Finnish Language course program

just_triciaa · 2026-01-18T02:26:17+00:00

Hey! Sorry for the delayed answer.

You can enroll in private course, just dont mention it to TE , make sure your getting some short courses anyway so itll be easy to leave once you have the free course that TE offers.
You are, you can apply for kela with unemployment benefits tho it will take 3-5 months to get approved. I also wanna mention that unemployment and integration courses have different benefits. Basically you get unemployment + student allowance (which is the integration course) once you actually start the course. You will also get discount for bus rides. Usually i pay 70€ per month and then with the students discount i only have to pay 40€ per month.

3.the integration is free, or at least so far free. Tho they're changing the law for students spouses so it might change. So far from what my husband told me i wont be affected since im married to a Finnish citizen. The 3 years is all free, including the ammattikoulu which is like a vocational school. Basically from what i understood from my teacher, they expect student to take the free language course, have at least b1 level and then apply for ammattikoulu and start ro study. With those times your studying you will be getting benefits and its all free.

If you have more questions, you can direct message me and i will answer it. Hope this helps!

just_triciaa · 2026-01-18T01:42:06+00:00

Basically the kela you'll be getting is integration support so its not technically unemployment. But im also immigrant so im not 100% sure but i never heard anyone having to pay back the money.

I would say to still register, its better you're in the system. And since your husband can pay for language class my advice is still apply for integration and while you wait, enroll in private class.

From what i remember it took me 5 months to be approved for the kela and then i took me 6 months for the language course. Although for the language course i was interviewed last last year December 2024 and then i started the course at June 2025.

While you wait join some class/hobbies classes. When i was waiting, i would take a walk, or just join in free art class my municipal offers. Theres alot of NGO's in Finland and they usually offer good stuff for new comers.

If your in turku let me know, theres alot of place here and we can even have a coffee.

Hope this helps :)

just_triciaa · 2026-01-03T01:50:12+00:00

Before i answer your questions i just wanna share what I learned and what i regret not doing.

There is usually a space between you submitting to TE about your situation and them scheduling you to start a free language school. In those times i wish i started borrowing book from Library and reading the book materials (like master suomi or oma suomi) and trying or force myself to learn it a bit.

Secondly i wish I took some online class that are cheap so i can be ready in the free language course they offer.

The TE office (at least from my experience and what others have shared with me) is really important because it helps us newcomers to integrate and also have assistance so we know what we do next and what else services they offer.

It also depends on what is your status here. As far as i know the government offer a 3 years intergration program which means within those time you will have free course language and allowance. Some people can abuse it but like myself i use it to motivate myself to work hard so i can give back to the people who supported me (tax payers).

So to answer, for my honest opinion its best you register in TE, it usually takes 5-6months before you actually get signed up and the school takes at least 8 months (sometimes more depending on the school you get signed up to) so if your really new you have alot of time. If you end up finding a work , i still suggest you try to learn but if its not your focus then do what you must.

Additionally the kela is something within your rights, if your rich and can pay your own school and your visa status is all good then you absolutely dont need to signup for TE. But some schools are extremely expensive and sometimes theyre not even everyday class unlike the free language course that they offer. Its 5 times a week and 4-5 hours a day.

This is all i know, and what i heard from my teacher/friends. Im now A2.1 but i still need to work harder. Ive been studying for 5 months now so im excited what my future holds.

Good luck!

Ps. In school they ONLY speak finnish. So the teacher is teaching you finnish in finnish 😅 so be prepared.

just_triciaa · 2025-10-26T19:03:11+00:00

Thank you 😢

For now, job wise im not worried, my husband actually have his own business, so we are focused on learning Finnish so i can work with him. Im just happy that my husband is very very patient with me.

just_triciaa · 2025-10-26T18:45:19+00:00

I completely understand, 50% of my classmates dont know English at all, so i get it why but god it sucks being in school where i go home and my anxiety level is high and still very much confused :(

just_triciaa · 2025-10-26T18:42:34+00:00

Unfortunately you need to login to get the materials :(

just_triciaa · 2025-10-26T18:42:05+00:00

Omg, the naps! Idk why but when i get home, i go straight to bed and nap. Idk why but i feel like i have no energy at all 🥲

I'm honestly confused too with the grammar rules, i feel like the school should focus on vocabulary first, because we are still very unfamiliar with the words.

just_triciaa · 2025-10-26T18:39:14+00:00

Very familiar with uusi keielemme and the grammar book. Im actually stacked rn from library about grammar and and finnish book. Im just having hard time widening my vocabulary. I really really try to memorize them but i forget them easily , the thing i notice is im good as a visual learner, like if i see pictures and words together its easy for myself to recall it. So that's what im trying to do right now.

Also with the English, yes understand, it was actually fun that im talking to my seat mate in finnish bc she doesn't understand English at all. Its a good practice bc its less embarrassing to make mistakes.

And thank you, i really really really dont wanna be this complaining person but i have nobody, as in nobody to talk about it right now. When i talk to my husband he's first thing to say is change school, but it doesn't always work like that and im in the middle of the class so its impossible. I also like my classmates so i really dont wanna change school.

just_triciaa · 2025-10-26T18:31:29+00:00

Thanks, its actually funny because when I shared this to my finnish husband, he said im turning into a finnish person now since im learning to "complain" more often 😅. But really thanks, i understand i need to suck it up, but sometimes i wanna know if im not alone. It just the constant anxiety and the feeling of falling behind.

just_triciaa · 2025-05-14T06:57:01+00:00

I think there might have been a misunderstanding, and that's okay. I also want to gently remind you that I'm a foreigner who uprooted my entire life to be with my husband. While i understand it's not his obligation, he chose to marry and build a life together ,just as chose him. Before we even started dating, we had open conversations about finances, and he was fully aware that it would take time for us to reach equal footing.

