Reckon They Could Use A Degreeless Linguist?

[Lazydriver]

I sound like a pompous ass, but I'm not going to rewrite it because people have already replied to this. Read my replies below this post. Basically, I'm asking around to see if this is a worthy path to pursue.

By the time I plan on moving to Finland (hopefully in my mid 20s, I don't think it's right to immigrate to a country and not try to learn the language first), I plan on being fluent in four languages but I will not have a college degree and my high-school grade point average won't exactly be superb, but good. I also plan on eventually learning in a college there, after I settle down there. No, I don't want to leech off your country and I will work hard in my studies (I plan to study some form of Engineering) so I can help your country excel. I plan on living between our two countries, but my primary residence will be in Finland (naturally I will have family and friends in America that I would still like to be in contact with).

Will I be able to find a job there in about a decade's time? Clearly, I speak English (I'm only dumbing it down for the people here who are not that good at speaking English), my German should be fluent by the time I'm 18, my Spanish hopefully 19 or 20, and then I will work full-time on my Finnish and perhaps Russian (here in Vegas, there are a surprising amount of Russians).

But basically, while I do that job, I plan to make a documentary on how it is to be an immigrant from America to a "socialist" country and all the pluses and minuses and how America can try to solve its problems.

Also, are most Finns reasonably intelligent? Cause this country's full of idiots, minus a couple people here and there. The unintelligent are hardly interested in politics and science, and only care about their immediate ever-fleeting desires. I have a feeling every country is full of idiots, but still.

[karel]

You're right. Every country has its idiots... Some more, some less.

The title of your post is a bit misleading compared to what you write in the post itself.
Are you studying to be a linguist or "some form of Engineering"?
Because if it's the latter and you want to get a job here as a linguist, I think you'll have a problem.
Also, speaking 4 languages fluently doesn't make you a linguist.

For the rest... It's hard to say what the economical situation will be a decade from now.
I've read somewhere that in September 2012 a meteor will crash into earth, so there might not even be an economical situation left

Anyway... You might want to tone down that attitude of yours a bit.
It's good that you refer to your own country (rightly so) as full of dumb people except yourself, but if you make it sound like you're the only smart person in the world ("I'm only dumbing it down for the people here who are not that good at speaking English", "are most Finns reasonably intelligent?", "I have a feeling every country is full of idiots", "so I can help your country excel") you're going to be out of friends quite soon.
Especially that last one is a kick in the leg, because you might not be aware of the fact that Finland has been in the top 5 (and on the top spot for a good many times) of for example IT for a long time, according to the World Economic Forum. And it excelled like that all by itself, without your help


PS Did you dumb down your signature too?
There isn't a single person who speaks Finnish.
And "savusauna" is written with one U in savu

[interleukin]

I think the main thing for you is to decide what you want. Do you want to be an engineer? That might be a wise choice and enable you to actually get a job in Finland (but who knows how things will be in ten years?). Or do you want to make use of your languages? In that case, get a degree in linguistics before you come here. The part about knowing Russian is actually something that might be useful for you in certain areas of Finland/in certain workplaces, but I hope you do realise that most Finnish people are fluent in three to four languages so just knowing more than English does not make you a linguist. I am not Finnish, but I am a product of a similar educational system as the Finns, I am fluent in four languages and get by in three more. And still that is not enough for me to consider making a living from it. I am not in any way a language superstar so am not bragging about this, just preparing you for what kind of language skills people here may have. And another thing, despite all those other languages, I am STRUGGLING with the Finnish language, so it is not so easy. If you want to use your languages, get a language degree and a teaching degree, then you can try to find a job as an English teacher here. Or use your contacts to somehow get a job in the tourist industry (catering for Americans).

[Pursuivant]

Also, are most Finns reasonably intelligent?

Nope. We let Americans immigrate.

Will I be able to find a job there in about a decade's time?

