suomen mestari 1 (2020 edition or newer), from which we will cover chapters 6-9. The course platform is Peda.net
Review your Finnish online in springtime (level B1). 1201096L
Location: online (Zoom)
24.4.-12.6.2024 (28 hours)
Mondays and Wednesdays 5.00-6.30 pm
Course fee: 63 €
Do you feel that it’s time to review the grammar you’ve previously learned and learn some more vocabulary at the same time? Do you want to develop your language skills even after the YKI test? The springtime revision course is suitable for you if you have studied, for example, the books Suomen mestari 1-3 and if the following things are already familiar to you: the past and the perfect tense, T-plural, and the plural partitive, the conditional, and the object. The course will be held entirely online, using the Zoom meeting app as. To participate, you need a computer with an internet connection, a microphone or headphones, and a camera. The teacher will contact the participants by email on the day the course starts and send a link to Zoom.
ONLINE COURSES STARTING IN JANUARY – MARCH
Finnish for beginners online (level 0-A1.3) 1201053L THIS COURSE IS FULL
Location: online (Peda.net)
16.1.-26.3.2024 (40 hours)
Course fee: 74 €
This course is for beginners. The course includes 20 modules, each consisting of teaching videos, audios and various exercises to train listening comprehension, writing skills and speech. You will get two modules each week on Tuesdays. You will get online support and answers to your questions throughout the course. The languages of instruction are Finnish and English.
To participate you need a computer / mobile device, a microphone, and speakers. You also need the coursebook Suomen mestari 1 (the 2020 or later ed.). The learning platform is Peda.net. The teacher will contact you by email prior to the beginning of the course and give instructions about the platform. Note! There are no real time video meetings on this course, but there is a weekly timetable for group exercises.
Finnish for beginners online (level 0-A1.3) 1201055
Location: online (Peda.net)
9.1.-19.3.2024 (40 hours)
Course fee: 64 €
The course has started in the autumn of 2023. New students who have studied Finnish for beginners earlier, can join the course in January 2024. You should have studied chapters 1-5 of the book already on an earlier course. This course continues from ch 6. Please check the course details by following the link provided above (the course code).
Easy spoken Finnish online (level A1.2-A1.3) 1201060L THIS COURSE IS FULL
Location: online (Zoom)
Wednesdays 10.00-11.30 am
24.1.-3.4.2024 (20 hours)
Course fee: 54 €
The course suits you if you have studied Finnish at least half a year or e.g. the book Suomen mestari 1. We practice everyday spoken Finnish, for example how to use Finnish in the health centre or in a shop. This course complements courses such as the Finnish continuation course and Finnish 2. Study material is provided by the teacher. English is used alongside Finnish as a language of tuition.
The course is held online via Zoom. To participate you need a computer with an internet connection, a microphone / headphones, and a camera. The teacher will contact the participants by email with instructions and the Zoom link before the course begins.
Finnish online (level A2-B1) 1201070L THIS COURSE IS FULL
Location: online (email)
29.1.-8.4.2024 (20 hours)
Course fee: 55 €
The course is designed for students whose language level is at least A2: you have studied Finnish for at least two years and can communicate in Finnish in everyday situations and understand basic texts in Finnish. The course suits you if you want to improve your writing skills. We focus on writing in Finnish as well as understanding written and spoken Finnish. The language of instruction is Finnish. There are no real-time video meetings on the course, but the material and personal comments provided by the teacher support your independent learning during the whole course. In addition, you will receive a weekly task that you can submit for personalized feedback from the teacher. To participate you need a computer and an internet connection. The teacher will contact you by email before the course starts.
Learn about and prepare for the YKI test (level B1.1) 1201072L THIS COURSE IS FULL
Location: online (Zoom)
Fridays 4.30-6.45 pm
23.2. – 22.3.2024 (12 hours)
Course fee: 47 €
The course is for students whose Finnish skills level is B1.1. and who are planning to take the YKI test (level 3) in the near future. The course familiarizes you with the task types of the YKI test and provides effective practice for writing, reading comprehension, speaking, and listening comprehension tasks. Note: the course is not meant for students below level B1.1. The goal of the course is not to learn Finnish, but to familiarize oneself and prepare for the YKI test. To participate you need a computer with an internet connection, a microphone or headphones, and a camera. The teacher will send you the Zoom link by email on the starting date of the course.
Suomi sujuvaksi 1 (level B1), 3 credits 1201075 THIS COURSE IS FULL
Location: online (Zoom)
Mondays 4.30-6.00 pm
8.1.-15.4.2024 (26 hours)
Course fee: 52 €
The course has started in the autumn of 2023. The course is suitable for students who have completed Ahjola’s courses Finnish 1-4 or have otherwise reached level B1.1 in Finnish and want to strengthen their skills, expand their vocabulary, strengthen their grammar, and practice discussing various topics. To participate you need a computer with an internet connection, a microphone/headphones, and a camera. The teacher will send you the Zoom link by email on the starting date of the course. Note! You can enroll in the course in January 2024 if there are available spots. However, participants who only attend in the spring semester will not be qualified to receive course credits.
