I am an experienced Finnish language and Finnish as a second language teacher, working with children, young people and adults. I have extensive teaching experience in comprehensive schools, vocational education, integration training and online learning.

I hold a master’s degree in Finnish. I have further developed my expertise through studies in Finnish as a second and foreign language, as well as special education.

I have taught a wide range of Finnish learners, from complete beginners to B1 level. My students have included both highly educated adults and learners with limited formal schooling. I have also worked with pupils learning Finnish as a second language in comprehensive schools, supporting and following their language development.

To me, Finnish is more than words and grammar. It is a tool that enables people to study, work, manage everyday tasks, get to know others and build a life in Finland.

What I find particularly rewarding as a teacher is the moment when something that previously seemed difficult begins to make sense to a learner. A clear explanation, a well-chosen example, a picture or a short exercise can sometimes resolve even a major language difficulty.

I believe teaching should not make Finnish more complicated than it is. The teacher’s role is to find a way to make each topic understandable to the individual learner.

The learner is the starting point for my teaching.

People learn in different ways and at different speeds. That is why I always begin with what a learner already knows and what would be most useful for them to learn next.

As a teacher, I am still learning too. For me, years of experience do not mean that I have seen and learned everything. There is always something new to discover about Finnish, learning and teaching.

Throughout my career, I have taught Finnish in a variety of educational settings and to learners from many different backgrounds. I have also developed a wide range of my own learning materials. In recent years, I have become particularly interested in digital learning, online teaching and how new technologies can be used thoughtfully to support language learning.

I currently also work with children and young people, supporting their Finnish language development across school subjects. This has brought another perspective to my work: language skills do not develop only in Finnish lessons. Language is learned wherever it is needed.

Ultimately, good Finnish teaching means something quite simple to me: learners should feel that “I can learn this.”

My role as a teacher is to help them find a path that works for them.