(I plan to study some form of Engineering)

As far as engineering goes, I'd try and score high on the SAT's and look at the Finnish polytechnics' and what they offer in English. As basically if you want to immigrate you need a reason. You can't just show up and expect to stay. As far as languages go, if you can cope with Finnish and Russian then its always a big plus.

so I can help your country excel

In what? Political correctness and ambulance-chasing lawyers?

Lost wagers, eh? Pansyasses should try summer in Death Valley

[jas_rho]

Will I be able to find a job there in about a decade's time? Clearly, I speak English (I'm only dumbing it down for the people here who are not that good at speaking English)....

Also, are most Finns reasonably intelligent? Cause this country's full of idiots, minus a couple people here and there. The unintelligent are hardly interested in politics and science, and only care about their immediate ever-fleeting desires. I have a feeling every country is full of idiots, but still.

Like anyone can tell you if you will get a job here in 10 years... from your post, I would just like to go ahead and tell you no And you are dumbing down your english for us? Oh thank you oh mighty one who writes in a way that people with our lower intelligence can understand... hahahaha! I have a feeling you would be a bad choice to represent the US so please at least don't come here.

I kind of hope your post is a sad attempt at a joke.

PS- I happen to know a couple Finnish families living in Las Vegas so if you really are from there, you haven't researched too well.

[Lazydriver]

I'm sorry if I sounded like a pompous ass, but that wasn't my intention. Also, I dumbed down the post simply because I wanted people with a lesser understanding of English to understand me (yes, I know most Finns speak good English, but some are still learning, no?)

Anyway, I meant I'd go there working as a linguist or some kind of translator or something whilst pursuing a degree in some form of Engineering. But it seems that knowing three or four languages isn't a big deal, which sucks for me, and why I would want to get an engineering degree! (You probably know this, but most Americans speak English with a growing minority speaking both English and Spanish, but beyond that, a bilingual is an accomplishment. In my county, high schools require people to take two years of a foreign language, but hardly anyone has a commitment, so the classes get dumbed down.)

The reason I said I'd stay in Finland after getting my degree and help Finland out is simply because I don't think it's right to go to a country and get a free education (well, taxpayer-paid) and not do something in return for that blessing. I know there's plenty of engineers in Finland, but I still want to move there just to see how life is in a different country. I also said ten years from now because that's probably when this recession should be over, and would probably be fluent in Finnish by then.

Not all Americans are idiots. And by idiots, I mean, people who do not care about their education and are spoiled and pretentious and go to School just because the law requires them and then they have high schools dumbed down to babysitting centers where they don't teach anything. I've been lucky to avoid that (for the most part), but from what I hear it's a problem in other schools in America.

I personally don't happen to know any Finns. Finnish-decent, but nobody who speaks Finnish. I'm not searching either, not right now.

Once again, if I sounded like a pretentious ass, it's because I wrote the message right before I went to bed & thanks for the corrections.

Haha, pansyasses in Death Valley. Well, I want a change in scenery :p, there have only been two days in my entire life it has actually snowed in the city. It'd be nice to be in a taiga instead of a desert.

[Pursuivant]

But it seems that knowing three or four languages isn't a big deal

you need to know three and maths or four to pass high school => at this level minimum http://www.hs.fi/viesti/yo08kevat_2803

It'd be nice to be in a taiga instead of a desert.

You always got Alaska...

[enk]

To be frank, 14-trying-to-act-like-an-adult is not giving us a very flattering image of you.
As for the translation industry, Finnish agencies expect trained translators, not any Joe Schmoe
off the street. If you can understand this: http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/alkup/1889/18890039001
AND translate it into correct English, welcome to the translation business.

-enk

[Lazydriver]

But it seems that knowing three or four languages isn't a big deal

you need to know three and maths or four to pass high school => at this level minimum http://www.hs.fi/viesti/yo08kevat_2803

It'd be nice to be in a taiga instead of a desert.

