How do I become fluent in Finnish? Is it even possible?

One question that I get asked over and over is some form of this: 

How do I become fluent in Finnish? Is it even possible? 

I of course always answer, yes, it is! Every student that I have ever known who has put in the work and kept going has gotten there. But don’t just take it from me. Lidiia Salo, Finnish learner, B2 level Finnish speaker and founder of the wonderful YKIPass community, has agreed to share her language learning journey with us in this guest post. 

My Finnish Language Learning Journey and
​“A Step-by-Step Guide to Passing the YKI Test”
​e-book

Hi, dear reader. My name is Lidiia Salo. If you think that learning Finnish is impossible, keep reading. I need to warn you that it will not be easy. There might be frustration and tears along the way, but you will make it, just like I did, and just like many others have.

Before moving to Finland

I moved to Finland 6 years ago from Moscow. I was born into a bilingual family. My parents speak Russian and Chuvash. I also learned English at school quite well, as you might have guessed from reading this article. I have always loved languages and thought that learning Finnish would be easy. Spoiler alert: it was not.

Learning 1: Life is easier when you don’t have many expectations. The same applies to learning Finnish.

On my way to the Finnish language classes, Lidiia’s photo

Even before moving to Finland, I knew I would need to learn the language if I wanted to build my life there. I found an inspiring tutor online, who was a polyglot and spoke 11 languages. I thought things were working out just fine; we met once a week and practiced the basics of the language. Until one day, my husband overheard our lesson. He was confused and kindly suggested that I look for another teacher, as what my tutor was teaching me was not Finnish.

Learning 2: If you wish to hire a Finnish language tutor, choose a native speaker or a bilingual person.

I listened to my husband and found a bilingual teacher whose languages were Russian and Finnish. Eila, if you are reading this, know how great you are. At the same time, I received a letter from the TE-office stating that I had been accepted into the language course. It’s a part of the integration program in Finland. Our lessons with Eila ended, and another chapter began.​

Edupoli and the best language learning grouP

The language courses provided by the TE-office are held from Monday to Friday for one year. You study the language for 5 hours a day and reserve 2 hours for homework. The course also includes aspects of Finnish working life (työelämä).

The school I enrolled in was called Edupoli back then, and it is now known as Careeria. Fortunately, I had been studying Finnish beforehand because I later discovered that I had taken the spot of a person who left the course, and missed a few lessons at the beginning.

Learning 3: If you have the opportunity to join the integration program, please don’t miss it. There might be no other chance in your life to learn the language so intensively.

The best part of Edupoli was studying in a fast group (nopea ryhmä). We were all highly educated, with many having years of work experience in various fields such as teachers, doctors, nurses, marketers, psychologists, and so on. We became friends because all of us were facing similar challenges in Finland.

We had many school trips, visiting interesting places together. It was called “retkipäivä”.
​Lidiia’s photo

The day would start with a song that we sang together with a teacher (Olli, you were great as well). It was embarrassing at first, but later I started loving it. My favorite song is now Leevi and the Leavings – Onnelliset. If you have time, check it out. Finnish is funny and easy to understand there.

YouTube video of the song “Onnelliset”

Learning 4: Be open to different language learning techniques; you might fall in love with them.

After half a year, I got my first tears. I had been studying Finnish so much, putting in a lot of effort, yet I still couldn’t understand what others were talking about around me in Finnish.

Galimatias and the BreakthrougH

Then we had a winter break, and something happened in my brain; resting helped, and all of a sudden, I started understanding the conversations around me. There was no way back anymore. I will make it!

Learning 5: Do not give up; you will get there, step by step!

The second school I enrolled in was Galimatias at Ruoholahti. We were incredibly fortunate with the teacher. She was young and enthusiastic, always there when we had questions or couldn’t understand something.

Galimatias School has a very nice location by the sea, Lidiia’s photo

About the YKI Test

Right after Galimatias, I enrolled in the YKI language test. My goal back then was not to apply for citizenship but rather to check if all the efforts paid off. 

There, I realized it’s not so much about the language progress but rather the test system. If you train for it well enough, you might pass the test even with a lower level of Finnish.

The most shocking part of the YKI Test for me was the speaking. Everyone was in the same room, divided by a small cardboard. Honestly, it would have been better not to have them at all because it was not helpful. Everyone was talking at the same time, which was super distracting, and I surely lost many points at the beginning just trying to focus. The reading part turned out to be less challenging than I expected.

Learning 6: Use a timer to practice for the speaking part of the YKI. Don’t worry about mistakes you might make; focus on being understood.​

“A Step-by-Step Guide to Passing the YKI Test” e-book

I got the results of the YKI Test in 2 months and I passed all 4 parts in the first attempt. Over the years me and my friend Tareque realized that there is so much stress around the YKI Test. And there is no guide on how to pass it apart from the study and practice books. We decided if not us, then who will write it? 

Cover of the e-book “A Step-by-Step Guide to Passing the YKI Test”, YKI Pass

And we have created “A Step-by-Step Guide to Passing the YKI Test”. It’s an e-book available to download for free from the website ykipass.fi. It works as a friend, being there for you on the way to passing the test. We have interviewed numerous test takers and YKI Finnish teachers to share their knowledge and expertise. 

Learning 7: One piece of advice I would give to someone preparing for the YKI Test is to take a YKI-specific course when you reach level A2.

​

One year’s worth of study materials, Lidiia’s photo

What does the future bring?

Right now, I have reached a B2 level in Finnish. I understand almost all the conversations around me and can respond in Finnish. However, this is not the end. Language learning never ends, and living in Finland provides you with many opportunities for improvement. Trust me, it’s worth the time!

​- Lidiia Salo

Mari here again! 

Thank you for the wonderful and inspiring blog post Lidiia, and thank you for interviewing me including me in your recommendations in YKIPass! 

P.S.: My next YKI course is in August 2024, and we will be focusing on the writing part of the text. Here’s the course page! If you’re reading this at a later time, here are all my upcoming courses.