Finnish language course mandatory?

[anniess]

Good evening,
I've been trying to find information online about the language courses organised by the unemployement centres but with no luck. Here's hoping someone can help... I've had an initial assessment for the course, but I realised I've a 200km roundtrip to it which has to be made by 2 buses.... so I'm trying to work out my options. Does anybody know if these courses are mandatory or if they can be substituted for work experience more locally without losing integration benefit?

Thanks in advance,
Anne

[Kutittaa]

They are mandatory. If you want the money from the government you do the course. You get paid extra to take those buses. So take it or leave it, you have no room to complain. Work experience is a different thing altogether. For qualifying for other benefits it's also mandatory. I was told a minimum of 2 continuous months is needed. I can't see why it would be any different anywhere else.

You could always, not scrounge off the government... it's your choice.

[007]

Good evening,
I've been trying to find information online about the language courses organised by the unemployement centres but with no luck. Here's hoping someone can help... I've had an initial assessment for the course, but I realised I've a 200km roundtrip to it which has to be made by 2 buses.... so I'm trying to work out my options. Does anybody know if these courses are mandatory or if they can be substituted for work experience more locally without losing integration benefit?

Thanks in advance,
Anne

I think if you have lived in Finland for over 3 years, then this integration course is not required to attend as one can assume that you have already integrated well into society. But if you are a new to the country and have no jobs at hand, you can't just sit around and enjoy the benefits. By the way, 200 km roundtrip for a course sounds a way too much even for Utsjoki area. Where do you live in?

[Kutittaa]

Usually places that have a Työvoimatoimisto and a Kela also have a place to learn Finnish and no need for such a trip. Maybe the OP is exaggerating. 200km doesn't sound right and even if it was you are subsided the costs of travelling to and from your place of learning. There is absolutely no reason to complain. Buy a nice mobile and play some games on the bus, grab your ipod and listen to music or dust off the laptop and buy a spare battery. You're going to be paid extra for the travel.

Either way it's about an hour and 10 minutes on a bus there and the same back. I spend 45 minutes travelling to and from work. It's more or less the same, I wouldn't be complaining any extra if I got paid extra to go the distance if needed. I'm often told that I need to go somewhere outside of work to get something and I am not even compensated for it. If I remember correctly you get a whole 180€ extra a month to cover buses and food etc. That's hardly something to complain about. I could sort of imagine your point if you had to actually pay the bus fare out of your own pocket.

Honestly complaining about a bus ride just irks me off. People have to go through hard things all the time here, you're no exception. You want to live here then tow the line.

[Upphew]

Practically anything arranged by työkkäri is mandatory (or else..). I thought the integration program was done in cooperation with the person to be integrated and työkkäri, thus making it possible to influence what courses suite you... of course if you live in the middle of nowhere, then even the closest courses will be pain in the ass to attend.

[Kutittaa]

Honestly complaining about a bus ride just irks me off. People have to go through hard things all the time here, you're no exception.

It may be a reasonable commute for you but that doesn't mean it is for all others as well. For me it's highly unreasonable and I think she has the right to @#$% complain if she wants to. Who cares what you think? I wasn't willing to do a 2.5 hour per day bus commute for a summer language course due to severe car/motion sickness issues (which I had a doctor's note for so shove it).

Lol what a tosser. Severe car and motion sickness? Lmfao if any idiot wanted a note to get out of the same garbage, they wouldn't even have to put on their best sob story.
I'm sure you were more than happy to not pull the motion sickness bs when taking the bus cross country for sightseeing though eh?

*Sigh* There will always be those whom consider themselves a special case. One way or another you're going to have to tow the line like everyone else. You'll see
There are consequences for being a lazy prick.

Besides, like you said who cares what I think right?

Long story short. Course is mandatory, tow the line. If you want handouts from the government you have to fulfil the prerequisites.

[Rip]

I'm thinking along the lines of Upphew. Maybe you can get the unemployment office to substitute the course for something more palatable to you. If you just ignore what they ask you to do, then it's bye-bye for the money they would give.

Ask them, not us.

[Kutittaa]

Sigh another moron who watches South Park... I can see where your insults and lack of intelligence comes from now.. everything is clear. Enjoy sitting on your ass in front of the television instead of going to language courses like normal people. In the end you're the idiot who misses out on learning Finnish. Good luck to that, you can have it and keep it. !

[achuck]

consider moving closer, especially if it's paid. I think it may be a good alternative at least during the time you take classes. 2.5 hour is a lot but for me personally work commute is 2 hours, you do get used to it

[MeAndmE]

Good evening,
I've been trying to find information online about the language courses organised by the unemployement centres but with no luck. Here's hoping someone can help... I've had an initial assessment for the course, but I realised I've a 200km roundtrip to it which has to be made by 2 buses.... so I'm trying to work out my options. Does anybody know if these courses are mandatory or if they can be substituted for work experience more locally without losing integration benefit?

Thanks in advance,
Anne

Seriously? I go to a finnish course every day in Helsinki and one way by buses takes around 1 hour, so it´s +/- 2 hours per day. Yours one way can be about 1,5 h, right? What´s your problem then? You should be happy you have the opportunity to learn the language for free and not complain about it. This kind of attitude pisses me off - to get everything/the best for nothing. Wanna live in Finland, get support benefits and eventually a job? The first step is to learn the language! Do something for it!!

[Kutittaa]

Truer words have never been spoken. Back when I was doing my language course until I found employment I got myself a smart phone to deal with the lengthy trips to and from my course. Music, internet and entertainment were more than enough to make the time fly by. I could happily play some songs and read the news + other stuff in the mornings and afternoons.

[CarmenfromTexas]

Sorry about the long bus ride you are anticipating but there is nothing to be done about it. I missed my car too (finally got it again but that's a long story) but I eventually got used to using the trains/metro/trams/buses. You'll royally screw up your route ever once in a while but hey, that's life.

It a bit confusing when you first start learning Finnish but, in time, the language will stick in your head. Usually the intensive classes are divided into 3 sections. At the end of a section (level) there is a test. If you do not pass the test, you are allowed to repeat that section. So do not worry about the class going on to a more difficult level with you unable to cope. You'll begin to pick up the language eventually.

I like to play games on my cell phone while I ride the bus. It makes the time go much faster. Good luck.