Before I move to Helsinki in October, I would like to take an intensive language course for 2-3 weeks, preferably in late August or in September. I have seen the Helsinki Summer University which has a large range of courses at every level. However, I would not mind (and perhaps even prefer) a course outside of Helsinki, even in the countryside if possible, so that I would spend my free time outdoors or practising Finnish, and not be tempted into the department to work.
I have also found a list of courses in different locations here: http://www.kesayliopistot.fi/koulutusta ... ge_courses
Do you have any practical experience with intensive courses during the summer? I expect that my level at the time would be A 1.2. or A1.3., i.e. I expect to know the content of Suomen Mestari I by then.
Intensive Finnish Summer Course 2015?
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Querfeldein
- Posts: 155
- Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2015 8:10 pm
- Location: Helsinki
Re: Intensive Finnish Summer Course 2015?
One more useful website for finding courses: http://www.finnishcourses.fi/ (mostly in the capital region)
As for those summer courses you mentioned...
http://www.kesayliopistot.fi/koulutusta ... ge_courses
...one of my children did the Summer University of Jyvaskyla course: he made measurable progress during the three weeks he was there, really liked the atmosphere (people of many different ages and backgrounds) and took part in all the peripheral activities (sports/cultural etc). He went two years in a row.
As for those summer courses you mentioned...
http://www.kesayliopistot.fi/koulutusta ... ge_courses
...one of my children did the Summer University of Jyvaskyla course: he made measurable progress during the three weeks he was there, really liked the atmosphere (people of many different ages and backgrounds) and took part in all the peripheral activities (sports/cultural etc). He went two years in a row.
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Querfeldein
- Posts: 155
- Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2015 8:10 pm
- Location: Helsinki
Re: Intensive Finnish Summer Course 2015?
Thanks for both of your replies.
The main reason I'd rather not do the course in Helsinki is that that's where I am going to work and where I know (English-speaking) people. I don't want to be tempted into going to the department, or catching up too much with my English-speaking friends while I'm on the course. However, if the course is right, I may still consider it. One benefit of doing the course in Helsinki would be that I could also be looking for accommodation. In that case, I wouldn't do the course right before my contract starts, but perhaps six weeks to a month beforehand.
Thanks also for recommending the Jyväskylä course. It looks like just the place I had in mind, and the course also seems to be more intensive than most, with 5 x 45 minutes per day.
Curiously, the Jyväskylä course costs quite a bit more than all the other courses (€640, whereas others seem to have only a nominal fee of €50-100), but it is also the only one which explicitly mentions group sizes (15 students per class). Perhaps that's the reason it is more expensive; does anyone know how many students per class I should expect in the other courses?
The main reason I'd rather not do the course in Helsinki is that that's where I am going to work and where I know (English-speaking) people. I don't want to be tempted into going to the department, or catching up too much with my English-speaking friends while I'm on the course. However, if the course is right, I may still consider it. One benefit of doing the course in Helsinki would be that I could also be looking for accommodation. In that case, I wouldn't do the course right before my contract starts, but perhaps six weeks to a month beforehand.
Thanks also for recommending the Jyväskylä course. It looks like just the place I had in mind, and the course also seems to be more intensive than most, with 5 x 45 minutes per day.
Curiously, the Jyväskylä course costs quite a bit more than all the other courses (€640, whereas others seem to have only a nominal fee of €50-100), but it is also the only one which explicitly mentions group sizes (15 students per class). Perhaps that's the reason it is more expensive; does anyone know how many students per class I should expect in the other courses?