Finnish 1 (5 ECTS)

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student will understand simple and clearly spoken Finnish in very familiar everyday situations. The student will be able to tell briefly about their background, home and daily routines and understand very short texts about familiar topics. The student’s communication skills will correspond to the skill level A1 as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Starting level: A0
Target level: A1

Content

• Oral and written communication in simple everyday situations and daily routines: meeting and getting to know people, telling basic things about oneself, one’s family, and the course of the day, simple shopping situations
• Basic grammatical structures, for example verb types, conjugating verbs in the present tense, basic form plural of nouns and adjectives, singular partitive and genitive, consonant gradation, possessive structures, asking questions
• Key characteristics of spoken Finnish
• Basic features of the Finnish culture and customs

Teaching methods

Lessons/lectures
Tasks/ assignments

Location and time

Autumn 2025, Metropolia UAS, Leiritie campus (Myyrmäki). See schedule or OMA-workspace for more details.

Learning materials and recommended literature

Sonja Gehring, Sanni Heinzmann : Suomen mestari 1 (Updated). Finn Lectura.
(Digital online book-version recommended; see the publisher's online shop:
https://otava.kauppakv.fi/EN/page/product/suomen-mestari-1-in-english-digital-book-12-m-onl/5183380 )

Exam dates and retake possibilities

Two written exams, times of which are agreed upon on the course. Exams may include listening and/or spoken parts. In addition, required OMA-tasks.

Student workload

Lessons (about 50h) and tasks/ assignments

Content scheduling

Autumn 2025. More detailed plan in the OMA-workspace.

Assessment methods and criteria

Evaluation is based on exams and tasks.
Exam times agreed upon later on course. Grade improvements after the course by a separate written exam.

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The students are able to
• tell basic things about themselves and about their course of the day
• understand similar information in the communication partner’s speech
• identify the verb types and verb conjugation in familiar texts
• identify the nominal declension in familiar texts
• identify the consonant change in familiar words
• recognise some basic features of the Finnish language and culture.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The students are able to
• tell about themselves in familiar everyday situations
• use limited basic vocabulary both in speaking and in writing
• apply familiar grammatical structures according to given instructions
• understand some basic features of the Finnish language, culture and customs.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The students are able to
• apply the expressions and vocabulary they have learned to tell about themselves and to ask questions about the communication partner’s life
• acquire additional vocabulary they need and use it in everyday situations
• apply the grammar they have learned to new words and expressions
• show interest in the Finnish language, culture and customs.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

The students are able to
• tell basic things about themselves and about their course of the day
• understand similar information in the communication partner’s speech
• identify the verb types and verb conjugation in familiar texts
• identify the nominal declension in familiar texts
• identify the consonant change in familiar words
• recognise some basic features of the Finnish language and culture.