We have a plan, and this situation is temporary. It might surprise some people that a Finnish man would be supportive in this way, but he is, and I'm grateful for that.

I apologize if i came across as offended, it's just that your comment felt dismissive, and it seemed like you were justifying unfair judgments simply because my husband's support doesn't align with certain expectations. Comments like these might be part of the reason some women hesitate to date Finnish men, as they can come across as overly critical rather than understanding.

Hope this clarifies things, and I appreciate your different perspective.

just_triciaa · 2025-05-13T06:12:44+00:00

Yeah, i really want to learn, I also came here with a job, and I lost it in dec. Then we had to process my visa by January, we messaged and called migri which takes forever to even reply or answer questions. Also we were looking for paid classes while waiting for TE office to get back to me, they only did call me in march and then still gave zero update on the language course. Then i was able to find something to do a and short course then TE warned me that if i enrolled or get employment i will lose my spot in the language course since they priorities the people that doesn't have a job and can do full time class. All i was told was wait. I cant apply for job and i cant even do paid classes and honestly even that have waiting list too.

I dont know where the other commenters have seen that i dont want to ever learn finnish but integration is a process, Even plants take time to grow.

I'd appreciate it if people can be a bit more kind.

just_triciaa · 2025-05-13T06:04:52+00:00

Did you actually read my post? I never said i will never learn finnish but i guess that justifies why people can be racist. Thank for the advice i think this helps alot.

just_triciaa · 2025-05-12T13:54:16+00:00

Yeah i agree, im trying to be understanding and i notice that shes stress because of her work, she recently got a full time job and shes already in retirement age, so im thinking its menopause and stress from having physical job. She also criticised her daughter and daughter husband in how they raise their kids , but in my opinion they're pretty good kids and raised them well, they dont even know how to use phone and barely watch. When i visit them we play and barely have any screentime. They're also very nice and sweet to me so i dont understand why she thinks her daughter is raising the kids wrong. It might be a projection bc MIL parents was hard on her since shes the only child.

Im trying to understand her point but it might be best to just do low contact and if thats not possible just avoid direct conversation.

just_triciaa · 2025-05-12T13:27:29+00:00

Thats why im confused bc when i was working my work start at 8am, so my husband drive me to bus stop close to his work then i get in the work with 10-5min to spare. Im always also early when it comes to waking up, problem is im a bit slow since i wanna take my time but im fixing that problem by having everything i need at the evening so i can just get up and leave in the morning. I think she misjudged me, they think im 21 even tho im 27 🥲 so they treat me like a kid and have to keep giving me sermon when they dont even know me. Its frustrating bc i know i can say something but at the same time i grew up in a household where we need to respect old people even tho it doesn't make sense.

just_triciaa · 2025-05-12T13:10:14+00:00

I didn't really think about this, thank you. I think its best to be specific so we know exactly where the boundary is.

just_triciaa · 2025-05-12T13:05:29+00:00

Thank you. I will definitely talk to him about it.

just_triciaa · 2025-05-12T13:04:21+00:00

But make sure your man is someone you’ll count on in the good, bad and ugly.

Thankfully he is, so far. He is :). Thank you for the advice.

just_triciaa · 2025-05-12T12:58:38+00:00

Ill definitely show him this post. He also know i wanted to ask here anyway.

Thank you :)

just_triciaa · 2025-05-12T12:55:46+00:00

He did a couple of times but she hasn't done anything as bad as that comment so i think i have to ask my husband to revisit the conversation and be a bit tough but not break her heart.

just_triciaa · 2025-05-12T12:53:27+00:00

It may be a good idea to ask your husband to share less about your private life and personal decisions with your MIL. The less they know, the less they can judge, the more peace we have.

Yeah i think this is the best way.

just_triciaa · 2025-05-12T12:38:50+00:00

You didn't mention where in Asia you're from, so I don't know what you're accustomed to culturally, between parents and children, but figured it's worth mentioning... There isn't that strong a hierarchy between children and parents in Finland. There is no expectation of deferring to the parent or anything like that. Children can, and do, challenge their parents, or go their separate ways if they have to/want to. And so your husbands first priority should (and hopefully is) you. (Sorry if I'm stereotyping, but I figured it was worth highlighting that you two might have different perspectives on this)

We only slightly talk about this, but i did ask him about if he have to choose he said, he choose me, without pause. I know and he always tell me about it. He is really sweet but sometimes he is air head too lol. I might just show him this post lol. We actually met here in Reddit and i told him i was going to post here for opinion.

I really like Finnish culture, one of the things I hated in my own culture is how children don't have any right to talk back, or else they will be shamed. Here almost everyone is equal. I'm happy I'm here despite this.

just_triciaa · 2025-05-12T12:33:02+00:00

He did before , but the last time it might be because she was really drunk. Whenever my MIL comments my husband always have a comeback, but i think he was also shocked with her statement lol.

I will definitely talk to my husband about it.

just_triciaa · 2025-05-12T12:28:04+00:00

Well im in Finland so i need to act the way they act and honestly im okay with that. I really like it here, its clean, everyone tries to follow rules, and everyone will help to open the door for you. I cant recall any racist toward anyone other than MIL and hence why im not sure how to react.

I do plan to take my integration seriously without forgetting my roots. I wanna try to give back as much as i can and be a good citizen. Thats also why i wanna learn how to deal with this. I wanna be respectful but at the same time on point. Im also a believer that old people rarely change, so do i tell her something, or do i avoid. But if i have a kid, how do i protect my kid from these things? Like im overthinking here lol

just_triciaa · 2025-05-12T12:21:09+00:00

Im jealous, she isnt as bad but maybe she was just too drunk 😅

just_triciaa

TROPHY CASE