Schooling for kids with ML other than English or Finnish

[Cory]

Most Finnish school children learn English several hours a week from grade three right through to grade 12.

I wonder what the norm is for hours per week of English in elementary school? We've only ever had 2 hrs of English per week. Is this not normal? Are most really getting several hours/week?

[onkko]

- I have not been able to imagine to stay in Finland forever due to job security (at least for foreigners), the pension I paid etc.
- For kids brought up in an international environment, I guess they are more possibly going to try other parts of the world than their parents.
- Looking at the opportunity within global organizations, even in Finland, I am convinced that English is one of the keys. Educated in English is even more helpful, not just speaking English. Though education in English is not necessarily better than Finnish education.
- Living in Finland, kids will pick up Finnish anyway. It is their English that needs more help, without ignoring the importance of Finnish.

I guess these sound more weird? I will be very happy if you help me to correct them, with any kind of comments.

-First point would have been perfectly acceptable reason to put your kid in english school but you are planning 9 years ahead so it seems you are staying.
-Second, international? Your kid will grow up in finland and finland will be his homecountry if you allow it, you are denying basic choices from him by stopping him to learn finnish.
-Oppoturnity... This if finland and if you dont allow him to lear finnish you are basically stripping out friends, summerjobs and whole society from him. Sure english is important but when we look stats about how well finns speak it then there is no reason to choose english education.
- No, they wont. Too many childrens who are even born in finland who really cant speak or understand finnish. Its not just "me tarzan you jane" what people need, its total fluency and that cannot be achieved just by living in here and going english kinderkarden and school and being in immigrant bubble. 2 years here and you say your toddler dont speak finnish... should be babbling finnish already but you took that from him by putting him in english daycare.

You dont know what your kid chooses, what if he wants to be lumberjack, carpenter, electrician etc? You are taking those choises away. And if he wants to be police, social worker etc... impossible withouth finnish and basic swedish (or other way round).

You are basically choosing your childrens life and limiting his possibilities to suit your ambitions. That is what makes me angry.

[Beta]

Most Finnish school children learn English several hours a week from grade three right through to grade 12.

I wonder what the norm is for hours per week of English in elementary school? We've only ever had 2 hrs of English per week. Is this not normal? Are most really getting several hours/week?

Cory, FYI. I collected the hour distribution from some schools. I seems 2 hours is normal in Finnish schools.
Just by looking at this data, I like The English School, which uses more hours on both languages. But I also heard the content is too basic, at least for English.

Sorry, I can not make this more readable

Grade 1 2 3 4 5 6 total 7 8 9

Komeetta
Eng 4 4 3 4 3 3 21
Fin 4 5 5 5 4 4 27
Math 3 3 4 4 4 4 22
Science 2 2 3 2 3 2 14
Total 13 14 15 15 14 13 84

The Eng school
Eng 6 6 6 6 5 5 34 5 5 5
Fin 7 7 6 6 6 4 36 4 4 4
Math 3 3 4 4 4 4 22 3 3 4
Science 1 1 2 2 3 2 11 6 5 5
Total 17 17 18 18 18 15 103 18 17 18

Ressu
Eng 6 6 6 6 6 6 36 3 3 3
Fin 2 2 2 2 2 2 12 3 3 3
Math 3 3 4 5 3 4 22 3 4 3
Foreign language 2 2 2 2 8 2 3 3
Science 2 2 3 2 3 2 14 4 5 5
Total 13 13 17 17 16 16 92 15 18 17

Kannelmäen peruskoulu
Vuosiluokat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 yhteensä HKI
Äidinkieli 7 7 5 5 4 5 33 3 3 3 42 42
A-kieli 2 2 2 2 8 2 3 3 16 16
B-kieli 0 2 2 2 6 6
Matematiikka 4 4 4 4 4 4 24 3 3 4 32 32
Biologia ja maantieto 2 1 3 2 2 3 10 10
Fysiikka ja kemia 1 1 2 2 3 2 9 9
Total 11 11 11 11 13 13 70 14 16 17 115 115

[Beta]

You are basically choosing your childrens life and limiting his possibilities to suit your ambitions. That is what makes me angry.

onkko, life is simply making choices, which we can not avoid, not even postpone. He did not choose to move here, I did it for his benefit only, with reduced family income etc. I guess not all parents would make that. In a way, choosing Finnish means dropping English. If we have to move to other country, he needs to start from very beginning. Everyone has own background, which you never think about. Isn't there enough talk about tolerance recently?

Without going too far from the topic, your point about importance of Finnish in Finland is clear and well taken.

[onkko]

In a way, choosing Finnish means dropping English

Quess my education according to my ability to write english. I am finnish.