studing for 1 year in Finland and stay with a host family,

Joana_L · Post by **Joana_L** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 11:07 pm

Hey there! (I'm new here

)
I'm thinking about studing for 1 year in Finland and stay with a host family,doing my last year of High School. Here in Portugal the education system is a little different, we have several courses. I’m in the art’s course and the subjects are "Portuguese, Philosophy, Draw A, Geometry A, History of Arts, English, Physical Education." Can any of you explain me how is it your education system? In High School?
English is considered as a second official language, right? But is it daily spoken? And Finnish is very difficult to learn? (is there anyone here who’s not of Finnish nationality that can tell me his opinion i will appreciate a lot

)
I always felt very attracted by Finland, is a dream to go there. I think it would be a wonderful experience for me... As I love to read ... I wanted to know ... if there are books in English, to buy and in libraries! I wish someone advise me about cities to visit, share some experience etc ...
(my soul is begging for finland

)

Thank you,

Kisses *

**Sponsor:**

EP · Post by EP » Sun Mar 15, 2009 12:33 am

English is considered as a second official language, right?

Heavens, no. Swedish along with Finnish is an official language. But many people speak English.

doing my last year of High School.

You cannot really do your last high school year in Finland. You could not participate the matriculation exam that ends high school. Usually high school exhange students do the year that precedes the last year.

Is there a Rotary organisation where you live? They have a quite good exhange student program.

EP · Post by EP » Sun Mar 15, 2009 12:37 am

I mean that many people CAN speak English, but people speak Finnish or Swedish with each other when there are no foreigners present. Finnish people don´t speak English with each other.

Joana_L · Post by **Joana_L** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 4:09 am

Okay. Thank you very much for your informations! I'll try to know about the Rotary organisation but i'm on the first year of High School so i don't think i can go next year because i think we have to fill the papers one year before the departure. So... in case of i can't go next year is there any courses on summer holidays? If i can't go on High School i'll try to go on erasmus.
What do you think it's easier to learn : Swedish or Finnish?

Thank you for your time

onkko · Post by **onkko** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 4:16 am

Joana_L wrote: What do you think it's easier to learn : Swedish or Finnish?

Thank you for your time

Probably sweden but if you want live somewhere else than swedish speaking city you have to learn finnish.

Heres picture about swedish areas.

Joana_L · Post by **Joana_L** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 2:00 pm

hum ... thanks for the suggestion. I will choose learning Finnish. I think I will follow the advice that finlandforum gives about a book to learn finnish

pikkupeikkomyy · Post by **pikkupeikkomyy** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 6:31 pm

EP wrote:
You cannot really do your last high school year in Finland. You could not participate the matriculation exam that ends high school. Usually high school exhange students do the year that precedes the last year.

Is there a Rotary organisation where you live? They have a quite good exhange student program.

I think she can do her last high school year in Finland since i know a girl who did so! She was an au pair for a summer and than she decided to do her last year in Finland. As far as i know she graduated with her classmates, she was studying in finnish eventhough she didn't speak finnish as first. So im sure it is possible! I could ask her maybe if you're interested.

Joana_L · Post by **Joana_L** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:23 pm

Really????? ( hope reborn )

I would be grateful if you could ask her! I'm really interested.

thank you!

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