English/bi-lingual primary schools in Helsinki

by **Downunder** » Wed Aug 08, 2012 4:12 am

I am going to be spending my sabbatical in Finland (after 20 years overseas), and am looking for an English or bi-lingual primary school for my then 8.5 year old son to attend for up to 6 months (one lukukausi). He speaks only a little Finnish and does not read or write Finnish, though he understands it quite well. I have spoken Finnish to him since he was a baby, but given I was the only person in his everyday life to do so, of course his 'mother tongue' is English. Spending time with family and my son learning Finnish are my primary motivation for the extended holiday in Finland.

I was wondering if anyone has good or bad experiences with the following schools (grade 3 in particular):
- The English School of Helsinki
- Ressun ala-aste
- Maunulan ala-aste
- Helsingin Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu (I know the instruction is in Finnish so really unsure of this one)

**Sponsor:**

by **AnaTeresa** » Sat Aug 11, 2012 10:20 am

Hi!

Mine just started at the international school in Vantaa. Well, really they are at the day care and preschool. They have not started "official" school yet as it starts next week but they have been going since last week. So far the experience is very positive. They have settled down amazingly well . I was impressed that at the preschool class, the kids are only using english when playing with other kids.

Ana

by **Liz11** » Wed Aug 22, 2012 12:33 pm

Students need to take a test for Ressu. It is very very competitive to get into the school at the start of the year. This year there were 10-15 children taking the test for 1-2 spots for each year. Most had come from other English schools. If you are coming mid-year that will complicate matters. I would contact the principal of each school and find out about the application process directly.
One thing to note about the Finnish public schools is that they end very early in they day; noon, 1 or 2PM. They only provide after school for the youngest children (grades 1 and 2). The rest of the children are expected to walk or take the bus home. I think the private schools may have longer days and more activities for the children in the afternoon.

by **Rosamunda** » Wed Aug 22, 2012 2:06 pm

As far as I know the schools you mention are really Engliah-language schools rather than bilingual schools.

Why don't you put your son into a regular Finnish state school for 6 months? The children start taking English in 3rd grade and you can also apply for mother tongue English lessons (2 lessons per week) which are usually taught after the regular lessons ie mid-afternoon.

In Espoo there are quite a few bilingual schools (eg Tähtiniity in Olari) where the children are taught in both English and Finnish. Not sure about Helsinki.

If your main objective is to get his Finnish up to scratch then I would seriously consider putting him in a Finnish school. he won't learn Finnish in an English-speaking school like Ressu, Maunula or The English school. In fact he might even be actively discouraged from speaking in Finnish. And, in my experience, the Finnish-foreign-language programmes are not brilliant, unless you get him onto an intensive immigrant programme but that is extremely unlikely if you are only staying here temporarily.

by **Downunder** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 5:54 am

A bit of an update on our plans. I have now settled on the dates of our temporary stay (August 2013 to January 2014) and have applied for a place for my son at three English and two bi-lingual schools in Helsinki. In addition, I applied to the closest Finnish speaking school to my parents' house, which of course would welcome him with open arms given they are legally obliged to do so. SYK is considering our application to the class for 'returning Finns' but I suspect they won't take him into 3rd grade because he does not read and write Finnish yet. (It is a private school so they can choose their students.)

Admission to the English and bi-lingual schools is not looking so positive. The English School replied that they do not take kids for less than 1 full academic year. The others replied that they will hold their English language tests in early August and my son is welcome to take the exam IF there are any places available in 3rd grade. This is by no means certain, in fact it seems Ressu is actively discouraging any hope.

So the question is: how can I teach my son enough Finnish within 6 months that he can attend a normal Finnish school, when he has not learned it properly in the last 8 years? (Keep in mind I work full time.) I am planning to enroll him in "Suomi-koulu" on Saturdays though it is quite far from our house. I have also applied for him to go to a summer camp for Finnish kids living abroad after we arrive. Any other tips would be appreciated.

by CH » Thu Jan 24, 2013 7:29 pm

Downunder wrote:So the question is: how can I teach my son enough Finnish within 6 months that he can attend a normal Finnish school, when he has not learned it properly in the last 8 years?

I have not had a child in this situation, so take this with a big heaping spoonful of salt... Kids learn languages fast. I would assume a 100% Finnish school environment would have him talking Finnish in no time. In your situation I would perhaps concentrate on getting him to learn to read and write some Finnish. I would also talk to the school about what language skills they expect and what they can do to assist. I'm sure they have had other kids who have had no Finnish at all when they started school, so in that regards your child would be way ahead.

by **Rosamunda** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 10:18 pm

I agree with CH. Totally.

Don't stress him out. He'll be fine. Don't make him feel like it's a big deal.

And.... chances are there will be some kids his age who are more than happy to practise their English on him.

Can you get some Finnish DVDs?

by **tummansininen** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 7:40 pm

What CH said. Put him into a Finnish school. Finnish teachers in 2013 are far more accommodating of individuals than most "western" countries. Your son will have a couple of weeks of confusion, but he will be welcomed and nurtured, and the teacher will keep an eye that everything's ok. Plus, it's likely one or two of the kids will know survival English phrases (The Simpsons is on the tv every day here...). And he will astound you at how fast he learns. If he can pronounce a word, he can write it - since he can already write in English, reading and writing Finnish is going to be a snap, even if he doesn't understand what he's actually seeing

Remember, your son will only be starting reading/writing one year later than the Finnish kids start.

Little kids are sponges... my two went into "integration" classes for foreigners, and learned nothing. Their Finnish skills only improved once they went into all-Finnish environments.