I think it's important to know that it can be done. The role model I use is Keith Armstrong.. not actually sure what his role is now (Finnish soccer team coach?). Anyway, he's often on tv and radio fluently discussing technical football stuff, and commentating in Finnish on live TV.
Here's one interview that very briefly mentions his 'mastery' of the language.
http://www.nufc.com/html/times_keitharmstrong.html
My colleagues would point him out as prominent example of a fluent speaker.
He was once interviewed on Radio Finland, and was asked what his advice to learners was. IIRC, after two years in Finland operating in English in Finland (and doing courses), he moved to some way out place where no one spoke English and pretty much went cold turkey. He said that was the single most important factor: establishing a new social group in Finnish from the start.
I'm taking that advice and am about to do the same thing myself... I was working in Finland for 2 years, and now I've been away for 18 months. I'm going back this year to do a masters
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
hopefully in a different town. I've been studying a fair bit since I left finland, and will start my return to finland with a full summer of language studies before uni starts. The plan being to use finnish language from the get-go, and not become the designated english speaker. We'll see how it goes.
One of the contributing factors that makes it harder is perhaps that once i open my mouth in finnish, the reply comes back in fluent english, and that is a barrier that requires some sisu to get through. Since I am determined to improve my language skills i tend to answer everything in finnish, albeit perhaps not very good. The aim is to be unterstood after all, and if i get the right replies in english, that shows something at least.
Absolutely. You're definitely on the right track there. If the sisu wanes, find people who can't (or won't) speak english. I have fond memories of my visits to the hairdresser and to the physio
I'd definitely recommend live-in intensive courses.. I've done two summers at Jyväskylä summer university
http://www.cec.jyu.fi/kesayo/intens/ which I think is excellent. You get really wrapped up in the language, and it's a load of fun.
I could go on forever.... who's writing the language guide/faq?? want some help?
--fry