Learning Finnish is vital for foreigners but often employees don’t give foreigners a chance even when they do learn Finnish. It’s often just as hard for a foreigner who has actually learned Finnish to find work as a foreigner who hasn’t.
The presumption is always that the foreigner didn’t learn the language well enough, that foreigners actually can’t learn to speak Finnish to an advanced level.
obviously
If the job market was booming and it was hard to fill positions, I’m sure companies would be more lenient if someone is still learning Finnish or doesn’t speak it yet. Right now the power is with the companies.
For integrating, of course you learn the language of the country where you are going to live, work and spend your time. How is that even a question?
If you’re not happy with how fast people are learning on their own, help them.
(it depends)
My Finnish colleagues have been super happy to help me learn. They’re always explaining words and phrases. At the same time, they don’t pressure me. They’re just there to help. It’s great.
Its a fun language to learn 🙂
Only if you intend to stay in Finland for more than a year.
Well depends. I learn Finnish because I genuinely love how logical and mathematical the language is and I am dreaming of the day when I can speak fluently with mummo (husband’s grandma). I speak with her but in broken Finnish though it has gotten a lot better. As far as job is concerned a person’s work skills and capbilities are more important than language. Language is a life-long learning process and definitely can be enhanced while at work. Should not be the only basis for which a job should be offered. But the better your language are the more job opportunities you unlock.
No. Swedish much nicer and easier to learn and you then also integrate and understand culture in Sweden, Norway, and a little of Danish, and Icelandic. Who wants to live in Finland forever anyways.
Kind of a dumb question. If you plan on living in Finland? It’s a necessity. For fun? Sure, you can try (and probably fail miserably). For any other reason? Well, there is none.
1. Planning to make Finland your home forever ? Yes
2. Only staying here for a while ? Not a worthy investment
I learnt Finnish (C1 level), but I will leave the country after my current job (which is in English) because many Finns consider me inferior due to my ethnicity. I’m not comfortable living among too many Nazis.
In my opinion, it’s not a useful language because employment still happens through networking (hyvä veli), and most Finns are too closed-off to befriend.
So, those who don’t speak it aren’t missing out on anything. I don’t regret learning it for fun, but I might as well put that effort into a useful language like: Chinese, Russian, Arabic, German, Spanish, etc.
Yes! the question is, can you learn Finnish?
I’m not planning to stay long term, so no, I see language as a tool and an investment of my time, if the ROI is low, I would rather spend my time study Swedish or improve my technical knowledge.
I don’t hate Finnish as a language, I just hate the fact that it’s impractical and useless outside of Finland, and the fact that even if I put effort into learning it, it doesn’t guarantee a secured job prospects either. However, if Finland decides to adopt English as an official language, or at least a working language, then me and a lot of skilled immigrants I know may consider to stay long term.
Finland’s economy needs to embrace English even more, and with a more decisive manner. Otherwise I don’t see it getting any better anytime soon.
16 comments
What a silly and divisive question.
Learning Finnish is vital for foreigners but often employees don’t give foreigners a chance even when they do learn Finnish. It’s often just as hard for a foreigner who has actually learned Finnish to find work as a foreigner who hasn’t.
The presumption is always that the foreigner didn’t learn the language well enough, that foreigners actually can’t learn to speak Finnish to an advanced level.
obviously
If the job market was booming and it was hard to fill positions, I’m sure companies would be more lenient if someone is still learning Finnish or doesn’t speak it yet. Right now the power is with the companies.
For integrating, of course you learn the language of the country where you are going to live, work and spend your time. How is that even a question?
If you’re not happy with how fast people are learning on their own, help them.
(it depends)
My Finnish colleagues have been super happy to help me learn. They’re always explaining words and phrases. At the same time, they don’t pressure me. They’re just there to help. It’s great.
Its a fun language to learn 🙂
Only if you intend to stay in Finland for more than a year.
Well depends. I learn Finnish because I genuinely love how logical and mathematical the language is and I am dreaming of the day when I can speak fluently with mummo (husband’s grandma). I speak with her but in broken Finnish though it has gotten a lot better. As far as job is concerned a person’s work skills and capbilities are more important than language. Language is a life-long learning process and definitely can be enhanced while at work. Should not be the only basis for which a job should be offered. But the better your language are the more job opportunities you unlock.
No. Swedish much nicer and easier to learn and you then also integrate and understand culture in Sweden, Norway, and a little of Danish, and Icelandic. Who wants to live in Finland forever anyways.
Kind of a dumb question. If you plan on living in Finland? It’s a necessity. For fun? Sure, you can try (and probably fail miserably). For any other reason? Well, there is none.
1. Planning to make Finland your home forever ? Yes
2. Only staying here for a while ? Not a worthy investment
I learnt Finnish (C1 level), but I will leave the country after my current job (which is in English) because many Finns consider me inferior due to my ethnicity. I’m not comfortable living among too many Nazis.
In my opinion, it’s not a useful language because employment still happens through networking (hyvä veli), and most Finns are too closed-off to befriend.
So, those who don’t speak it aren’t missing out on anything. I don’t regret learning it for fun, but I might as well put that effort into a useful language like: Chinese, Russian, Arabic, German, Spanish, etc.
Yes! the question is, can you learn Finnish?
I’m not planning to stay long term, so no, I see language as a tool and an investment of my time, if the ROI is low, I would rather spend my time study Swedish or improve my technical knowledge.
I don’t hate Finnish as a language, I just hate the fact that it’s impractical and useless outside of Finland, and the fact that even if I put effort into learning it, it doesn’t guarantee a secured job prospects either. However, if Finland decides to adopt English as an official language, or at least a working language, then me and a lot of skilled immigrants I know may consider to stay long term.
Finland’s economy needs to embrace English even more, and with a more decisive manner. Otherwise I don’t see it getting any better anytime soon.
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