You always got Alaska...

Alaska voted Sarah Palin for their governor, and Ted Stevens as senator. Does that give you an idea on who are their constituents? It's a beautiful state, but the people themselves are of, well, they're all different, but like I said, if a majority put those two people in power -decades with "The Internet is Made of Tubes" guy, Ted Stevens-, I think it's best to avoid a place like that.

Damn, you Finns have your priorities in place. You go to school for less days throughout the year, and yet, your level for graduation is much higher and seem to learn more? I could be wrong, and I can't really read that link (I'm NOT fluent in Finnish, yet, should be 10 years from now, I just started learning it on my own this year and it gets less priority then my German or Spanish) nor can Google, so can you give me a paraphrase in English?

In Vegas, ( http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=w ... qugy60K8nw ) our requirements are two years of one foreign language, four years of "English" (basically a class where you read a textbook and respond to short literary readings), three or four years of Math up to Algebra II (I've been lucky and I have had good teachers, but a lot of Math teachers are terrible at their job and a good deal of students view it with the attitude that "I'll never use this in my real life."), one year of "World History" (a class of crossword puzzles and a table of contents of Historical events), one year of "US History" (haven't taken it yet), two years of "Physical Education" (I'm not exactly the sport loving type, save for stuff like Hockey, ANOTHER reason why I'd move to Finland), 1/2 a year of "Health" (a class where they tell you sex is bad, and that drinking and smoking and doing illegal drugs is comparable to it AND I LIVE IN SIN CITY AND THEY TEACH IT LIKE THAT!), Electives (chances are, the Councilor will "elect" for you, and if you actually get into a class you like, they discontinue it the next year for budget reasons), and half of year of Use of Computers (basically a typing class, which when I took it was using word processors from ancient Mac G3s running System 8 and Appleworks).

15, and like I said, didn't mean to sound like a pompous ass, just was tired when I wrote it and I'm asking all you fine people if it's a path worth going after.

[EP]

To me you sound like a very passionate teenager. And that makes me smile, and not in a bad way. You sound a bit like my sister at the same age. She decided that everyone else knew nothing, and Pablo Neruda (a Spanish poet born in 1904) is the only worthwile poet. And Indian eposes Ramajana and Mahabharata are compulsory reading for every person who wants to be civilized. But really, do keep it up with languages, that is never time wasted. And don´t look down on Alaska. My brother-in-law had an Alaskan exchange student just two years ago, and she was a very nice girl, although a little shy even by Finnish standards. And there was nothing wrong with her intelligence. And that is what I am suggesting to you: Contact your local Rotary organisation and check your possibilities to become a high school exhange student.

[Lazydriver]

To me you sound like a very passionate teenager. And that makes me smile, and not in a bad way. You sound a bit like my sister at the same age. She decided that everyone else knew nothing, and Pablo Neruda (a Spanish poet born in 1904) is the only worthwile poet. And Indian eposes Ramajana and Mahabharata are compulsory reading for every person who wants to be civilized. But really, do keep it up with languages, that is never time wasted. And don´t look down on Alaska. My brother-in-law had an Alaskan exchange student just two years ago, and she was a very nice girl, although a little shy even by Finnish standards. And there was nothing wrong with her intelligence. And that is what I am suggesting to you: Contact your local Rotary organisation and check your possibilities to become a high school exhange student.

Ha, thanks! And not all people from one place are stupid, for example, they actually voted out that idiot Stevens (by a few thousand people, but even so). I know people from Alaska, they're nice people. But I'm regarding the people who think that it perfectly acceptable to turn their minds off and advocate things like Evolution is a lie, gays are evil, Atheists are Unamerican, women don't deserve power, blacks don't deserve power, THOSE people are the stupid people I talk about. They're still nice people (after all, I'm not gay, and I'm white, so of course they'll be nice to me if I don't mention I'm an Atheist), but they harm the world with their hate and they're more common then they should be and they're common all over America (except for some areas).

