Finnish for Beginners - Podcasts?

Querfeldein · Post by **Querfeldein** » Thu Feb 12, 2015 10:51 pm

Hi,

I am going to move to Helsinki in autumn, and I would like to pick up some basic Finnish before I get there. I have found a few free online resources for learning Finnish at my computer, but what I would really like is a podcast or something similar that I can listen to (and practice either by speaking out loud or in my head) while I am out walking, running, etc.

Can you recommend any largely audio based programmes suitable for complete beginners? I'm also proficient in German and French, if that helps. Of course, something free would be great, but I wouldn't mind paying for a good quality programme.

Cheers,
Till

**Sponsor:**

Beep_Boop · Post by **Beep_Boop** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 12:57 am

The Yle Uutiset selkosuomeksi archive on Areena is actually pretty good for that. I'm not so sure if it's accessible from outside Finland, but give it a try http://areena.yle.fi/radio/2654795/#/play

onkko · Post by **onkko** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 1:35 am

adnan wrote:The Yle Uutiset selkosuomeksi archive on Areena is actually pretty good for that. I'm not so sure if it's accessible from outside Finland, but give it a try http://areena.yle.fi/radio/2654795/#/play

( Kuunneltavissa ulkomailla ) so yes it is available outside of finland.

Beep_Boop · Post by **Beep_Boop** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 2:36 am

onkko wrote:( Kuunneltavissa ulkomailla ) so yes it is available outside of finland.

Oh wow, it's almost hidden down there. Thanks for noticing.

macora · Post by **macora** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 6:22 am

Not really fit for a complete beginner, though. Except OP does not mind to not understand a single sentence for quite a long time.

finnishpod101 used to have quite a nice beginner's section a year or so ago. I did not look into it recently, though. It is a spin-off from japanesepod101.com, which is very famous among learners of Japanese, and rightly so in my humble opinion. I used to use it for Japanese, and the quality was outstanding. Everyday, useful language, taught in a really fun way. I looked into the Finnish version only for a short time. At the time, the beginner section had interesting things, and then there was a blog for intermediates, nothing in between. I found them less fun than the Japanese ones, but still "pod101-style" (which strikes us Europeans as quite "American"

). A year ago, one had a very limited free trial period. After that, one had to pay a small monthly fee for the basic program of podcasts, and PDFs (podcasts used to be free way back when). One can pay the most basic fee for 1 month, download all the material, and unsubscribe. I never had the full blown program, where one can organize the entire learning on the site, including vocab trainer etc. Do not know how good those resources are. The early material seems not to have mistakes beyond typos, later material I did not check, or let be checked, though. They used to keep spamming after one unsubscribed even when asked not to. But it seems they have stopped that entirely.

Oh, und willkommen dann im Herbst

Lass hören, falls irgendwo anstehst. Man sieht sich ja dann vielleicht mal im Goethe-Institut, oder so.

Querfeldein · Post by **Querfeldein** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 12:51 pm

Thanks again to all who replied. Yes, "immersive" podcasts that are only in Finnish, even simple Finnish are just too much for me right now. I really hope I get to that level, when I can improve just by listening or reading, but that's still some way off.

I looked up FinnishPod101 - their marketing makes it look like a huge scam, but the free Mp3s I have found seem good. They are very basic, but once I am through them, I may pay for the rest if I found them useful. I am also practising with the book Suomen Masteri I, and the help of a native speaker.

Deb2015 · Post by **Deb2015** » Mon Jun 01, 2015 10:48 pm

Querfeldein wrote:Thanks again to all who replied. Yes, "immersive" podcasts that are only in Finnish, even simple Finnish are just too much for me right now. I really hope I get to that level, when I can improve just by listening or reading, but that's still some way off.

I looked up FinnishPod101 - their marketing makes it look like a huge scam, but the free Mp3s I have found seem good. They are very basic, but once I am through them, I may pay for the rest if I found them useful. I am also practising with the book Suomen Masteri I, and the help of a native speaker.

Yes, their marketing does seem similar to a phishing scam, but after having completed the sample lessons I joined the course for 1 month anyway. I think it is a good way to learn before arriving in Finland, and it's not a scam.

Telecomn · Post by **Telecomn** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 10:12 am

http://www.pdfdrive.net/finnish-an-esse ... 08159.html (some grammar)
Memrise ( for remembering words )
Anki ( you can make your own flash cards with pictures and sounds ) - This method is proven to be the best in remembering anything
http://www.fluentin3months.com/learning-with-texts/ ( learning with texts You read a text and save words you already know, makes reading easier)

Also, when you are in Finland, make sure you are active, dont matter if you make mistakes as long as you get corrected. Talk with people as much as you can.
But dont study grammar too much, just basics. My best advice is do NOT use Rosetta stone or Babble or any sites like that. You will not remember much.

ajdias · Post by **ajdias** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 11:44 am

+ forvo for pronunciation

Telecomn · Post by **Telecomn** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:28 pm

ajdias wrote:+ forvo for pronunciation

Indeed, Forvo is excellent for taking audio of a word from a native speaker and adding it directly into Anki.

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