Tried and tested: Three immigrants tell how they have learned the Finnish language

How can Finnish be learned and why is it important to know the language? Three JHL members – laboratory technician and author Nura Farah, teaching assistant Ilidio Flores and English teacher David Delahunty – tell about their journey of learning Finnish.

Original article written in Finnish by Hanna Kangasniemi Photos: Home albums of the interviewees

Knowledge of the Finnish language improves chances of finding employment because many employers require at least a satisfactory command of Finnish. Knowing the language makes it easier to take care of everyday things and find one’s place as part of society. Speaking the same language helps in making friends and increases the sense of belonging in the group.

According to Statistics Finland, in 2024 there were 610,148 people living in Finland whose native language was other than Finnish, Swedish or Sami. This is about 10.8% of the population.

Even if support and resources are available, learning a new language requires a lot of effort. The best way to learn a language is to use it, say three people who work in different occupations and who have each learned Finnish as a foreign language.

Teaching assistant Ilidio Monteiro Flores: “Football field was my language school”

I’m originally from Portugal. In the 1980s, I studied international politics in East Germany and met the future mother of my children there. I followed her to Finland and soon found work as a construction site cleaner. I learned on my first day at work the Finnish words for dust, wheelbarrow, cement, noise and iron.

The most important way for me to learn the language, however, was playing football. I played football with the locals and learned Finnish along the way. I also made good use of the library: I read a textbook that was written for Finnish speakers learning Portuguese, as well as Donald Duck comics.

I studied in Finnish to become a practical nurse and graduated in 1995 during the economic depression. I’m glad that I was allowed to take some exams orally. I got work, and I have worked as a teaching assistant in a special needs class since 1998.

The most difficult things in the Finnish language are the numerous grammatical cases and double consonants and long vowels. They can lead into misunderstandings, such as am I cleaning carpets (mattoja) or worms (matoja).

Football fields are still the best place for me to practice Finnish as I coach children and adolescents.

Another thing that helps me to develop my language skills further is volunteer work with elderly people.

Laboratory technician & author Nura Farah: “Knowledge of the language helps to connect”

I came to Finland with my family when I was 13 years old. We fled from Somalia because of the war. I spend the first year learning Finnish, and then I moved to lower secondary school.

School was hard at first because my vocabulary was small. I visited the library a lot, and reading helped me to learn the language better. When my Finnish improved, I also got new friends. My laboratory technician studies went well because by then I had good Finnish skills. I also found work easily.

It’s important for me that I can express myself in Finnish. For example, I have written a novel in Finnish. When I can speak the language, I also get heard and seen in this society.

When you know the language it’s easier to get things done and connect with new people. My mother has no longer needed me as her interpreter in everyday situations in 15 years. You should not be shy to use the language. It’s quite all right if you make mistakes.

English teacher David Delahunty: “I asked the meaning of words like I was a child”

I moved from Ireland to Oulu for love 25 years ago. I’m a teacher by training, but I soon got restaurant work. Finding work is easier when you know the language, but it has still been difficult to get a permanent job.

I learned Finnish by myself. I wrote words on post-it notes. I also asked the meaning of words from my spouse like I was a little child.

Finnish is difficult compared to many other languages because it has so many grammatical cases. Also, things may be called by many names. For example, people who order beer can say olut, or kalja, bisse, keppana, iso or tuoppi. Dialects can also sometimes be difficult to understand.

Although it’s possible to manage with just English in the Helsinki Metropolitan Region, in Oulu knowing Finnish is a must. In my work at the university, I noticed that if I didn’t know Finnish, I would remain outside of some communities.

If you want to learn Finnish, speak it as much as you can. You will learn a language best by using it.