RaulOne wrote:It can be done in six months, don't listen to those who say that is not possible.
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If you are fast learning you can learn the language in 6 months for sure (i've seen real cases).
Yes exactly, and theres also cases of people who have lived here 20 years or more, and still can't form a coherent sentence. It depends, but Finnish is claimed to be one of the most difficult languages, though I'd claim ones with intonation, was it 5 different pitches in Thai? would be harder (especially if you are tone deaf). But unless you are a prodigy with languages - six months full immersion only Finnish full-time - yes. As an evening course... how was that in Italian now?
I've taught people to speak Finnish, or actually, to
listen to Finnish. The latter is a talent that one needs to achieve, as due to the nature of the language (grammar suffixes) you need to be able to figure out the words so you can then try and find them in the dictionary. But that is not a problem - if you learn to
listen. Finnish is good in that sense, as you don't need to speak that much so you have time to figure out your answer - actually the less you speak (and wave your hands) the more people will think you know Finnish. Half of the knowledge comes from the observation of the body language. Or rather - the lack of it. Now if you are able to observe and imitate not only the intonation (or lack of) and the long pauses, also the distance between speakers and the stiff pokerface, you'll be "fluent" in the Finnish nonverbal communication and you will fit in the crowd. Its all subliminal, humans observe things like body language unconsciously and feel or "get vibes" as they say, but its all things you learn while you grow up from your surroundings.
If you come from a similar "stiff and distant" body language culture, say the Nordics or UK, you got not so much awkwardness if you come from a more expressionate and intimate culture like say in France or Italy, ever heard of the "diplomat tango"? The Italian diplomat takes a step forward, to have a discussion as his space bubble is very small, and the Finnish diplomat takes a step back as his "space" bubble is three times as big - and people do this unconciously as the concept of "personal space" is something wired in the person and you need to make an effort to break from it - if you can. And Finns will get subconciously annoyed as you talk too much and too fast for them - they are still in mid-sentence when others chip in, Finnish "pregnant pauses" are like elephant pregnancy - very long duration.
The two full pints is actually a good test, can you "speak in Finnish" - that is, can you stand silently for about 15 minutes, without a sound, without a nudge, and then grunt a "joo-o", without moving your hands, to a person standing a meter and a half away you are having this intimate discussion with? Remember the eye contact, a good stare! You'd be surprised how many things you do without realising you are doing them. And, body languages differ...what is natural in places is all wrong in Finland and vice versa - just read the "staring" thread it T&S.
And for those who says that u cant find a job without suomi is not true. I'm working and i dont speak suomi.
It all depends in which job niche you manage to land in, or if you are able to carve your own niche. Some people are in a profession that this isn't an issue. Some people find themselves getting then put off once they can show YKI3 as they don't speak Swedish on top. It all depends.
6 years maybe, though Italians have good pronunciation, you just need to learn to speak holding two glasses full to the rim without spilling. As italians cannot breathe without the windmill action of the hands you will not speak so much to annoy anyone that you can live past 6 months, and don't scare the children and cattle with the windmill hands, so maybe it is possible. 