Finnish discussion course in Zoom (level B1-B2) 1201076L
Location: online (Zoom)
Tuesdays 4.30-6.00 pm
30.1.-23.4.2024 (24 hours)
Course fee: 59 €
Do you feel that there are not enough chances to practice oral skills in Finnish through discussions? On this course we will choose a topic, go through expressions associated with the topic, and activate the words and expressions by speaking in small groups or pairs. The course suits you if you have studied Finnish actively for 3-4 years and already have a wide vocabulary on which to build. The course is held online via Zoom. To participate you need a computer with an internet connection, a microphone/headphones, and a camera. The teacher will send you the link to Zoom on the first date of the course.
Online writing course – towards level B2 (level B1.2-B2.1) 1201078L THIS COURSE IS FULL
Location: online (Zoom)
Thursdays 5.00-6.30 pm
25.1.-11.4.2024 (20 hours)
Course fee: 55 €
Would you like to write texts with more fluent Finnish? This course suits you if you have studied Finnish actively for at least 2-3 years and want to learn to write with more accuracy. We will meet once a week via Zoom. During our meetings we will study and practice various sentence structures. After each meeting you will get a writing assignment on a current topic. The students get personal feedback on the assignments. To participate you need a computer with an internet connection, a microphone/headphones, and a camera. The teacher will send you instructions by email before the beginning of the course.
Puhutaan puhekieltä (level B2) 1201080L THIS COURSE IS FULL
Location: online (Zoom)
Mondays 6.00-7.30 pm
15.1.-15.4.2024 (24 hours)
Course fee: 59 €
Why are some Finnish words different in spoken and written language? What do expressions such as ”kelit kohillaan” or ”ootatko vielä 5 minsaa” mean? On this course we will listen to short, authentic discussions, and read Facebook and Instagram posts as well as text messages written in spoken language. We’ll learn about some rules of spoken Finnish, and practice the understanding and use of spoken Finnish. The course suits you if you have studied Finnish actively for at least 2-3 years and you already have a wide vocabulary. The studying platform is Zoom. To participate you need a computer with a good internet connection, microphone/headphones, and a camera. The teacher will send you the Zoom link by email on the starting date of the course.
Suomi sujuvaksi 2 (level B2.1) 1201082 THIS COURSE IS FULL
Location: online (Zoom)
Tuesdays 6.00-7.30 pm
9.1.-9.4.2024 (26 hours)
Course fee: 52 €
The course has started in the autumn of 2023. This course is for students who have studied Finnish for several years and whose estimated language proficiency level is at least a strong B1. You want to become more accurate in your Finnish and want to learn to use more advanced grammar structures. The focus of the course is on speaking and reading, but the students also have the opportunity to hand in writing assignments for feedback from the teacher. To participate you need a computer with an internet connection, a microphone/headphones, and a camera. The teacher will send you instructions and the Zoom link by email on the starting day of the course.
Suomi sujuvaksi 3 (level B2.2) 1201083 THIS COURSE IS FULL
Location: online (Zoom)
Wednesdays 6.00-7.30 pm
10.1.-10.4.2024 (26 hours)
Course fee: 52 €
The course has started in the autumn of 2023. The course is for students who have studied Finnish for several years and whose estimated language proficiency level is B2. You already understand fast speech in Finnish and can communicate quite fluently in different situations. You want to improve and expand your vocabulary, and learn how to express nuances, attitudes, and details. The focus of the course is on speaking and reading, but the students also have the opportunity to hand in writing assignments for feedback from the teacher. To participate you need a computer with an internet connection, a microphone/headphones, and a camera. The teacher will send you instructions and the Zoom link by email on the starting day of the course.
Online Finnish for advanced students (level C1) 1201090L THIS COURSE IS FULL
Location: online (Peda.net)
29.1.-8.4.2024 (20 hours)
Course fee: 55 €
This course is for students whose language proficiency level in Finnish is B2.2/C1. We focus on vocabulary nuances that suit different language situations, learn less common grammar structures, and look at different text types and how they may influence the reader. The course is held completely online; the learning platform used is Peda.net. You will get a weekly learning plan including various exercises and one assignment on which you will get feedback from the teacher. To participate you need a computer with an internet connection. The teacher will send you an email prior to the beginning of the course with further instructions. The course is similar to the one held in autumn 2023. There are no real-time video meetings on this course; you can study when it suits you best.