I'd consider becoming a high school exchange student, except I happen to come from a poor background.

[AlexInHelsinki]

If you want to come here, keep in mind that modesty is a trait that is highly valued in Finland.

[Lazydriver]

Well that's no fun, I personally like seeing ambition in people. Myself, well I'm just another person, but I'm not gonna lie about my traits or flaws. But hey, that maxim "When you live in Rome, do as the Romans do.'' applies, I suppose.

Wait, wait, wait, does that include people regarding hockey teams being better then everyone else's?

Also, are people proud of their country there or just eh? Do people raise flags there in the matter we do in the United States showing pride or allegiance? (You'll see rows of American flags, depending on where you go. Sometimes Mexican, sometimes both. Rarely other countries, but those are also sometimes seen.)

When I said I wanted to contribute something, I didn't mean it in a grandiose way regarding myself, but to the prestige of the country by making something there that helps Finns. I don't intend on being one of those people that just gets their "free"* education and heads back to their own country, that's disrespectful (in my eyes). I would like to just go to that country, help a business or the Government out regarding foreigners whilst pursuing a Science-heavy degree of some sort. I would pay it back by making a personal contribution to the country, of which I am not sure of yet, but maybe some kind of invention or just helping people out, I dunno.

Also, do they have some Mexican food there? Or just things like "Taco Bell"? Or hell, not even that!

* = Much harder for foreigners, and somewhat expensive for relocation, living costs, and so forth. Still worth the experience, though.

[jas_rho]

Well that's no fun, I personally like seeing ambition in people. Myself, well I'm just another person, but I'm not gonna lie about my traits or flaws. But hey, that maxim "When you live in Rome, do as the Romans do.'' applies, I suppose.

Wait, wait, wait, does that include people regarding hockey teams being better then everyone else's?

Also, are people proud of their country there or just eh? Do people raise flags there in the matter we do in the United States showing pride or allegiance? (You'll see rows of American flags, depending on where you go. Sometimes Mexican, sometimes both. Rarely other countries, but those are also sometimes seen.)

When I said I wanted to contribute something, I didn't mean it in a grandiose way regarding myself, but to the prestige of the country by making something there that helps Finns. I don't intend on being one of those people that just gets their "free"* education and heads back to their own country, that's disrespectful (in my eyes). I would like to just go to that country, help a business or the Government out regarding foreigners whilst pursuing a Science-heavy degree of some sort. I would pay it back by making a personal contribution to the country, of which I am not sure of yet, but maybe some kind of invention or just helping people out, I dunno.

Also, do they have some Mexican food there? Or just things like "Taco Bell"? Or hell, not even that!

* = Much harder for foreigners, and somewhat expensive for relocation, living costs, and so forth. Still worth the experience, though.

I still think this has to be some kind of joke. You are unreal and crack me up so much. In a way though, it would be nice for you to come here and invent something for Finland to help them out.

And don't count on any mexican food anywhere close to what you can get over there in your neck of the woods, unless you make it yourself of course.

[Pursuivant]

It's a beautiful state, but the people themselves are of, well, they're all different

Finland ain't Kansas either Dorothy.

and I can't really read that link

click on the pdf files on the right, they're the "short" languages tests. "englanti" for example is English, "saksa" German etc.

AND I LIVE IN SIN CITY AND THEY TEACH IT LIKE THAT

I thought you guys would be whiz kids in maths...

Granny has a winning streak at the casino and wins a jackpot.
a) Calculate with what velocity the tub of dollars will impact her foot as she drops it when she hits the jackpot.
b) Calculate what % of the winnings is pocketed by the lawyer after granny sues the casino.

Also, do they have some Mexican food there? Or just things like "Taco Bell"?

I think you can buy beans at the store. Fast food... I think McD's is going bankrupt but nobodys crazy enough to take it over...